“I began to realize how important it was to be an enthusiast in life. If you are interested in something, no matter what it is, go at it full speed. Embrace it with both arms, hug it, love it, and above all become passionate about it. Lukewarm is no good.” -Roald Dahl
There’s something special about the way people light up when they talk about something they’re passionate about. Whether it be their career, their family, or good ole’ Tennessee football—the fire in someone is catchy. It instantly makes a conversation more enjoyable and appealing. The sparkling eyes, the excited voice, the expressive body language all combine to completely transform a person.
It’s because of this that you need to find your fire. It doesn’t have to be your career choice, but it needs to be in your life in some form or fashion. I know so many people who have compromised their passions for something that would make them more money or give them an easier journey to success. All too often I see people choosing their career paths because they’re afraid of competition that they’re going to be going against. So many adults have lost touch with themselves and let their passions fizzle out or simply be doused by adult-life problems.
Please, don’t do this. Don’t become a lukewarm person. You cannot be lukewarm, you have to chase your fire. Don’t settle for the art of getting by. Be on fire for your girlfriend or boyfriend or your friends or your school or your job—truly love these things. Enjoy them. Pursue them. And if you catch them, don’t let them go.
As an Intern on Capitol Hill, I’ve quickly realized how much competition there really is. The corridors and tunnels are swarmed with thousands of interns politely fighting tooth and nail for an opportunity to make connections and move their way up the political food chain. But it’s important to realize that competition is all around. It’s in every career field. And the difference is passion.
Sure, experience and qualification matter, but at the end of the day, everyone applying for a coveted position is going to have good qualifications. What will set you apart in life is the fire in your eyes and the excitement in your voice when you’re talking about the things that you love.
No matter who you are or what you want in your life, someone else wants it too. It’s important to identify that aspect of life that you’re interested in and go at it with every ounce of energy you have.
Don’t live your life just scraping by day by day. Pablo Picasso once said that the purpose of life is to find your gift and the meaning of it is to give it away. That’s it—find what lights you up and spread that light to others.
