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Learning About Money and Me

Tina J. Ling is a “reacher outer.” That was the reason That’s What She Said (TWSS) organizers thought of Tina for last May’s “Financial Freedom for Womxn” seminar at The Social Study, a women-owned Bay Area bar in San Francisco. A few of us SIS Circle sisters were there to listen and learn from Tina about getting the most out of our finances.

We cannot move forward in finance without community.

The room was filled with womxn from different financial backgrounds to learn about changing their relationship with money so they can be more successful in their financial decision making. Tina challenged our thinking. If we aren’t talking about money and finance, how are we supposed to learn about finance? To drive her point across, Tina said, “In sales, we talk about money all the time. We brag to each other what we make. They talk about it on the golf courses. That is community. We cannot move forward in finance without community.” Gaining and having knowledge in finance is about community.

I am stressed about money often.

Tina asked us to look at what we care about and what we need to take care of in our lives. Deciding what’s important will be the driving force and motivation for our decisions. She instructed us to take a self-assessment where we were presented with statements to rate from 1 (low) to 5 (high). One statement that struck a chord with many of us was “I am stressed about money often.” With trepidation, some of the womxn in the room admitted that they were stressed often about money. The sharing confirmed that we are not alone in the journey. It was reassuring. Saying out loud our own worries and fears is how we begin to motivate ourselves toward making financial plans. Fear was the most common emotion attached to the discussion about finance. In fact, Tina mentioned that she worked with people who are in their 40s and 50s who had never talked about money.

“I don’t talk about how much I make because I feel people I know may be uncomfortable with it.”

– Shumsha Hanif- Cruz, a Founding SIS Circle Sister

In the Forbes article, Why We Should Get Over The Taboo Of Discussing Salary Openly And Honestly, the author Jack Kelly says we would all benefit if we get over the taboo of discussing money. He writes, “It would open the door to more real and honest conversations about saving for the future and having sufficient funds for retirement and other commitments.” Tina reminded us, “At the beginning (of the seminar), I told you how much I made because without it, that’s how they win. In sales, we talk about it to pump each other up and to know what salary value is.” Without the direct and clear discussion, we don’t know where the value lines are drawn.

We learn about money from people who raised us.
We learn about it from the people we spend time with.
From them, we learn how to interact with money.
Our placement at or above the poverty line shapes our interactions with money.

In a group discussion, one attendee stated “For each of us, enough is different. For some of us enough is having enough to keep the lights on. For others, enough is having enough for a vacation.” Tina replied, “We let the external world tell us too often what is enough for us. When we ask for something and receive less than what we know we deserve, that is letting the external world tell us what is enough for us.” In order to be in control, we need to be clear, concise and intentional about what we say when we need “just enough.” 

Changing how we see finance will help to change our financial decisions. Throughout our lives, we have been conditioned to believe that with more money comes more problems. Life and life’s problems will continue to happen whether we are wealthy or not. When our basic needs are threatened we respond differently. It was important to remember that money doesn’t make life’s problems go away however it makes life more comfortable when you have to deal with them.

Get clear on your goals.

Tina told us to get clear on our goals and asking for what we want. Write down a tangible amount and date. This was difficult. What am I aiming for? How much is too much?  There was a murmur in the room. “How are you supposed to receive what you want if you aren’t clear about asking for it?” The third, fourth and fifth steps are just as hard as the first.

“You are not your money.” She repeated it. Then she repeated it again. “You are not your money.” This mantra was going to take a hold on us all. 

By the end of the seminar, there was a sense of relief and understanding about what kind of work needs to be done to change our relationship with finance. This was an experience I didn’t know I needed. Money doesn’t have to be the root of all evil. Those shaped metal and pieces of green paper we refer to as dollars and cents don’t have the same control over my mental state that they did when I started the evening. This is not to say that money doesn’t have a place and isn’t a valued commodity in the world we live in. Rather, I should value it as a tool and be in community with finances more because I am not my money.

