Tag Archives: Passion

Turning What You Love Doing Into More

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The past couple of weeks have been something incredible to watch.  My beautiful wife, Amber, started up her new venture called Amber Clinton Photography.  I wrote about it some last week.  In just the two weeks since she decided to make this move from a hobby to a business, the response has been phenomenal.  Inquiries from all over and her first official photo session this past weekend.  Amber is quite an amazing woman.  She has sacrificed to be at home and raise our three wonderful children.  She has an amazing heart and when it comes to photography, she has some serious skills.  I could go on and on.  I am so thrilled that she has decided to take advantage of this natural ability and work to do something incredible with it.  This story with Amber will continue to evolve over time and I look forward to what she will be able to do in the future as she grows this business and her knowledge and experience to add onto her already talented artistic eye.

How about any of you out there.  Is there something that you love to do, maybe as just a hobby or something?  Have you ever thought about maybe taking that hobby and doing something more.  Maybe you’ve thought about it, but either just out of fear, naysayers, or time passing by you just never capitalized and tried it out.  If you look back in my blogs, I’ve written about those naysayers and fears.

While choosing to move down uncharted territory to something new can be scary and there is never a reason for you to not try.  There is nothing ever easy about it.   What keeps you from taking advantage of those opportunities and trying something different?  Why let anything keep you from pursuing what it is is you love to do.  If it something that calls to you, then God is likely calling you to it.  Why ignore it?  I have a sign hanging in the foyer of my house that reads, “The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God not protect you.”  If you are letting fear or something else keep you from pursuing your real calling, take heart in knowing that God is there to guide you through it all.

Richard Bach is quoted as saying “You are always free to change your mind and choose a different future, or a different past.”  Why not take advantage of that freedom that we all have and build something more. Build something that you define and nobody else. It is a part of realizing your God given purpose.  It does not matter if you are in a career that you have in for years and years or if it has been your education track.  If something else calls you that really speaks to you, then go for it.  It will open your perspective on life and will help you to further come alive and get away from where everyone else thinks you should be you be.  Don’t let other define that for you.

Don’t Jump!!!!

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Last week, I wrote about the idea of settling into a complacent life versus going after what it is you were placed here to do.  Often times, life can take us on a journey that brings us opportunities and obstacles and then we have to decide how best to navigate through each one.  With so many circumstances molding our path through life, many times we find ourselves settling.  Settling into a life and/or career that is safe but at the same time sucks away every aspect of who we are.   Something comes along that looks like opportunity and what do we do?  We jump right on in not thinking of where it may lead us.

All I have to say to that is, Don’t Jump!!!  Don’t let the circumstances of your life dictate your path and force you into things are not you.  I have learned this from my own experiences in life.  If you choose to jump right on in all that happens is you become trapped.  You become trapped by a career that you do not love.  You get trapped in a life that does not have meaning and purpose.  You lose track of who you are spiritually.  You lose connection with those that you love.

In essence, you get pulled away from being who you truly are.  Just say you are a job that you just do not enjoy anymore, but do not get out of.  What that will start to do is pull at every aspect of your being.  You may become frustrated and without even meaning to, that frustration starts to carry over to other parts of your life.  This is no way to live.  Believe me, I have been there.

So what do you?  First, it begins with your own mental attitude.  You have the ability to let those circumstances control you and make your life miserable or chose not to.  Dale Carnegie said, “Happiness doesn’t depend on any external conditions, it is governed by our mental attitude.”  You have that ability to create your happiness and change your circumstance.  Don’t just jump in blindly and let your circumstances control you.  You control it.  None of us are going to glide through life without making mistakes or the wrong choices.  How we react and learn from from those choices and mistakes helps to define who we are and where we end up.

God granted each of us with the free will to make decisions about our life and circumstances.  He is always there to guide us through it all if we trust in Him, but we have to make those choices ourselves.  Leo Buscaglia said, “Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.”  When you are trying to determine what it is you really want to do with your life, take an inventory of your talents and also of your passions. Once you figure that out, go out and do what it you are passionate about using the talents you have.  You also glorify God in this way.

