A Harris Interactive study that found 80% of Americans are not passionate about what they do. That’s 4 out of 5 people who are just working for money, not for their passion. Everyone knows passion is the key to success, but for people who don’t know what their passion is, finding it can be a mystery.

The Passion Test is a simple, yet powerful way to get clear about things that matter most to you and then a process to make those a priority in your life. Passions are clues to your destiny. In order to Live Life on Purpose, you must first know what that means for you.

When you are clear about your desires, what you want will show up in your life, however, only to the extent of your description. It’s all about Intention, Attention, and No Tension.

Intention is consciously stating what you want. Most people don’t even take the time to put in writing what they intend for their life. You can and should make intentions for each portion of your life, such as this day, this meeting, this relationship.

Attention has to do with what you want to create in your world. Your life is a result of what you have been putting your attention on, whether you realize it or not. The good news is, if you like your life, keep putting your attention on what you have been and if you don’t like your life, switch what you are putting your attention on to something you are passionate about.

The No Tension part is accepting that whatever is happening in this moment is the absolute best thing that can happen for you. Let’s face it we are not the General Manager of the Universe. Our reality can show up in many different ways and we have a choice to either resist what is happening or accept it and know that we may not see the big picture right now. Accepting is crucial to the No Tension aspect of life. .

If you are part of the 80% of Americans who don’t love their job, you can do something about it and it doesn’t take a lot of money or time. It just takes knowing how to do it and focusing on what makes you happy.

Think about what a different world we would live in if everyone loved what they did for a living!

Join me on this journey of joy and fulfillment by finding out what matters most to you in life and then start living it! Carol Hasbrouck www.IntentionalLivingOnline.com

photo credit: chenutis

Here we are, approaching a new year and a new decade! The question is, are you prepared for the success that you desire?

It goes without saying that this is the time of year when people set their “resolutions” which I think is just a fancy way of saying a goal that I don’t intend on working too hard on. By setting a resolution you are taking the first step towards at least attempting to set a goal, but falling unfortunately short. A goal must, MUST be written down on paper if you intend on accomplishing it.

It is very easy to set a goal and have something to say when someone asks you, but it is an entirely different mentality when you write down and internalize your desires.

Here are some steps and tasks to help you really make your goals visible to you:

1. What do you really want?
2. Write it down
3. Put in order of priority

If you are really serious…
4. Make a vision board with pictures of what you see yourself having

This is your time to shine! Do not neglect your planning. “Lost time is never found again” -Ben Franklin

Good luck, God Bless, and have a wonderful New Year Celebration!

photo credit: lululemon athletica

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Are you willing to changes your actions to get all that you desire?

Obviously if you do what you have always done you will get what you have always gotten so without change you will accomplish no more than you did before.

Anthony Robins has a great method for solving problems, but it is also useful in evaluating the changes you are willing to make in order to get what you want.

1) What is not perfect yet?

2) What could be perfect?

3) What am I willing to do to make things the way I want them?

4) What am I willing to no longer do to make things the way I want them?

5) What can I do to accomplish this and enjoy the process?

These are fantastic questions because if you didn’t notice they are all presupposing perfection, you are anticipating success instead of worrying about failure. I use these questions in pretty much all areas of my life when I have anything that is troubling me. The most difficult part is allowing yourself the time to ask the questions.

Presently I am restarting the process of getting into the best shape physically and mentally I have ever been in. When I made this decision I was truly just sick and tired of being sick and tired! But here is what is different about the idea I had and the idea many people have. I sat down answered these questions, put the schedule down in my calendar for the week, and got to work immediately. When you have an idea or desire do all that you can as soon as you can to begin the creation of that habit. Since it takes 21 days to form the habit why not get started ASAP?

Find others who desire what you desire and team up. I am extremely fortunate to have a motivated workout partner for both business and physical fitness. We set up goals and a plan, and now we have the ability to keep each other accountable.

We all have a vision or passionate desire from time to time that motivates us, but it is like Jim Rohn has stated “The key is doing what needs to be done, after the excited feeling you had when you decided to do it has left you.” Having a burning desire or laser focus is a necessity when it comes to accomplishing something you never have before. Your workout partner, who should be someone will keep you accountable and not accept excuses, is like a back up motivator and can be invaluable to your success.

