Finding Your Why, Your Purpose - Being Passionate About Something!

What is your Why? What is your calling? What are you passionate about? What is your purpose here?

My wife and I have asked ourselves these questions so many times that we know the questions by the number of letters in the sentence. Every time you hear a success guru talk about building a business, online or offline, they tell you to know your WHY. You have to have a driving reason in order to succeed. We didn't have one and we didn't know why.

What is a Why? A why could be health, family, finances, parents education, child abuse prevention and the list goes on and on. A why is something that keeps you awake at night and have you excited to get up in the morning. You are obsessed with it. You just can't stop thinking about it. You move towards it every day.

Your why is tied directly to passion and purpose for your life's calling. Your why is your gift from God. Be grateful if you can identify, visualize and act on your why. Many can't and most won't give it a second thought, if they ever had the first.

I am a baby boomer, middle aged, small business owner, three kids, average house, average home, you might say we are an average family. Not rich or poor financially. We care about people. Helping them succeed in their lives. We want to help kids learn to over come challenges and succeed at life. We would love to be in a position financially to support new start up businesses, provide some seed money and advice from our experiences. Pretty simple stuff, but I didn't have a daily driving passion for it.

One afternoon, at about 10 minutes after the hour, I turned on the TV. The channel display said it should be the noon news that I expected, not so this day. There was a television preacher teaching a lesson to his audience and I couldn't understand why he was on the news channel... hmmm? His message caught my attention so I listened to him for over thirty five minutes without a commercial. All the while expecting a new caster to pop on to the screen to explain or to move on to the next story. It never happened! This was a broadcast from a totally different channel that our family just doesn't tune in. Why was this on, why was I listening this day and why was the TV display wrong?

The preacher had a rather low key message, wasn't trying to heal the lame or raise the dead, just a captivating and up beat message. I don't remember who he was or I would give him some credits here. He was talking about life, being passionate about something and creating a fulfilled life. Next he said, if you are serious about living a passionate life for the greater good of God's people and don't know how to be inspired and excited I have a suggestion for you.

The preacher explained that the next step would or could be the scariest moment in your life. As he looked into the camera and my eyes, he said, find a quiet time to be totally silent. Maybe just before you sleep or on the occasion when you wake in the middle of the night and can't sleep, but a silent time. Look to the heavens and ask God one question and make him a promise. Ask God to suggest an idea, a cause, something to live passionately for in the next 5 minutes; it doesn't take Him long. Promise God that what ever His suggestion, the very next thought in your mind that you would do what ever it takes to follow through on it. No matter the suggestion, (for the better good of course) no evil deeds accepted here. Know that the next thoughts in your mind will be from God with His purpose for you and your life. Now listen silently for the suggestion. The how is not important, it's the why.

Remember, now that you have promised to act, God will give you your gift. This idea could be something totally off the wall or something you are already working on. You committed to doing what ever it takes. To take one of Gods talents and multiply it as best that you can. And God said you will be rewarded till you cup is full and running over.

For quite some time I avoided the silent time. I was afraid to commit and ask for my quest. Was I really willing to follow His guidance? I was truly afraid of what He would suggest and then would I hear His words or miss them completely.

Today, I have a road to follow, people to see, people to help. I am on a journey with more passion and commitment than ever before. I am still learning new skills to fulfill my promise to its fullest. There are many miles and many challenges to overcome but I promised God I would take his suggestions and make it my Why.

You can do this too. Trust God and know that He gives you opportunities to be come better and stronger. God will never abandon you and never give you challenges that you can't overcome. Trust God, ask God and be blessed.

Become more - to have more!

Have more - to give more!

Give more - to keep all you give!

This article origianlly published on EzineArticles and on my blog where we discuss more about how you can make a difference in your lifestyle and the lives of others with your choice to succeed in your own business.