If you are at the crossroads of decision, Don’t Jump!  Don’t settle for complacency.  You were created for much more than a complacent life.  Take advantage of the talents God blessed you with.  Get out there and do what brings you passion and what truly has purpose and meaning to you.  Don’t jump into a life or career that contradicts who you are. You can never come alive this way.

I’m Fine, How About You?

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Each and every one of us encounter those daily greetings, whether in the office or passing by folks you know or may not know in any setting.  “How are you today?” and the reply usually, “I’m fine, and you?”   We encounter that on a daily basis, but I often wonder, how many of those people are truly “fine.”  How many instead, get up each day dreading what is to come.  Dreading the work day and that commute into to earn that next paycheck.  Dreading to just to get out and encounter others and meet that days challenges.  This may seem like such a simple thing, but I often wonder how much of it is just politeness and courtesy versus a true and genuine look into how someone is doing.

Thinking of this, I start reflecting on a short movie/documentary that my brother, Rob, introduced me two a few month’s back.  This film is called, “I’m Fine Thanks.”  The film is narrated and directed by a gentleman named Grant Peele.  Grant and his crew set out on a journey across the United States to meet people to meet people and discover how these people stepped away from their ordinary lives, lives that they once thought were the right and proper way to live and now most of them live a life that they are truly happy with as they stepped away and found a calling away from the norm.  Even Grant, who had been in Real Estate for years, because he thought is was the right path finally stepped away to do something that he has always dreamed of doing, which is to make films.

The ultimate goal of this film was to document people that had settled into complacency, but ultimately, found that many of those people stepped back and found a way back to living the life they love.  I’m not talking about a life of riches.  I’m talking about loving what they do or moving to simplistic living or setting off for adventures that they once thought were just far fetched dreams.  What’s so remarkable is that many of their stories sound so much like people we all encounter day after day and even ourselves.  Have you ever questioned your direction in life or if you have made for yourself a life of complacency versus truly going for what lights a fire in you and what it is you were meant to do?  I certainly have.

Our lives take so many different directions and often times we settle into a life of complacency and settle for that “normal” career.  Often times, even when we find that we have a fears of making those life changes toward a life we truly dream to live.  There may be negative connotations from others who say you can’t do that.  My answer to all of those people is to give me one good reason why not.  Who says that your life has to follow the script that others set for you.  Trust me, I have and am down this path but I know now that I and we all have to take the steps and have the courage to step away change our lives.

When I think about this more, I look at my kids.  Often times we ask our children what they want to be when they grow-up. When we were kids, we all faced those same questions and our answers were so huge.  As kids, we have great dreams and passions, but often times, not all the time, people lose site of that.  Many people love what they do, don’t get me wrong.  But all too often there are many of us that question if there is more.  My wife and I always tell our kids to purse the life that they want and work their tales off to reach their dreams.   Why can’t we do that even as adults?  Why can’t we pursue those real dreams.

The fact of the matter is that, we all can.  We do not ever have to settle for the complacent life that may have crept up on us.  We can ALL change to live a life that makes us happy that drives a fire in us and makes us light up when we get up in the morning.  So we all have choice.  Choose to continue down this path we have or make the changes that are needed to live life.  This is a huge step to coming alive.  When you reach that point, that is when that greeting can become truly genuine.  You can answer that you are in fact doing great.  Not just fine, but great!  If there is something burning within you that says this is not the life I wanted, this is not the career I was meant to have, I feel like I am not alive, and I am not fine, then you have a choice to make.  Stay complacent, or change and come alive!

Choosing to Live Versus Choosing to Exist

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I ran across the quote today from Oscar Wilde that stated “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”  This made me reflect on Pillar 4 and how living a life that is enjoyable and has purpose and meaning  makes so much difference in anyone’s life. Many people today don’t ever fully live their life.  They become so wrapped up that they forget to take the opportunity to get out and enjoy their own lives.  They don’t take time from work or away from everyday routines that it becomes more and more difficult to truly live.  These people, as Oscar Wilde said, merely exist.  They sit in their own complacency, grumblings, and frustrations in life.  This effects their relationships with family and friends, their work, and their faith as well.

