My passion looks and feels like this: show the world yours.

Here’s a video I crafted a few years back. As you’ll see, I’m passionate about my sailboat, and this passion is expressed as joy.

As an aside, I had a blast producing this piece on Apple’s Final Cut Pro Application.

“I’ve shown you my sense of joy; now, feel free to show me yours (No dirty pics, eh!) ” ~ Daniel-Ibrahim

How do you express what you love? What sensations do you feel? This is what joy feels like - embrace more of it.

It’s my life, and I’ll live it on my terms. I’m blessed enough to do what I want, when I want, with who I want, the way I want, for the reasons I want, as long as I do so with love and integrity.

Let’s refine Robert Plutchik’s Wheel of 72 Emotions and focus on any of the 24 positive sensations listed below;

Awe, Confidence, Contentment, Courage, Curiosity, Ecstasy, Euphoria, Excitement, Gratitude, Happiness, Hope, Interest, Joy, Love, Pleasure, Pride, Relief, Satisfaction, Self-confidence, Surprise, Trust, Wonder, Zeal, Zest

Refine the list to three sensations that label your mood over the last few hours.

If you can’t find anything positive on the list, ask yourself if it’s an issue or something is missing in your life—a topic for another time.

We often use the word passion in a positive context for personal development, goal setting and finding one’s real purpose. But in reality, you can select any word from this list of 24, and you’d be talking about passion.

Positive sensations are a critical element of any successful journey. To succeed, you must understand the dynamics of your cravings and aversions. What makes you tick?

Too much of one sensation is a deep, sometimes overwhelming emotion that can cause a lack of reasoning and get you in trouble. 

Positive sensations will help you go above and beyond the call of duty in any battle. Experiencing positive emotions is more important than pursuing money because these emotions bring joy into your life.

Positive sensations are why you do what you do, not what you own or control.

Embrace a warm, joyful sensation, and you’ll be motivated toward instead of away from something.

Misguided passion, such as a crime of passion or irrationality, short-sighted, blind outbursts, fanaticism, compulsive thinking, rage, and overreaction, is unhealthy—but I’m sure you knew that.

When any emotion becomes an obsession, you are OUT of balance. This imbalance can lead to burnout at work, not to mention alienating your friends and family.

In addition, obsessing over everything you do will trap you in blinders, causing you to focus only on the result at all costs—not cool.

‘Without my work, I am nothing’ - Oh really? How’s that working for you? Be mindful that you don’t end up so wrapped up in an outcome that you lose sight of the bigger picture. Do you live to work or work to live?

Ask yourself why you love something (or someone) so much. It’s ok to find this thing you love rewarding and joyful. However, if you are chasing an ego boost or social status, that’s not a good thing.

Getting lost in something (I lost all track of time) is fine, but ask yourself, ‘What else am I besides ‘this,’ and what other parts of my life do I care about?’

We aim to push a few emotional buttons now and again and get you thinking beyond convention or tradition when it comes to living, loving, and learning a proud life on YOUR terms.