To Do’s: Determine what you love and must do to accomplish what you desire, get to work, and search for a workout partner along the way. Good Luck and don’t miss part 4 the conclusion!

What are you in position for this year?

Are you ready for victory or prepared for defeat?

For those of you who believe the Universe is operating perfectly and your life is no more than a parenthesis in eternity this is your time! Think about parenthesis for just a moment, you use them in a sentence to add value or information, correct? If they weren’t there the sentence should still make sense. Allow the principle of constantly adding value become your life mission.

Think about the value you add to others lives. Are you prepared to help others unconditionally? This is where fortunes are being created. Those who can help the most people will receive the most reward. Whether is a spiritual reward, personal gratification, financial compensation, you rarely see people unhappy when they know they are making a difference and contributing something to someone else without the expectation of something in return.

You must not only have the will to win, but the will to prepare to win. Take the time to set up a game plan and goals. How many people will you talk to today? How many new friends will you make? How will you achieve the financial independence you seek? I love what AL Williams says when he hears of people getting 2nd or 3rd jobs thinking that will create more security. He says “being the only person contributing to your income is not only dumb, it’s double dumb!”

If financial security and prosperity is a goal you are striving for set a goal to have X number of people contributing to your household income by the end of the year and work backwards from there. You must have the destination in mind in order to find the way. It is once you have found the way the life happens, so be aware. Isn’t it typically when you make a decision to accomplish something or quit something that in no time at all a test is presented? You want to quit smoking and the first gas station you go to is giving them away two packs at a time. You want to make 50 business calls, but your friend just called and said we are taking the boat out it’s a beautiful day. Are you willing to make the small sacrifices today in order to live your dreams tomorrow?

Every single person in this country is in the position to earn hundreds of thousand even millions of dollars this year, but the question becomes are you willing to sacrifice. The opportunities are there, the systems have been created, and the time is NOW!

Make a few vocabulary and beliefs changes and watch your world transform. Instead of saying “I need more money,” BELIEVE “The money I require comes frequently and abundantly.” Instead of saying “I need to lose weight,” BELIEVE “I am losing weight everyday because I am making a conscious effort to do so.”

Your vocabulary, beliefs, and actions are what is creating you universal positioning all of which you have total control over. Claim your control, take action, and let make 2009 the most prosperous year ever!

Whose belief systems and ideals are you abiding by?

A friend of mine Rahul, just wrote a great article about dealing with criticism and the challenges we face while doing so, which is a little of what sparked me to write this today.

At 21 years old I decided to leave college and pursue my dream of freedom.  I didn’t care if I had to struggle to get things going, my over all desire was to never write a resume or fill out a job application. Well it is three years later and I have accomplished this goal thus far, not without family and friends criticisms and hours spent enlightening me why I have made poor decisions.

The one thing everyone who had an opinion on my life choices had in common was all of them had not accomplished what I knew I would.  The first rule in my thought process of education is: learn from those who have achieved what you aspire to. Granted you can learn something from everyone, but make sure you being educated on the right subject. It is unfortunate that common sense isn’t so common and people with an outstanding drive and ambition will take advice from those who are lazy and unaccomplished who will inevitably rain on their parade and hold them back from achieving their dreams.

Why follow the norm? Why not be different? All of the greatest discoveries ever where made by those who were seen to be strange and crazy. Einstein, Lincoln, Columbus, the list can go on for days. Take a moment to think about what these people have accomplished and lets kick it up a notch and get a little crazy!

The first thing you must do and realize is you need to have you goals and dreams written down or up on a vision board so they are constantly in your face. If you don’t know where you want to go any road will take you there. I read a few months ago that something like only 5% of people actually write down what they want in life, 5%! It is ridiculous when you think about it, everyone wants more. More money, more time freedom, more cars, more vacations, more stuff, more, more, more! If you want more, do more, and chances are you will probably have to do some stuff you have never done, because “if you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.”

The faster you can break away from the norm and change the way you look at things, the less you will end up stepping in you know what.

“If you follow the herd you’ll end up stepping in shit.”