Finding Your Passion

When you study the history and evolution of psychotherapy and counseling, the first phase of the investigation begins with the pioneering work of Sigmund Freud. Freud was born in Vienna in May of 1856. He was trained as a physician and surgeon, but quickly discovered his passion for working with people’s mental illnesses. The Viennese Medical Society was very critical of his new research and did not support his theories of the relationship between early childhood turmoil and trauma with resulting physical symptomatology.  

Freud continued to work closely with three European physicians who had a profound impact upon the burgeoning fields of hypnosis and psychology: Jean Charcot, Hippolyte Bernheim, and Joseph Breuer. As a result of his association with them, Freud specialized in clinical hypnosis as his primary therapeutic model for the first 5 years of his professional career.

In the 1890’s, Freud read a book that totally changed his life. It was titled: The Art of Becoming a Successful Writer. The author suggested that if a person really was serious about becoming a successful writer he/she needed to freely let their imagination run wild and to draw their ideas for writing from the imagery produced. Freud creatively found a way to apply the ideas from this book to his work with his patients and he called it free association. In 1900, Freud’s seminal book, The Interpretation of Dreams, was published and he became a specialist in analytical psychology and dream interpretation.

Another significant book also published in 1900 was the The Wizard of Oz penned by L. Frank Baum. Like Freud, Baum was born in May of 1856 and he let the stirrings of his imagination create the archetypal characters on the yellow brick road that we have come to love.

I mention these two men because they were both creative geniuses and the books they wrote inspired and continue to inspire millions of people around the world.  Just as Freud is synonymous with the field of psychology, L. Frank Baum is synonymous as the writer of the great American fairytale. His enchanting Wizard of Oz is regarded as the favorite family film of all time. No matter what we think about Freud’s theories or Baum’s fantasy tale, their legacy lives on because of the passion they put into their work and their accomplishments.

Passion is an astonishing force to harness. Look at the passion of Mother Teresa who once said that she would continue to do her work with the poorest of the poor until she took her last breath. We look at the lives of passionate people, not to be humbled by what they did, but to be inspired and encouraged to arouse our own enthusiasm and passion.

Never lose sight of what arouses your passion. You might discover your passion for writing, painting or sculpture. Your passion may be directed into a particular sport or activity. Perhaps your chosen career continues to ignite your excitement and zeal. Maybe music, dancing, cooking, exercise, or volunteering for an important cause you deeply believe in continues to challenge and enchant you. No matter what it is, find your passion in life and life will continue to reward you with amazing surprises.