Think about these three things … Play, Passion and Purpose
In your life, where do you play? What are you passionate about? What is your purpose? Are there any commonalities among these areas? What do your answers tell you about your intrinsic motivation?

I don’t know about you but I think often about my purpose in life. It is an ongoing struggle for me, now that I have more time on my hands and I am not employed out in the real world. Before, I worked to support my family, then to provide healthcare for us. Life changed and suddenly I couldn’t work so now what is my purpose. What can I contribute to society now?
I considered this a lot, every time I thought I had the answer to purpose something would happen. I was right back where I started.
Recently, listening to a lecture the professor asked what do you do to play? My first thought was… I am an adult, I don’t have time to play. I have too much to do. But that bugged me a lot. When did I forget how to play, or when I lose sight of its value. I thought about all the things I used to do for fun. Dang, it’s been a long time since I’ve done any of them. I need to play, that’s it. My inner child feels neglected.
Then I considered passion the next p of the three. Well, I am passionate about my family, and my hobbies. But then I came back to play. Do I do these things I am passionate about because I am having fun or because I have always done this. Busted, it is simply routine to me!
When I learned my hobbies, I was excited and charged through the project. I was having fun. Now, I do them because I know how but do I really feel the same excitement. Sadly, I don’t. My hobbies have become habit not fun. I am not motivated to finish them at all.  Then I am back to that third P, purpose and more questions than answers.

As I am writing I don’t have the answers I want. Evaluating one’s life is important and should be done often. Like the old adage, life is too short to miss a thing. I want the most life can offer so I need to answer the three P’s.  I will find joy in the tasks I set again.

What about you?