Last week I offered some 'stuff' about the importance of emotions in our lives.

No emotion = no action & No action = no change.

This is especially important if those of us with mental illness which re-occurs, wish to work to diminish their effects or longevity. You could also be the partner or carer for someone with mental health issues.

So let's treat it (our lives) as something to become better and better at...like a skill or even a sport.

What is it about Olympic sport that pulls us in? More than the demonstration of skill and talent, it's often the back story: How an athlete overcomes hardship or injury; how the underdog beats the odds on favourite; and how winning is not always measured in gold, silver or bronze.

For the two weeks of the biggest sporting event, the Olympics, we bear witness to the power of passion.

Passion is a powerful regenerative energy. It reminds us of who we are and the why's and what for's that brought us here in the first place. When there's alignment between who we are and what we're doing, we work – live and play - better.

While most of us don't live out our passion 24/7, each of us has something we feel passionate about - a career, a place, a cause, a hobby or maybe for some of us, it's just a healthy life! Passion is borne out of what we care about, what we love and what brings us joy - all heart felt emotions that serve us well. Passion lights up our lives and can help get us through the tough times.

Yet in the midst of too many emails to answer, too many deadlines to meet, too much to do (busyness), or simply getting through another day, it's easy for the flame of passion to fade away.

What is it inside you that would rediscover or reignite your passion?

Take a few moments and ask your heart: What matters most to you? What makes your heart come alive? What makes you truly authentic with yourself? (Remember what makes your heart sing April 2nd blog?)

Inscape not escape and feel the passion to be who you really are – as that is THE door to your happiness.

Some mental ill health is about a loss of who we are, as we seek to be socially accepted or 'successful'. To be accepted 'outside' however, we must first accept ourselves inside.

Do you have the passion to go deeper inside and do the real work of life on the only person you can change – yourself? You may find the answer to some of your darkness.

"To be nobody but myself – in a world which is doing its best night and day, to make you everybody else – means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting." E.E. Cummings.

And, regardless of your score, you win your game!

Les

A Moodscope member.