Passion & Resilience

Happy Sunday!

One of my favorite podcasts is The Jordan Harbinger Show. Jordan is a great interviewer, and speaks to some amazing people. The conversation & knowledge is informative, entertaining and often very inspiring.

I catch up on my listening while I commute, and Episode 205 was on deck for Friday. It was precisely what I needed to hear, and it has me thinking, exploring and delving into how my passion, my purpose has created the resilience I need. Jordan dives deep with Gabriel Mizrahi, discussing all the possibilities of pursuit, and when it starts to not get hard.

As an artist, this got me thinking, and nodding, and hollering while commuting (solo in my vehicle btw, not on a bus or train with other humans in earshot!) and so, I wanted to share it with you here and riff on ideas in our sphere.

The big takeaway for me was this: creating meaning doesn’t assume happiness. Creating meaning doesn't mean you are going to be happy. Meaning isn’t happy.

Amen.

How many of us have beaten ourselves up thinking we are doing something wrong because we aren’t feeling “happy”, “content”, “fulfilled” all the time, as we pursue the meaning of our passion or our purpose?

You don’t have to. In fact, pursuing something purposeful, something meaningful, something true, means you are going to be frustrated, even miserable. Yes, even that.

But, Susan, you ask: then why would I bother? Well, if you can think of something else that would give you more meaning, more truth, then by all means, do that. However, my experience says, if that becomes purposeful - IF IT MATTERS - then there will be some frustration.

It’s because it matters that it demands the work; the bother. It’s not easy, it’s not fair. It matters.

YOU matter.

The discipline you have developed and are developing to explore your craft matters. That discipline is demanding. If you ignore it, and it matters, it keeps tugging at you; it keeps poking you; irritating you; annoying you; until you can’t ignore it and you must face it straight on.

It’s not easy. It’s not fair. It matters. THIS is what builds the resilience, the grit, the determination in order for that passion to have a place to reside and a chance to thrive.

Often in that moment of true frustration, of fatigue, of not knowing: we throw up our hands and say “now what do I do?” and if we are paying attention, we are able to take a breath and find that little light in our peripheral vision that allows us to make the next move and begin to fuel the passion again, in order to find a place for it to reside.

Learning when to think, when to feel, when to action is just as important as how to think, how to feel, how to action.

Acknowledging all of it and giving it space, is crucial. If it matters, it is going to create great joy, and frustrate you & drive you nuts.

Happiness isn’t passion. Easy isn’t resilience.

Discipline your passion. Feel frustrated. Get tired. Acknowledge it all. Figure out what is important, what gives you purpose, and develop that discipline. Every small step, every possibility, every time you sit down: all of it matters.

Let’s keep exploring this - and find more possibility!