About the author: Brandy Collins is a Bay Area native living in Scorpio magic, observing of the world, and telling stories about people in random places. Follow on twitter @gurl79 or Instagram @story_soul_collecter

manifest abundance wealth prosperity
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Balance Without Scales

Photo by Le Minh Phuong on Unsplash

We asked our sisters on our social media accounts how do they balance their lives. Our diverse community of women who are marathon runners, entrepreneurs, educators, scientists, writers, receptionists, lawyers and community activists gave us the loudest response of… silence. When some were asked individually what they are doing to balance their lives they said they didn’t feel like they were balanced at all. Sis, you’re doing the best that you can do. What do you mean you aren’t balanced? 

We each work in a variety of spaces day in and day out to make our lives as livable, comfortable and enriching as we can with the resources that we have. Its widely accepted that what some refer to as positive psychology  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/positive-psychology is a springboard for helping people get through tough times. In therapy and in manifestation meditation practices it involves focusing primarily on the positive aspects of our lives and projecting positivity in order to maintain positive things in our lives. 

No one can be expected to do this every single day all day, all the time. Each of us also faces a new challenge that can drain us of our energies. We have obligations that require a not so positive response in order to get the results. As leaders and supervisors, we have to have difficult conversations with our staff members. As parents, we have to think about the safety of our children in a not so safe world. This is what it means to balance.

“Being balanced isn’t like putting all the positive and negative things on scales and weigh them against each other. “

Being balanced isn’t like putting all the positive and negative things on scales and weigh them against each other. Being balanced isn’t focusing all your energies to solve every problem you have ever encountered. Being balanced isn’t only thinking positive thoughts and neglecting the negative aspects. Being balanced doesn’t mean that you have to forget every moment you ever lived because you are making new decisions for the betterment of your life now.

We’ve learned to box in our thoughts into categories of negative being bad and positive as being good. Unfortunately, we may have also boxed out that opposition that brought about the innovative change in our lives. Remember that time you were overdrawn and didn’t have money to put gas in the car? (Many of us have been there, sis.) You went through every pocket, purse, and drawer to find just enough to get to where we needed to get to. This also made you plan better and think about your spending habits. You started storing your change and using Coinstar to cash it in when you were low on funds.

How about the times you disagreed with a procedure at work? Either the operating system didn’t work or the procedure was steeped in bias or you simply were told that you’re pushy, sensitive and complaining too much. Remember when you speak out about something frustrating or that puts you in an uncomfortable position, you are not complaining but simply voicing a concern. It’s okay to do that. This is why many companies have IT departments, incident reports, diversity training, nepotism policies, inclusive hiring practices, grievance policies, and whistleblower policies.

What we can do is learn how to redirect our focus on what we learn in those moments about ourselves and position those moments in a more positive light. Acknowledge that there are some challenging times in our lives. Acknowledge that you are an instrument for change. Acknowledge that your change could become a way of life for someone else. Having balance is about knowing and understanding the ebbs and flows from one life event to another. When we focus on the lessons to learn from these events rather than isolating them into a negative or positive we are then balancing our lives. Hopefully, when we ask our sisters again how they are balancing their lives, we may need to reframe our question to:

How are you thriving, growing, and learning?

What steps are you making to improve your quality of life?

About the author: Brandy Collins is a Bay Area native living in Scorpio magic, observing of the world, and telling stories about people in random places. Follow on twitter @gurl79 or Instagram @story_soul_collecter

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Six Degrees of SIS

Infographic vector created by freepik – www.freepik.com

Ever play Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon? The objective of the game is to connect any celebrity to Kevin Bacon by 6 people based on the “six degrees of separation” concept. It’s more fun to see if you can connect yourself to any person you can think of in the world and see if you can connect by 6 people. You to your cousin who went to high school with a guy who did a movie and so on and so on. Each person is connected to another person on the planet. That person is connected to another and another until you realize that the world is a small place. 