Now what does it mean to live and not merely exist?  Living can be so many different things.  It could getting be betting out and experiencing new things.  Getting actively involved in things that you enjoy and have meaning to you around your community. Taking vacations with your family and getting away from the normal grind.  Take risks in starting a new business.  There are so many things that apply to living and this is such a small example.  The biggest thing is that no matter what you do, it is important that those things have a sense of purpose to you and something that you enjoy doing.

Living our lives to the fullest is something that is mentioned by so many.  God’s Word mentions the joys of living where it is stated “So I recommend having fun, because their is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some of the happiness along with all the hard work that God gives them under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 8:15).  We are also told “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days” (Ephesians 5:15-16).  It is important that throughout our entire lives we take the time actually enjoy life and do things that we enjoy and love and has purpose to us.  We have been granted a tremendous blessing of life and it is so short. Wasting this opportunity can leave you with tremendous regrets.

I was at an event where John Maxwell was speaking a couple of years back and he express that we have to take responsibility for our own happiness.  If you have bologna in your life, it’s because you make it.  This was a very powerful message.  At the time, I myself was in a state of confusion and uncertainty of my own direction.  What he said was very true, we have to take responsibility for our own happiness.  You get out of life what you make of it.

Earl Nightingale mentioned that one of the biggest issues people have is that they conform, people acting like everyone else, without know why or where they are going.  This also speaks truths because it shows us that we cannot lump through life like others. Get out and do things that bring joy to your life.  This will help you build success in the other pillars of life and help you to fully come alive.

So my message today is to live.  Don’t just exist, conform, and get along…Live!!!  Make the most of everyday God blesses you with here on earth.  The sky’s the limit.  You are only limited in life by how much you limit yourself.

Sunset

The Four Pillars to Come Alive

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Ever since I first began this GEN Revolution journey, I have spent much time reflecting on what is it that I was really doing.   What do I want to focus on and what do I really want to bring out to everyone?  I always knew that one day I would be able to pursue my own work avenues.  It has taken some time to figure out what it is I really wanted to do.   Even after developing the idea of GEN revolution, it still took time to figure out what it would turn out to be.  I knew I wanted to help people in some one.  To provide guidance to help them in their work lives and maybe more.  With much prayer and thought, the idea is really beginning to take shape in what I feel I was called to do.  I have known for some time that God has been calling me into service in some way.  I have written many times about this in the past and now here.

The journey of GEN Revolution is coming alive and my mission has really started to unfold.  I was thinking through my mission statement this week and this is what came about,  “Use the abilities God has given me to make a difference in my life and the lives of those I encounter and work with. Motivate and inspire others to stand up for what they believe and never make excuses for unleashing their full God given potential. Create value for people in wanting to live in freedom with intentional purpose and achieve prosperity.”  There is a lot being said behind that statement.  There are so many areas in life that shape who we are and the kind of life we decide to leave.  These are areas of faith, marriage and family, work, and life purpose.  What was made clear to me was that neglecting one of these areas leaves  void in your life.  I will give a quick high-level look here.

Our walk with God and faith in Jesus Christ is a very important aspect of living.  He is the creator of all and placed each one of us here to glorify Him and serve Him, praise Him, and to follow the path He has laid forth.  We need to be able to turn back to God, repent, and continue praising Him for the blessing we have.  Doing so, is building block that carrier over to everything else in life.  Next, is our family and marriages (if you’re married).  One of the biggest issues I see is when married couples begin to disconnect and let little things get in the way of their happiness.  Your love for each other is meant to be unconditional just has God’s love for us is unconditional by the way he sent his son to bear the punishment we deserved for falling short of his grace.  People need to not neglect this area of their lives and also not neglect the time they have with their children.  Work is next and this is big.  It is our means providing for making a living and providing for our families.  Far too often, people settle for work that makes them miserable and they dread getting up in the morning.  I have most definitely been there.  They neglect this area by not pursuing work they love and actually has meaning to them and is profitable.  Finally it is life purpose.  All of these pieces fit into our life purpose and discovering what it is we want to accomplish in life and the kind of life we lead.  This is they way to unleash your full God given potential in life by answering each of these areas.

