#Spirit: TD Jakes: Ignite Your Purpose

I have a profound belief that every living thing was created by God on purpose and for a purpose. We aren’t morphed apes roaming the earth, blown by the winds and circumstances of life only to turn into dust. We are created to be and do life for a reason. And that reason is illuminated by the ignition of our passion.

Passion [[pash–uh n]

1. Passion is when you put more energy into something than is required to do it. It is more than just enthusiasm or excitement, passion is ambition that is materialized into action to put as much heart, mind body and soul into something as is possible. [Urban dictionary]

In this Oprah’s Life Class video, TD Jakes discusses the inter connectivity between passion and purpose. He says, passion is the thing that enables you to do what you were created to do. It is what helps you surmount the obstacles that stand in the way of achieving your life’s purpose. He talks about the need to ignite our passion by exposing ourselves, moving away from our comfort zones and realising we have options. The most freeing element about passion is that it has no age or physical restraints. Anyone, at any age can ignite their purpose by finding their passion. He also talks about the inter-connectivity between pain and passion. He says ‘If you had not been through the pain you would not have the passion…the greater the digression the stronger the progression’. Whatever you think is working against you is actually working for you.

He tells us to chase our passion and not the provision and not to confuse talent with purpose. We may not fit our dreams perfectly, so instead of being afraid, take baby steps and believe that you are worthy.

I decided to share these videos because I think so many times we over analyse our dreams or wait for the perfect time to actualise them. There is no perfect situation or time to ignite your purpose. Before I started the Inspire Series, I wanted to wait until I was a size 12, so I could be slim enough. I was worried that people would say I had no experience or call me an overweight attention seeker. Then, one day, I realised I didn’t want to wake up at 80 with regrets. I wanted to tell my grand children stories of what grand mummy did. I wanted to be able to look back on my life, knowing I had done something with this intangible fleeting gift called life. So I started. In experienced and overweight, but determined to take each baby step, one at a time.

The only one stopping you from living the life you were created to live is you. Start today and I promise, you’ll never look back.