This is what makes being a part of a community an amazing experience. As we encounter people on our journey we learn more about ourselves. We develop new interests and experiences. When we connect with others, we share these interests and experiences. This leads us to find our common ground with other people. Shared experiences shape our perceptions of the world. When these moments are enjoyable, we hold on to them and make more of them. When they are less than ideal, we find ways to change the world for better experiences. 

We each walk into others’ lives for various reasons. Some people stay for years and become like family. Others are gone as quickly as they arrived with barely a memory. Not all connections are large, but they can be significant in huge ways. There are times when we may not know that we are making a connection. For example, the time one time you dropped your wallet and someone gave it back to you. A friend you just met invites you to a concert. You give the woman who does your hair a phone number to an apartment you saw open up for new tenants. Each small moment can lead to larger moments and our lives can be the sum of it all. 

Other encounters can feel like life-changing events. When our sisters attended the SIS Circle Wellness retreat one year ago, meeting entrepreneur and co-host of The Great Girlfriends podcast Sybil Amuti was a welcome and engaging connection. That experience led to our founding SISters to have grown friendships, opportunities to change careers, build their businesses, participate in writing cohorts, and marathon runs. The opportunity for more growth continues every day. 

On October 19, 2019 we are looking forward to connecting with sisters at our Strength In Sisterhood 2019 Summit: Resilience. We’ll begin in intention setting and yoga. Next, we’ll listen to our women’s panel on resilience. After that, there will be two workshops learning about crystal healing and the importance of self-care. A celebration reception will close the evening with music and food to nourish us. On Day 2 we will have a brunch and workshop allowing time for reflection and deeper connection with yourself and others. This is the hope that SIS Circle has for every event for our participants; to remove one degree from you to your goals or connections with others. We’ll see you there.

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Three Skills Women Should Cultivate For Their Career Growth

Last Friday, we interviewed three amazing women leaders from DocuSign, Denali Therapeutics, and The Teaching Well. This is the first of four blog posts that captures their insightful responses to our questions. For more information about our panelists, read their bios here.

Your positions in leadership are inspiring to other women. What would you say is the number one skill an aspiring female leader should cultivate as she grows in her career?

Julie Ziegler

Question submitted by founding SIS Circle member, Julie Ziegler.

“Figure out what you want to do, ask for help when you need it, and create a plan.“
– Lena Waters, VP Integrated Marketing at DocuSign

Lena’s response (slightly edited transcription from interview):

Make sure in a professional environment to ask for what you want. It seems like a small thing but sometimes women find themselves in a position where they are so busy taking care of others we forget to take care of ourselves. If I am trying to make my way from A to B in a career in a company I should have a plan. There’s no problem making a plan when I am at work. I manage accounts, projects, and teams, and I would never do anything without having a plan.. When I started to think of it that way, it got simpler and it didn’t mean that my plan was really good, and it didn’t mean that it worked out, but it allowed me to stand out of myself and when I needed help or if there was something I wanted to do to advance the plan, then I could ask for it. It gave me the backbone of what I wanted to do and how I was going to do it and allowed me to disassociate myself from feeling bad or guilty.

Figure out what you want to do, which is the hardest part, ask for help when you need it, and create a plan. Think of everything you do as a project. We all do that from day-to-day. That’s been the one principle that I’ve kept with me from when I was very young and I still do it today.

“Professional resilience.”
– Dr. Meredith Calvert, PhD, Principal Scientist at Denali Therapeutics

Dr. Calvert’s response (slightly edited transcription from interview):

Professional resilience; I know that’s multi-faceted but also critical to success in any field. Professional resilience is the ability to work very hard. It’s to put absolutely everything into it, to believe in it, and to work really hard for it. That’s the number one ingredient for success.

At the same time, professional resilience is the ability to take criticism and not let it break you down. To be able to understand and hear constructive criticism but at the same time with resilience, you have to believe in your own ideas too. You have to be able to take criticism, but also recognize when it doesn’t resonate with you and to decide that you’re going to stick with your ideas anyway- and be able to distinguish the two.

