So what is it about finding your passion that makes a difference to your life and the lives of those around you? I like to think of it as a cup being filled to the brim, with the overflow cascading down to splash over those who happen to come near. Following your dream is not a selfish pursuit because it has the potential to positively impact everyone around you.

My husband recently confessed that he had always wanted to play the drums. A few weeks later, with a lot of encouragement from me and a solid investigation of the different types of hardware, he bought a drum kit and took up lessons. 20 years after he first had the urge he discovered that he has a natural ability and he spends many pleasurable, albeit noisy, hours drumming to his favour CDs.

What did I notice? There is a difference in his demeanour. It is as if he has been given permission to let loose and express himself in a way that other areas of his life don’t permit him to do.

As a singer, I am also musical, so my husband’s newfound interest gives us another connection point – another interest to share. It increases the range of things that we can communicate on and, as a result, it has a positive effect on our relationship.

And his new pastime offers him a great way to relieve tension and forget about the demands of work. Immersing yourself in your passion definitely provides you with a tool to combat stress. The difficulties don’t get you down as quickly and, when they do, your soul is lifted more easily by doing something that you’re passionate about.

You’re more interesting because you will want to know more about what you’re interested in. It will lead you to learn, to explore, to perfect and discuss your passion. You’ll quickly discover that there are others who already indulge, or would love to do so, in this very same activity. You will find you have more in common with more people.

And, not surprisingly, it can lead you to seek out other subjects and areas of life that you hadn’t thought about before. An interest in one art form may lead you to explore a different art form. A passion for one cause could well lead you into advocating for another. It will bring you into contact with new people which generates new ideas, new experiences, new horizons.

Your world will enlarge. Your desire for more out of life will increase. Your relationships will become richer and more meaningful and lift you to a new level of interaction and communication.

You will find that you are capable of accomplishing much more than you imagined and as a result your confidence will increase. This newfound confidence will flow over into other areas of your life. All of a sudden that thing you were dreading or that person you were avoiding are not quite so intimidating because you feel more confident in yourself and therefore more capable of dealing with them.

You will be an inspiration to others. “I’ll have what she’s having” (or what he’s having) will be the common response when people see you enjoying something that you are passionate about.

And you will slow down the aging process. While externally you will continue to wrinkle and stoop and turn gray, although perhaps more slowly - your heart and mind will stay alive. You will feel younger and more energized and you will see that there is much more to be gained from life, whatever age you are. Sophia Loren once wisely said:

“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of the people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will have truly defeated age.”

I’ve found there is more to me than what I’ve been living. That to discover my passion, to give myself permission to ignite and run with that passion, is giving a gift to me, to my family, to the world – and to my Creator.

We are all unique; purpose built; significant. We have all been given gifts, talents, abilities. But in using those gifts, talents and abilities we are rewarded with a return on our investment. The more we use the more we gain.

And that return just keeps growing as we keep being faithful to who we are, and developing and using what we’ve been given. In the end, our life will count – not because we were famous or wealthy or influential - but because we became all we could become.

According to a line in the movie “Serendipity”, the ancient Greeks didn’t write obituaries when people passed away. They only asked one question – “did he have passion”.

Paul, the Apostle, said “…fan into flame the gift of God…”

Let’s keep fanning that flame so that we, too, might be remembered for our passion.

Join us next month as we conclude the “Lost and Found” series.

(c) Wendy Rush 2007