June 24, 2008

Like millions of people around the world, my wife Michelle and I participated in the online class that Oprah Winfrey did with Eckhart Tolle that took place between March and May of this year (and is currently re-playing on Oprah.com each Monday night at 8:00 PM CDT – check it out).

We loved the class and are still getting so much out of it and Tolle’s book A New Earth. One powerful moment of the whole experience for me was the final moment of the final class. After Oprah and Eckhart said their goodbyes to each other, to all of us who had participated in the class, and as the out-going music was playing – she turned to him and gave him a “high ten.” It was a cute and sweet moment of excitement and connection between the two of them. From the look on her face you could see and feel her joy, enthusiasm, and genuine passion.

I turned to Michelle and said, “That’s why she is one of the most powerful, influential, and admired people on the planet.” Her passion was and is so real. Oprah gets excited about all kinds of things – books, cars, movies, growth, dogs, gratitude, helping people, and so much more. When she does, you can feel it – it is real and it runs deep.

This is not about Oprah, it is about our own ability (or inability) to feel and express our passion. For some of us, based on how we were raised, our personality, and the environments we find ourselves in, the people around us, and more – it might be easier to express our passion; while for others, more difficult.

When we get in touch with our passion and are willing to express it, not only do we come alive, we tap into one of the most powerful forces in the universe which can allow up to manifest what we want (not just things, but feelings and experiences as well) and in the process inspire others.

The key is that for passion to have real power, it has to be genuine…you can’t fake it.

What are you passionate about? What makes you come alive? How can you more fully express your passion today and every day?

I will close this post with one of my favorite quotes:

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” ~Howard Thurman