Passion Feedback

Share your passions with others and seek their feedback...

I feel like I've been doing this a lot recently. I am constantly seeking approval from other people. In fact, I consider it to be a pretty big weakness of mine, one that immobilizes me from making my own decisions. But there are some people that I just trust. People that I feel motivate me. I'd like to reflect on five people who have given me sound advice in relation to the things I'm passionate about. I feel like it's not possible to express your passions to people without them giving you unsolicited advice. But I'll take all that I can get.

General passions I alluded to: A love for people. Being in an environment where people are producing new and innovative ideas. Honesty. Feeling like I'm contributing to something. Art, innovation. Working for local companies.

President Stewart Walkenhorst (Mission President from Heaven). He told me, well, a lot of things. But he told me that it doesn't matter how hard it is to live in the world. What matters is that I keep the commandments of God. Because God loves me and He wants me to be happy. He told me that if I am obedient, Heavenly Father will protect me. He will make sure that I am provided for.

Dane Goodwin (Best Boyfriend Ever). When I claim that I am not passionate about anything, and not talented in any specific area, he laughs. "You can connect with anyone." He helps me identify that I live out my passions every day just by interacting with strangers. Like that homeless guy, Jeff. Or that woman who was crying. I just can't help but interact with them. We're all human.



Sidenote: Now that I think about it, I have a very, very, very soft spot in my heart for the homeless. Especially pan handlers. They make me tear up. Every time.

Kaitland Garner (One of those Best Friends that really is the Best). One day I was crying. I told her I felt like I wasn't doing enough. I told her I felt like I didn't care about anyone, or that they couldn't feel that love. I told her I felt like I was withholding a piece of my heart from my interactions with people. Essentially, I told her I felt like I wasn't living up to my passions. And she laughed. A lot like Dane laughed; I guess I must sound ridiculous when I cry. But she said, "everything you just listed as weaknesses are your strengths".


Kathy Hajeb (The Go-and-Do Expert). I would love for you to think that I'm sucking up for sticking you in here, but your advice was so motivating that I think it made a massive dent in my quest. You listened so intently as I shared my passions and my concerns and my fears. As a missionary, we called it, "asking inspired questions". And those inspired questions helped me identify that not only do I care about human interaction, but I crave getting to know people on a deeper level. I want to learn their story. I want to learn why they do the things they do. And you reminded me of my love for documenting peoples' stories through words. I love to write; I always have. (Forgive the lack of photo. We only just met!)

Dustin Locke (Brother-in-Law Extraordinaire). He told me not to settle. He reminded me that everyone thinks someone else could do the job better than they could. But be confident. He told me I was just what everyone was looking for, they just didn't know it yet. And he saved me from working at a burrito joint, so I guess that's a success in and of itself. Solid feedback.

Some passions are tangible, easy to identify, and involve the process of creating a marketable product. I wish I had more of those. But I'm learning that my passions are more revolved around the kind of person I am, and takes on a different definition of "marketable".