“Believe in our own genius.”
– Sonya Mehta, Director of Partnerships at The Teaching Well

Sonya’s response (slightly edited transcription from interview):

I recently read a Harvard Business Review article that talked about a study they did on leadership competencies between men and women. It compared men’s and women’s performance, and also how women rated themselves with how men rated themselves. Out of 19 competencies, women outperformed men in 17 of them, and yet consistently rated themselves lower in all areas. That’s consistent with other findings on how men often read job descriptions and meet 30% of the criteria and apply anyway, using their other talents and charisma to advance in the process. Women do just the opposite. (They) read job descriptions where they meet 90% of the criteria and choose not to apply. As women, we often get in our own way because of societal conditioning that has taught us not to take a chance on ourselves.

So, it’s clear to me that women don’t really need to develop any talent other than believing in our own genius. Everything else is already there. When we look at disparities, so much is culturally transferred from one generation to the next. I think our generation has the ability to move out of that and invest in our own abilities as women.

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Time for Rejuvenation

Photo by Sam Shin on Unsplash

re·ju·ve·na·tion
noun
– the action or process of making someone or something look or feel better, younger, or more vital.

For many, summer is a time to take a break or go on a vacation or even a staycation. This is a perfect time to rejuvenate:

  1. Celebrate. Give yourself a high five for all the positive progress made throughout the year. Look at anything that new that you have experienced or learned. These are moments that identify and shape your character. Even as adults we are still moving and growing into better versions of ourselves. This period of review is a good opportunity to take a look at your progress. It doesn’t have to be leaps of change in your life. It could be something as small as buying fresh flowers for your home because you set out to make your home more beautiful. Celebrate that effort because it was something you weren’t doing before. 
  2. Be patient. It’s okay if you are not where you thought you would be now. It’s possible that you set something into motion that requires more patience and less interaction. You may have also encountered a barrier that has you stumped. Take a look at that barrier and question why it’s a barrier and what you can learn from this moment. We all have setbacks and its okay to acknowledge those. The objective is not perfection but rather to continue the practice. Be patient with yourself and remember that you are on your journey. The journey itself may be the destination. 
  3. Review the intentions you set for yourself. Don’t forget that an intention is not a goal. It’s your purpose behind the goal. What is it that you set out to achieve and its purpose in your life? Recall why you made your vision board. One of the hardest lessons to learn is releasing the ego. Our egos may want us to hold fast to ideas that may be slowing us down. Your purpose for a goal may have also shifted as you worked through it. The intention may not have been serving you in the way you thought it would. You aren’t beholden to the original intention if it no longer serves where you are going. Permit yourself to let it go.
  4. Rest. You have been toiling away at making your business boom, your fitness goals or finding a new relationship. Whatever it was you set out to do, remember that you cannot enjoy what you have accomplished or will accomplish if you’re burnt out. We are living in a world that provides access to information and people non-stop. You may need to unplug by the pool and read a magazine. Take time to sit down with a coloring book. It’s okay during the hustle to stop and acknowledge your work by journaling your thoughts without nitpicking over what you haven’t accomplished yet. You will feel refreshed and get back to your journey with renewed energy. 

Wherever you are, know that you have come a lot farther than you think you did. You can find ways to rejuvenate yourself as you continue the rest of the year. Before you know it, you will be setting new intentions and goals.

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Keep at it. Keep going. Keep pushing.

Photo by Valentina Conde on Unsplash

Wow! We are half-way through 2019. This is a great time to take time to check-in on the goals you’ve set at the beginning of the year. Ask yourself these two questions:

Where am I now?
How am I now?

Think about how much you’ve grown over the last 6 months. Maybe you haven’t lost those 15 pounds yet, but you’ve started to walk more and have eliminated some of those unhealthy foods from your diet. That’s progress! You may not have that ideal promotion at work yet, but perhaps you’ve taken more initiative to lead projects or expand your skillset. You are on the right track! The tickets to your dream vacation haven’t been purchased yet, but if you are putting money away, you will get to your destination!

