As I reflect on the last week, I am struck by the fact that it was bookended by two inspiring examples of individuals turning passion into purpose into action.
Early in the week, I attended an event filled with amazing women who had participated in a retreat. Our host asked us several thought provoking questions to stir reflection and conversation. One of the questions had to do with anger.
I was inspired by the story of a dynamic executive (GM) who told me how she felt anger, a negative emotion, can be useful when turned into productive positive action. She described the time her son’s teacher penalized him for taking a day off of school to perform in a highly selective musical competition. The teacher did the same thing to other students who took time off for educational related events, such as college tours. When she asked the teacher to reconsider his actions and the reply was” I am not changing my mind and there is nothing you can do about it.” GM thought, you bet there is something I can do about it and sprang into action.
Stirred by the teacher’s arrogance and by her passion to protect her son and other students from arbitrary nonsensical policies, GM contacted the local press and school board to advocate on behalf of her son and other students. And through perseverance and passion, she got the rules changed and the penalties removed. Her pride and energy from this achievement were palpable. Passion (for her son) led to purpose (right a wrong) led to action (advocacy) and results!
At the end of the week, I was inspired by a very different individual- artist Leon Golub- whose work is on exhibit at the Met Breuer in New York City. Golub believed in the ethical responsibility of the artist. His work breathes passion and purpose.
The show’s curator Kelly Baum describes Golub as an artist “who takes us places we don’t always want to go, but shows us things we ultimately need to see. “ “He was an artist, historian and an advocate for social justice – he wanted to suss out oppression wherever it existed and throw it all into his paintings.”
Two very different individuals, but two individuals who know what it means to connect purpose passion and action.
· What are you feeling passionate about?
· Are there ways to turn that passion into positive action?