It is a true disservice to not only our health, but the health of those around us and the planet itself, that we are taught to tamper down our passions for the sake of logic or security. As children, hopefully, we are allowed and encouraged to explore our passions and imagination and play. But then suddenly, we are told to put those silly notions aside and start to get serious. One may love to paint or sculpt or write, but how many times have we heard that there is no "future" in that passion as a career and set those aside for something more sensible. And is it any wonder that this is when most diseases and chronic health conditions begin? Most serious illnesses take 10-20 years or more to even show the earliest of signs. So if I'm told to abandon my desires in my mid-20s, and start to show signs of heart disease in my mid-40s, could it have had its origins (at least in an emotional or spiritual sense) in the disappointment we felt. I remember once in college a chemistry TA told the class that if anybody was thinking of declaring art or philosophy or creative writing as a major, they needed to "grow up" and pick something more practical. Even then I knew what a dangerously damaging that statement was to so many of the students in the room.
We truly must take the time to identify what our passions in life are, and take the time to nurture and develop those joys. If I love art, that doesn't mean I must become an artist to be happy. But nor should I abandon all attempts to keep art an active part in my life just because I choose a different career or path. Yes, financial security is important, but it shouldn't be our primary goal in life. I know this is an overused and cliched expression, but nobody ever goes to their death bed and says, "I wish I would have worked more."
While I have no claim to be a member of any particular religion or spiritual practice (they are all too beautiful to pick just one), I was recently reminded of a passage from the New Testament in the Christian Bible by Larry Heisler, and amazing massage therapist and overall healer and teacher. Revelation 3:16 states "God spews out of his mouth the lukewarm." I have heard this passage many times before, and I've never really responded to spiritual teachings or sacred texts that make God sound angry or vengeful. But if we begin to view these teachings in a less literal sense, I think a greater message can be understood. If instead of viewing God as a literal figure who decides who's good and who's bad, we view God as a state of being we hope to achieve, this passage begins to make more sense. That state of total peace and connection to the Universe, where there are no anxieties or worries, is God (at least, to me it is). And what keeps us from entering that state (i.e. being spewed from the mouth of God) is being lukewarm in life; missing that fire and passion and exuberance in exchange for playing it safe or blending into the background.
So how can we hope to enter that state of bliss? By being passionate! By warming up that fire of our soul with our joys and passions in life, not only does life become more enjoyable but healing can begin. We can eat as well as we want, and exercise our bodies, and everything else we are told to do. But if we practice these actions without any joy or fire in our bellies, can we really hope to enter that true state of health?
So as we transition from Late Summer to Fall, and that quality of introspection and self-reflection becomes more pronounced and powerful, I plan to go within and ask myself if I am truly living my life with passion and doing those things that bring me the most joy. If the answer is yes: I'd better keep doing them! If the answer is no: what better time to start?
Great post! Thank you for taking the time to write this out! I really happy that I made time to read this and remind myself of the importance of my own health and well being in what I do everyday.
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