We tend to float through our days in a haze of to do lists, errands, work responsibilities and other tasks that typically do not ignite a passion for life. These are all things most of us must do everyday. But are they? And can we perhaps change our perspective regarding the mundane?
The older I get the more I realize Alan Watts was on point when he said “The real secret of life- to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.”
In our fast paced world we tend to see work as a burden, especially if our work has nothing to do with our talents and passions. So we then have a choice- change our view or change our job. For many of of changing careers isn’t that simple. Our jobs afford us a certain lifestyle that pursuing a field we are passionate about may not. For instance, if you are a chemical engineer but your passion is painting, you will not necessarily be able to maintain your standard of living if you suddenly quit your job to paint. Over time your skill can develop and perhaps you will earn more through your art, but upfront there are trade offs. So if we do not have the financial ability to quit our current job then we must change our perspective of work.
What if we simply start saying “I’m going to play today” instead of saying “I’m going to work today”? Sounds like fun doesn’t it? In all actuality everything we do is play (or practice). Every day we play being human but most of the time do not realize it. Being at play we lose ourselves in the moment. Do you remember playing as a child, lost in the summer sun, running though the woods? We didn’t think about deadlines or worry about what tomorrow would bring- we were fully engaged in the beauty of the moment, fully engaged in play, fully engaged in whatever our passion was at that moment. How did we lose this passion for life?
We started calling it work.
So lets change our perspective and reignite passionate living. We need to ask ourselves what we are passionate about, where do we lose ourselves completely in the moment?
If we are not passionate about our jobs, it doesn’t mean we need to quit, it means we need to view our jobs as means of pursuing our passions.
(I will mention if you are exhausted because you are working 12+ hour days and have time only for sleep etc.. then perhaps a job change is in order.)
A subtle shift in attitude towards work can have astounding impacts long term. When we no longer greet the morning with the frustration of getting up “just to go to work” and instead greet the day with awe for the adventure that awaits, we align ourselves more potently with our true nature. We are creative beings bursting with potentiality, but we have blinded ourselves with worry and fret. Each and every moment we are reborn, each and every moment we have a choice, each and every moment we can choose to let our awareness blossom and see the world anew.
When we see the world around us for what it is, we open ourselves to possibility and opportunity. It is truly amazing the doors that open to us when we stop looking for them so intently. Play, instead of work, allows us to live passionately in the moment. …And isn’t that what life is truly about?
Let Passion & Play fill your days.
Namaste.
Dandelion Doorways 