Last week I wrote a blog about simple living.
One of the main points I made in the blog is that our commercial world allows those of us with a clear and authentic identity and a clear understanding of what we want to do with our lives, the ability to use the simple lifestyle to do whatever we wish.
That of course raises the question of how does somebody find the relevant passions in their lives and in their authenticity. The two are usually closely connected.
A wonderful friend of mine who loves Bali sent me a link to a set of classes and conferences conducted in Bali that are designed to help people find their passions and create employment around those interest.
I would like to admit my colossal failure in this regard. I have had dozens of clients and many classes for people who wanted to find their passions, their authenticity. I don't think I have ever succeeded, in even one case. I have helped women identify their desire to find a rich man so they don't have to work. Some may consider this a passion and an authenticity. I don't.
I don't think it is a difficult question to answer: ‘Why can't I help people find their passion?’
I think the answer is that most people simply do not have a core value system. A core interest in life, a strong set of desires. By the time they reach their late teens, if they had it, it is gone.
I think that offering a child a route to authenticity and a life of passion would require a great deal of effort on the part of parents. First, the child would need continual encouragement from some source either parents, relatives, or peers. Second, the child would need to have a range of experiences that awaken interest in the world and stimulates vitality.
I have no idea how that could be done. I have merely pushed my problem back from adulthood to childhood.