Making progress towards your goals is huge and you should celebrate those wins. But, you need to stay motivated to continue that progress. If you are struggling, dig deep and ask yourself:

Why do I think I am not reaching my goals?
What do I need to do to get motivated?
What help and resources do I need to accomplish my goals?
How can I hold myself accountable?

Self-reflection can help you discover what’s holding you back from your success. It’s important to take time to make a personal assessment of yourself.

Tips to Keep you Motivated

1. Find an accountability partner. This could be a friend, a co-worker, or someone else that you can check-in with from time to time to talk about your goals and your progress or setbacks and to also hold your feet to the fire.
2. Eliminate obstacles that prevent you from reaching your goals. If there are negative people in your life that continually suck the energy out of you, you may need to reevaluate that relationship or limit the amount of time you spend with them. Remove bad habits that do not serve a purpose in your progress.
3. Don’t compare yourself to others. Do YOU. Keep your focus on yourself, your goals, your accomplishments, and what it takes to get YOU to reach your next step.
4. Don’t give up. You may face setbacks and that’s okay. Learn from your mistakes and keep going. You got this.

There are 184 more days left in the year. That’s 184 more opportunities to start fresh and reset. So keep at it. Keep going. Keep pushing. 

Motivational Quotes

It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.
–Confucius

Infuse your life with action. Don’t wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope. Make your own love. And whatever your beliefs, honor your creator, not by passively waiting for grace to come down from upon high, but by doing what you can to make grace happen… yourself, right now, right down here on Earth.
–Bradley Whitford

Good things come to people who wait, but better things come to those who go out and get them.
–Anonymous

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. –Helen Keller

 I believe that the only courage anybody ever needs is the courage to follow your own dreams.
–Oprah Winfrey

You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something–your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life. –Steve Jobs

Check out these motivational TED Talks

Getting Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable – TEDWomen2017

Luvvie Ajayi isn’t afraid to speak her mind or to be the one dissenting voice in a crowd, and neither should you. “Your silence serves no one,” says the writer, activist and self-proclaimed professional troublemaker. In this bright, uplifting talk, Ajayi shares three questions to ask yourself if you’re teetering on the edge of speaking up or quieting down — and encourages all of us to get a little more comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Why the secret to success is setting the right goals – TED 2018

Our leaders and institutions are failing us, but it’s not always because they’re bad or unethical, says venture capitalist John Doerr — often, it’s simply because they’re leading us toward the wrong objectives. In this practical talk, Doerr shows us how we can get back on track with “Objectives and Key Results,” or OKRs — a goal-setting system that’s been employed by the likes of Google, Intel and Bono to set and execute on audacious goals. Learn more about how setting the right goals can mean the difference between success and failure — and how we can use OKRs to hold our leaders and ourselves accountable.

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Movement Means

Photo by Adriana Aceves on Unsplash

When we think of movement often we think of physical activity. Everything in your life is about movement towards a better you.

This month’s blog post takes a different twist in our format. We used synonyms for movement listing ways we can work towards building ourselves as well as those around us. Our intention is to use the theme of movement in more ways than one in your life.

Let’s get up and get moving together!

ACT on what you say you will
Help ADVANCE someone else’s progress and growth by sharing your own story
CHANGE behaviors that no longer serve you
Work on the DEVELOPMENT of new skills and mindsets
EXERCISE your mind as well as your body
Ask yourself who do you want to EVOLVE into
Take time to go with the FLOW
Don’t be deterred by the FLUX of life’s ups and downs|
Do a kind GESTURE without expecting acknowledgement or accolades
Take a small JOURNEY by yourself
Pay attention to the MIGRATION of people in and out of our lives
MOVE forward with ideas that you’ve put off
MANEUVER through tough challenges without distracting away from them
PASSAGE of time is inevitable but what you do with it is not
Make incremental PROGRESS toward your goals
Pause when you need to avoid REGRESSION to your old mindsets
SHIFT your priorities to make sure you are practicing self care
Do one activity that STIRS your curiosity
TRANSCEND all negative energy

About the author: Brandy Collins is a Bay Area native living in Scorpio magic, observing of the world, and telling stories about people in random places. Follow on twitter @gurl79 or Instagram @story_soul_collecter

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Grow in Your Self-Trust

Photo by Kaitlyn Jameson on Unsplash

When springtime comes around, we begin to see the greenery and lushness around us. The sun starts to shine, and flowers are in bloom. Many of us experience the springtime within us at other times of the year.

