The day was crisp and cool, a perfect run day. I pushed off and soon fell into a gentle rhythm. The wind bit my cheeks and I reveled in the sensation of my body awakening to the adrenalin coursing through my body. Today, there were no training notes running through my head – watch your knees, breathe from the belly, check watch, adjust speed. Today, there was no thought of fartleks, tempo runs, pace per mile or negative splits. This one was just for me. I breathed deeply and enjoyed the rhythm of my sneakers and the soft sound of wind. As I warmed, I picked up the pace, celebrating the power in my legs. Nothing else mattered on that run but to simply feel and enjoy. When I finally turned back, I was breathing harder and drenched in sweat. I was giddy and could have danced the last few yards but instead turned it up and sprinted in feeling like a gazelle, although I am certain I resembled a middle aged woman with a crazed expression on her face.
Later that evening watching the US Figure Skating Championships I thought about my earlier run. The most enjoyable performances were those where technical acuity was matched by pure unadulterated passion. I watched Jeremy Abbott’s face as he skated flawlessly, his body gliding through the air effortlessly. Yes, he was skating for a medal but he was also skating for the sheer love of sport. His face was not a mask of studied indifference but laid bare revealing an unabashed joy. The raw passion so evident that you felt you had stumbled into a private moment and should quietly back away.
There is something profound about giving yourself over completely to passion. Becoming one with the moment and completely going for it, uncensored, and having a blast.
It makes me wonder why we pull the curtain down on our best selves in our day to day life. Why are we so afraid to just go for it in our work and in our lives? How much better would work life be if we let others see us exercise our gifts and talents with pure joy?
Jeremy Abbott prepared, planned and practiced but in that moment he stepped into the moment and went for it, fearless and passionate. The result was a spot on perfect performance that moved the audience to tears.
Prepare, plan and practice but when it’s your moment lean in, feel the passion and go for it!
How about you, ever go for it without worrying about the results?
Andrew says
Karen,
Unfortunately, these mountaintop experiences where our true passion takes over seem to occur all too infrequently.
I doubt they come much without a high level of training and practice – it’s hard to let the passion take over unless you are confident in your abilities from a technical standpoint. Many years ago, I used to compose my own songs on the piano. But making up tunes was one thing, playing them correctly was another, and very rarely did I find that the ‘passion’ which I had put into making my compositions really come out until I had practiced them a sufficient number of times in order to be confident of playing them correctly. Once I could play them well, the passion came much more readily.
.-= Andrew´s last blog ..The importance of shareholder manners =-.
Wendi Kelly~Life's Little Inspirations says
Hi Karen,
This just reminded me how long its been since I’ve gone for a run simply because I AM diving right into my passion without regard for anything else.
Ah. that elusive balance. But there is something so addicting about being absorbed in your passions its hard to come up for air. And yet…the year I ran the marathon was the most balanced year I’ve had. I needed discipline to achieve at that high of a level and still keep my family and business running too!
I think when Passion gets strong enough, it becomes the fuel that can drive everything.
.-= Wendi Kelly~Life’s Little Inspirations´s last blog ..Sith Lords In The Real World =-.
Jeanne Dininni says
What I actually meant to say was this:
“Knowing that we’re prepared gives us the confidence and sense of balance (the sure footing, if you will) that we need to let go and let our creativity carry us, unhindered, toward our goals.”
(Had to improvise somewhat when I made my correction, since I couldn’t change what I’d already written in my first comment.)
If you’d like to correct my first comment and delete my other two, that would be fine with me! (I do, however, see your point about just how perfectly this entire issue relates to the point of the post. Therefore, I will understand if you’d rather not make the correction.) 😉
Thanks!
Jeanne
Karen Swim says
Jeanne, lol! I can actually fix it for you and thought to do that but then laughed as I realized how perfectly your tiny imperfection is for the post. 🙂 God definitely has a sense of humor! 🙂
.-= Karen Swim´s last blog ..Unleash Your Passion for a Perfect Performance =-.
Jeanne Dininni says
[Note: Sorry for the malfunction of the comments box. When I clicked to make a correction, my comment was posted!]
Here’s the rest:
…(the sure footing, if you will) that allows us to let go and let our creativity carry us, unhindered, toward our goals.
[My apologies that, because I was unable to correct my original error, this isn’t worded quite as well as I would have liked. It’s all part of my education in living, though, as I learn to give up perfectionism and simply live life as it comes!]
Jeanne Dininni says
Karen,
I have definitely been learning this lesson lately and aspiring to do it more and more in the coming year. Approaching life from this perspective is so invigorating and joy-producing that it’s amazing!
Your point about preparing and then going for it is such a valid one, because once we’ve done the work of becoming fully prepared, we are then free to enter in and truly experience and enjoy our passion, allowing it to, in effect, take us where it will. Knowing that we’re prepared gives us the confidence and sense of balance we need to (the sure footing, if you will) that
Karen Swim says
Conor, please let me know when you’ll be in NY (as it gets closer!). I’m close and if all goes well (cross fingers) I may be there on business quite frequently this spring. I would love to hear you live! Oh yea, and meeting you in person would be pretty cool too. 🙂
.-= Karen Swim´s last blog ..Unleash Your Passion for a Perfect Performance =-.
Conor says
Hey Karen,
You are too kind 🙂
I have no tour planned but I do visit New York a couple of times a year (next time this April) so that’s the next time I’ll be playing live on US soil.
Hopefully some videos soon though. Not the same, but maybe closer to live 🙂
Conor
Karen Swim says
Hi Conor,
Your music is beautiful and I have faith that you will be able to open your eyes wide and allow the audience to see the place of its creation. I only wish I could be there to see it live…but perhaps you’ll do a US tour? 🙂
Karen Swim says
Hi Meryl! I love that you went for it! It’s so easy to talk ourselves out of trying with a list of seemingly rational reasons, isn’t it? You are my inspiration today!
Meryl K Evans says
Excellent discussion of performance using a timely analogy, Karen. I recently did a writing example for a potential client that took me out of my comfort zone. I just did the best I could with nothing to lose. If I landed the gig, it’d be a great new area for me that challenges my creativity. If I didn’t — at least I tried.
.-= Meryl K Evans´s last blog ..How to Deal with Lost Focus =-.
Conor says
Hi Karen,
Great insights and questions as always 🙂
It’s something I’m always seeking to improve on – switching off the technical perfectionist and just letting my voice go when I sing. I do it when I rehearse on my own, but performing live my sub-conscious seems to favour the technical, aiming for perfect pitch model. The safer place.
Perhaps that’s why singers often close their eyes when they perform live, to escape the consciousness of being watched and all the perfectionist tendencies that brings with it.
I want to open my eyes and sing from my soul. That’s the goal 🙂
Conor