Episode2

The podcast discusses the importance of using your passion to make a positive impact on others' lives. It acknowledges that finding your passion and knowing how to use it can be overwhelming, but emphasizes that you don't have to have it all figured out right away. The podcast suggests reflective exercises to identify your passion and strengths, encourages starting small to make an impact, and emphasizes the importance of surrounding yourself with like-minded people. It also emphasizes the power of authenticity and overcoming fear. The podcast concludes by highlighting the significance of small acts of kindness and the transformative power of pursuing your passion. Hey friends, welcome back to Feel the Shift podcast, where we dig into all things entrepreneurship, mindset, and of course, chasing our dreams. I am your host, Krista Withacay, and today we are diving into a topic that is near and dear to my heart. Using your passion to impact other people's lives. All right, so just for a minute, picture this. You wake up every morning, okay? Feeling excited, feeling energized, and ready to tackle the day, because you know what you're doing isn't just for yourself. It's actually for the greater good. That, my friends, is the power of aligning your passion with your purpose. But, okay, let's get real for a moment here. Finding your passion and figuring out how to use it to make a difference can feel overwhelming at times. Trust me, I have been there. I have been there so many times. But here's the beautiful thing that you don't have to do it all. Not you don't have to do it all. You don't have to have it all figured out right away. And it actually, it's okay. It's okay to start small. It's okay to experiment. It's okay to fail. And it's okay to learn along the way. You know, there's something truly magical about finding what sets your soul on fire and then using that passion to make a difference in the world. So whether it's photography, writing, maybe it's baking, maybe it's cooking, or even knitting, it really doesn't actually matter what that passion is, because your passion has the power to inspire, to uplift, and to transform the lives of those people around you. But here's the thing, okay? It's not just about pursuing your passion for the sake of personal fulfillment. I truly believe that it's about recognizing the ripple effect it can have on others. So every time you show up authentically and passionately in your craft, you are actually giving others permission to do the same. So you are shining a light for them to follow. You're showing them what's possible when you dare to dream big and to chase those dreams with everything that you've got. So now I know you're probably thinking, but Krista, how do I even start, okay? So how do I turn my passion into something that truly impacts others? Well, here's the thing. It all starts with embracing who you are and what you love, okay? So let's break it down into some actionable steps that you can take today to start unleashing your passion and making a lasting impact. Because I know we all have things inside of us that light us up, but sometimes we just forget or we haven't tapped into it in a long time. So I'm gonna give you some actionable steps that will help you to start reigniting that, okay? So number one is to actually just reflect on your passion. So take some time, okay? Take some time to reflect on what truly lights you up. What activities make you lose track of time? Like these are the things that when you're doing it, your soul is dancing, like you are so happy inside. And if you could do it for 24 hours straight with no interruptions, you would be happy. And what topics or causes are you deeply passionate about? And I'm gonna encourage you to actually write them down and to explore how you can incorporate them into your life in a more meaningful way. So even if you are kind of tapping into it or dabbling a little bit, maybe write it down and you'll see if you just free flow, don't overthink it. What are the things that light you up? And do more of those, okay? Number two, identify your strengths. So think about your unique strengths. Your talents and your skills. How can you leverage them to serve others and to make a difference? So whether it's through teaching, it's through creating, it's through organizing or connecting people, there's always a way to use your strengths for good. And remember, your strengths are not always someone else's strengths. So usually, these are things that come easy to us and we just kind of assume that everybody knows how to do it. That's not true. So if you stop and think about what are the things that people are inspired by you by already? What are the things they come to you for? For advice, or what do they ask you about? Those are usually things that are going to be your strengths, your superpowers, we can say, okay? Number three, start small, start small. We all have to start somewhere. So don't feel like you have to change the world overnight. Start by making a small impact in your own community or your own circle of influence. Volunteer your time, offer to help a friend in need, or simply just spread kindness wherever you go. Just that in itself, okay, is a gift to this world. Connect with like-minded people. Surround yourself with people who share your passions and values. This is so, so, so important, okay? Join online communities, attend networking events, or start a mastermind group with others who can support and encourage you on your journey. Surround yourself with people who believe in you, not people who are gonna start talking about you as soon as you leave the room or the table, okay? People who cheer you on and who aren't afraid to hold you accountable to your dreams, okay? Not people who are intimidated by your dreams, people who are going to constantly be like, hey, are you still doing that thing? Hey, where are you at with this? Hey, you said you're gonna do this, let's go, okay? Having a supportive community can honestly make all the difference in turning your passion into purpose. Another one, set goals. Take the time to set a specific, measurable goal for how you want to use your passion to make a difference. So whether it's reaching a certain number of people, whether it's raising a certain amount of money for a cause, or completing a creative project, having clear goals, I should say, will help you stay focused, and it's also gonna help you stay motivated, okay? One of the key ingredients to making a lasting impact with your passion, in my opinion, is authenticity. Okay, people can sense when you're being genuine and when you're just going through the motions. So don't be afraid to let your true self shine through in everything that you do. Trust me when I say your authenticity is your superpower. There's no competition in that because there's only one of you, okay? Now, that might have been a lot of stuff already, so I wanna just take a step back here and also talk about fear, okay? It's so natural to feel scared or uncertain when stepping outside of your comfort zone, but I'm here to tell you that fear is actually, it's not your enemy. I want you to think of it as your compass, okay? It's a sign that you're onto something big, something meaningful. So instead of letting fear hold you back, use it as fuel to propel you forward. And remember, impact doesn't always have to be grand or flashy, okay? Sometimes the most meaningful moments happen in the quiet, every single day interaction. The smile that you share with a stranger, the kind word you offer to a friend in need, the small act of generosity that brightens someone's day. So just never, never underestimate the power of those seemingly small gestures, okay? Never underestimate the power of small acts of kindness, whether it's sharing your knowledge with someone, okay? Just starting out like I'm doing right now, volunteering your time and talents to a cause that you believe in. We talked about that a bit earlier. Or again, like I said, offering words of encouragement to a friend in need, every single little bit counts. So I wanna leave you with this, okay? Your passion is not just a hobby or a pastime, okay? It's not. It's a gift, a gift that has the power to change lives, including your own. So go out there, embrace your passion, and let it shine brightly for all of the world to see. And until next time, keep feeling the shift and chasing those dreams. You have got this.