Throughout different points in our childhood, we are taught to rely on others to help us, nurture us and provide direction to our lives. Into our early teens and as adults we are expected to move from interdependence into decisiveness without really being taught how. Then as adults, we are to become experts or rely on the expertise of others to guide our lives. However, in our development, we miss an essential lesson which is trusting ourselves and our instincts. As we grow through different phases in our lives, we become different versions of ourselves. We live many lives as we become who we will be.

Our individual growth also has an impact on not just ourselves but the world around us. Think of yourself as a plant. When you are nourished with light and nutrients you rise and share your nutrients with the ground. You even may feed other plants. You give oxygen and keep others alive. But what happens to a poorly cared-for plant? They seem unsightly. Can kill off other plants. Some carry disease which can spread. Plants, unlike people, don’t doubt their growth.

To trust ourselves we should ask ourselves questions that we strengthen our growth and build our self-trust.

What do you like about yourself? Start by making a list of the things you enjoy about yourself. Similar to trust in others, you would not put trust someone you didn’t like.

When do you celebrate yourself and your accomplishments? Even something as simple is as looking yourself in the mirror and saying “Job well done” is a small celebration for you to acknowledge overcoming or growing from something. Remove the idea that humility means you can’t accept praise, even from yourself.

Where are the receipts for when you made good decisions? Identify those times when your instincts were right. Look at the moments when you had an idea or thought that lead you to make a decision based on your instincts.

What about the time when your instincts didn’t work? Acknowledge that sometimes bad decisions do happen. Don’t minimize these instances but rather look at them objectively and remember you learned a lesson from it. Don’t let it define you but rather shape your decision making.

Would you allow someone to talk to your child, friend or cherished family member poorly? If no, then do not allow this for yourself. Your self-talks can either help or hinder your growth. When you trust in yourself and your instincts you will find that you continue to bloom, much like a healthy plant.

About the author: Brandy Collins is a Bay Area native living in Scorpio magic, observing of the world, and telling stories about people in random places. Follow on twitter @gurl79 or Instagram @story_soul_collecter

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A Visit From The Past

And there it is. Your old fling. Your old friend. That person who hurt you. That did you wrong. Or even the perceived wrong. But here you are crossing paths — a “like” on a social media post. There’s a message in your inbox with their name sitting unread. You read it. The words “I miss you.” The “I hate that we are no longer…”

Now comes the question of should you respond. “I’m in a different space now,” you say to yourself. “I’m a changed person.” #unbothered #blessed

But you are still asking yourself questions. Should I let this person back into my life? Better yet, should I even entertain a conversation? This shouldn’t be this hard. Sorry, sis. You wouldn’t be struggling with it if there wasn’t a need in you to deal with this. It’s not your gut telling you not to speak but rather your ego. Conflicting memes that tell us that everything that you left behind should stay in the past and also “If you love something let it go. If it comes back to you, it’s yours.” Going back even to consider a conversation and openly admitting the desire to do seems weak. There’s the embarrassment, hurt and humiliation there. “But it’s not,” you say.

Before you do anything, identify what you gained when your relationship ended. If that relationship hadn’t left, would you have been able to learn to travel alone? Had it not been for that hurt, would you have reached out to call a different friend for advice? Dig deep. Write down your questions to yourself. Find the reward there.

Take a pause and realize that you are where you are BECAUSE of that circumstance, not in spite of it. Acknowledge it as that moment that gave you enough energy to go back to school, go after your promotion, make healthier choices or change your friendships. We’re not saying that everyone deserves this consideration or to be a hero in your survival story. People who were physically or mentally abusive don’t get that power. Under the weight of pain, something in you may have felt broken. This piece of your life existed and created a crack in you that you are sealing and repairing with gold.

