PASSION IN ACTION

CRAIG WITT, CEO - U.S.

Have you ever struggled with the challenge of identifying your true passion? I still really haven’t figured out mine. The easy ones that come to mind are family, faith, friends, and freedom, but what really gets you out of bed in the morning, and when times get tough, is that still your focus or do you revert to earlier habits in order to cope?

I have a lot of things in my life that bring me joy, EXIT being one of them, but for me, it’s like sharing what my favorite food is…I can’t settle on just one. Maybe that’s just my personality. I get passionate about new challenges, helping people, problem-solving, leading and just plain getting things done. I find joy and pride in my accomplishments whether they be personal or professional.

Perhaps we could look at passion a little differently, in terms of chemicals in our bodies that make us happy. Endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin are the four feel-good hormones we all have, that each function in different ways. Knowing this, what is it that we do that increases those hormones in our brains that relieves stress and promotes happiness? Committing to passion means doing something every day in order to feel fulfilled, therefore we need to know what brings about that sensation.

One of the best ways to measure anything is to track or keep a journal. Just like a doctor asks for it to build a historical record, identify trends and hopefully pinpoint answers, we should be doing the same thing in our personal life as well as our business. By keeping track of your activities every day, you can get a visual understanding of where you spend your time and the result it has on your mood, as well as other factors. At EXIT we also promote affirmations, which can be used to reinforce good behaviors and then strengthen those passion-led habits that provide the best results.

Whatever you decide is your passion, take the steps necessary to reinforce the behaviors that will promote contentment and fulfillment. Pay it forward by sharing what’s working for you with your close circle, and then put your passion in action to work around you.