On the 4th of July (Independence Day here in the US), I went to a party with a barbecue, a keg, a view of the fireworks over Lake Union in Seattle, and a drum circle. As luck would have it, Arthur Hull was in town and at the party. Arthur - a well-known figure in the drumming world - is known as "the father of the modern day community drum circle movement." He's also a pretty amazing drummer.
When he grabbed his drum and jumped into the jam, the energy jumped up a notch...no, make that three notches. It was the same group of people who had been jamming just moments before, but the whole thing suddenly took on a new life.
With just his participation, Arthur provided the spark to take it to the next level. The energy he brought to the circle and the playing impacted everyone, and the collective energy behind the jam shot through the roof.
It occurred to me that something similar happens when we're around people who are passionate about what they're doing, regardless of what that is. People who feel vibrant and alive because they're doing what they're meant to be doing are inherently energizing to be around.
On the flipside, people who are dissatisfied with where their lives are taking them can be a drain, sucking the energy out of their surroundings.
Look at the people around you. Are they energy catalysts, or energy sappers? Part of creating a life that lights you up is energy management. The more energy you have to put towards creating what you want, the better your chances of success. Being around others who are on fire about their lives is one place to fill up on that energy.
By the same token, when you find that juicy, passionate place for yourself, you become an energy catalyst for the people around you. And when you're surrounded by other energy catalysts, it creates a perpetual motion machine of sorts as the energy and inspiration flows back and forth.
Brought to you by Curt Rosengren, Passion Catalyst TM
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