These four critical pieces will be the foundation of GEN Revolutions focus.  In 2013, you will begin seeing ways that can help you reach each of these areas and unleash your potential.  I will continuing writing each week on each of these areas and I will also begin to offer what will be Revolution Radio, my new podcast that will be launching soon.  Finally, I will be developing and providing a coaching service that will help people reach all of these areas and getting out to speak on the subjects as I can.  This is what I have been called to do  and something I have absolute passion for.  I may not have all the answers, but I most certainly will be able to work with you help you find the answers to your life’s mysteries and unleash your own potential enabling you to come alive.  It’s going to be an awesome journey.  I look forward to be able to serve and help people in their lives.  We can all come alive, nothing is impossible with God on our side.

 

The Power of Can

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All to often we get bogged down in life and unwilling to step forward to pursue our dreams and passions.  We get caught up in a world that tells us we need to live “responsibly” and pursue security in our careers to provide for our families.  As a husband and father, I have been in that realm for the last 15 years.  I have pursued jobs that provided paychecks and benefits that provided a semblance of security for my wife and kids.  Amber and I were one of those couples that married very early, at 18, and had children early.  We struggled with getting by many times over.  People discounted our chances to make for being so young, and we have grown stronger and stronger as the years rolled.  I’ll approach that topic more at a later date.

Going back to dreams and passions, I want talk about something that I think has influenced many of our lives.  That is the idea of can and can’t.  Those two words can have a significant factor in how you choose to drive forward through life. Whether you settle with mediocrity or complacency or whether you decide to unleash you full potential in life.  Many times we will see the negative influences from those that tell you that you can’t pursue this passion or that dream because its not practical.  It’s not normal to step away and do work that has purpose and meaning and that you love if it is not that typical career avenue that provides that steady pay and benefits.  You have to be responsible and can’t rock the boat by stepping into an unknown avenue.  Dreams are great, but don’t pay the bills.  I have been down that road and encouraged to continue down my career path.  I have even told myself that I can’t venture out because I needed to be able to provide for my family.  I looked at this option 7 years ago, but bailed from fear of the unknown.

Now, there is that word that, CAN.  That is to be able to, or have the ability or power to do.  This word is a very powerful force in life.  It is a word that can help build the motivation to unleash yourself.  When I started my doctoral journal, I told myself that I CAN, and I am within a year of meeting that goal.  In recent months, I told myself that I CAN venture out to find my passions and pursue work that has purpose and meaning to me and that I would love.  As a result, GEN Revolution was born and is only just beginning.  My partnership with GEN180 born and will takeoff in the coming months as well.  In addition, I am pursuing a dream that I have had for years to publish my first book.  I am going to be working on not only one, but two books with more to come later.  This is where my life passions and dreams lie and that is where I will drive toward.  I CAN and I will do it.

The word CAN can make a difference in all our lives.  If you have dreams you want to pursue, you CAN go after.  If you believe in those passions, step away from your comforts and do it.  You may be worried about being able to provide.  I know from others experiences and knowing the achiever in me, that I CAN pursue my passions in way that is fulfilling and probably will be more profitable than if I continued down the same path.  Tell yourself that you CAN and you will make.  Pray about it.  Talk to God and ask him to show you the way.  He will reveal that path that He meant for you and knows that you CAN make it down.  Don’t let the negative and fear of the unknown keep you from those dreams.  That’s the adversary trying to keep you miserable and unhappy.  Tell yourself that you CAN and you will take huge step toward unleashing your full potential coming alive and free.

SpiritofPower