The need to reach out may still be with you, sis. You miss them back. Ask yourself how are they going to improve your life? Is there value for you there? Do they value you? There was something that you felt was dismissed or underappreciated. You may not have liked the person you were when you were with them. If you don’t miss who you were or feel positive, enriching feelings then what are you gaining?

Finally, are you still revisiting the pain, hurt or embarrassment that you experienced before? Are you telling yourself that you want “closure”? If the answer is yes, then #bothered #stressed

Just because you respond doesn’t mean you have to rekindle your relationship. However, to revisit your past, it must be in your past. It means that you’re willing to face the pain, confront it and then willingly and KNOWINGLY let it go. Don’t answer that call. Delete the message, sis. You’re healing hasn’t been completed, yet.

About the author: Brandy Collins is a Bay Area native living in Scorpio magic, observing of the world, and telling stories about people in random places. Follow on twitter @gurl79 or Instagram @story_soul_collecter

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pas·sion

pas·sion
Noun

1 : a strong feeling or emotion He spoke with passion.

2 : an object of someone’s love, liking, or desire Art is my passion.

3 : strong liking or desire : love She has a passion for music.

When we speak of passion we typically talk about it as an emotion and in relation to people we share our lives with.  But rarely do we speak of our passion for something a will to action. It’s how we gather our strength and drive our decisions.There are stories and articles that speak “Awakening passion” or “Finding what we are passionate about”. But these don’t happen easy or overnight. There is a love of what we are doing or the goal in mind that becomes the driving force for our actions. There is a need to connect to something more meaningful. That is passion. We wanted to share some thoughts about what passion means from other perspectives.

“The happiness of a (wo)man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions.” Alfred Lord Tennyson

Following your passions isn’t enough. It takes practice and work toward becoming a master at your passions. Whether its building a website, knitting scarves or public speaking, it takes time and effort to become proficient. Learn your craft, build your network and make the connections you need to build.

“My passions were all gathered together like fingers that made a fist. Drive is censored aggression today: I knew it then as purpose.” Betty Davis

There is power in knowing your purpose. It drives how and why you make your decisions. This leads towards ideas and goals setting. There’s power in believing in yourself and your own potential. It drives others to want to support you and empowers them to act. This can be your fuel to continue working when you want to stop.

“Only as you do know yourself can your brain service you as a sharp and efficient tool. Know your own failings, passions and prejudices so you can separate them from what you see.” Bernard M Baruch

The work doesn’t come easy but it makes you grow. Following what you truly love can help you to learn what you’re capable of and how far you are willing to go for what you want. When you want something you push yourself to achieve.

“We should every night call ourselves to an account; What infirmity have I mastered today? What passions opposed? What temptation resisted? What virtue acquired? Our vices will abort of themselves if they be brought every day to the shrift?” Seneca

When you find your passion, hold yourself accountable to continue in your work. Once you start to find your rhythm, your habits may change. Your priorities will be centered around reaching your goals. Take into account what you stand to gain and what you are willing to part with for your passion.

“Only passions, great passions, can elevate the soul to great things.” Denis Diderot

Finding what you truly enjoy doing is rewarding. It can make your days feel fuller and when you end your day your exhaustion has more meaning. It becomes habitual and almost addictive.  

“Forget about the fast lane. If you really want to fly, harness your power to your passion. Honor your calling. Everybody has one. Trust your heart and success will come to you.” Oprah Winfrey

Honor what you are doing and own it. If you feel that this work is important, it’s because it is. The work you are doing may seem small but it means something to someone, even if that someone is only you right now. Continue to do the work, revel in the hustle and bustle. Speak with gusto when you speak about what you’re doing.  

So sis, ask yourself what drives you to do the work you’re doing?  Are you passionate about your purpose?

About the author: Brandy Collins is a Bay Area native living in Scorpio magic, observing of the world, and telling stories about people in random places. Follow on twitter @gurl79 or Instagram @story_soul_collector