Devotion. When it comes to important elements of life, do you have it or is it lacking? Devotion comes with strong emotional bonds, which help determine who you are, the choices you make, and the personal brand you exhibit.
Definition:“A keen, committed, and loyal commitment. Zealous or ardent in attachment, loyalty, or affection.”
Gaps in life can be filled several action-oriented ways. Here are six in no particular order:
- Engaging with active loyalty to a valued cause.
- Embracing a “higher” purpose.
- Helping others in need of a boost.
- Acquiring expanded knowledge about a subject you find interesting.
- Working hard to strengthen a desired skill set.
- Relentless, loyal devotion.
Living a “fulfilled” life is broadly subjective, since the sole judge of personal fulfillment is the person whose expectations and realizations are weighed as he or she ponders his or her position. When a chasm exists between those two things (expectations and realizations), we either shrug them off, feel some degree of discouraged or deflated, or do something about it. Gap-closing is a behavioral choice.
Let’s take a quick look at each of the six:
Engaging with active loyalty to a valued cause.
Passion fuels many wonderful things in life. Making a positive difference in a cause you care about creates a positive “ROTI” (Return On Time Invested). Whenever we get more out of something than what we put in, we create positive emotional equity to inject into the lives we choose to live. Being affiliated with a cause is one thing; engaging requires a greater commitment and is far more meaningful.
Embracing a “higher” purpose.
Once we realize that giving is just as vital (or greater) to a life well-lived as taking, the altruistic propulsion that comes from affiliating with something bigger than ourselves becomes easy to embrace. Sometimes the ‘higher purpose’ provides meaning and direction to an otherwise rudderless life.
Helping others in need of a boost.
There are a lot of hurt people walking, limping, and rolling around out there. Some are better actors than others, but all can use a lift. As we navigate adulthood, we face the choice of being a positive force in the universe or a negative one. Be positive, stay positive, and push, pull, and carry others along with you.
Acquiring expanded knowledge about a subject you find interesting.
Invest in learning as much as you can about something that matters to you. The more you learn, the more prideful your expertise becomes.
Working hard to strengthen a desired skill set.
Get as good as you can at a skill you admire. As your talent strengthens, higher level achievements come within reach. ‘Skills’ I define as “the ability to achieve desired results over time.” When we invest time and effort sharpening those skills and we experience the fruits of those efforts, our accomplishments grow.
Relentless, loyal devotion.
Caring deeply about something that matters, and pursuing engagement with energy, commitment, and zeal demonstrates devotion. Devotion is for committers, not quitters, so each of us is well served to identify aspects of life worth our time and efforts and give it all we’ve got. Fulfillment is richly rewarding.
Devotion = Purpose
Everyone needs a purpose. Or two or three or four. Find yours and chase it. Devote yourself to something that matters deeply to you; something that binds to emotional reactions. Those emotions can be positive–making things better–or negative, such as righting a wrong. When we experience true devotion, we enrich our lives. Time choices become easier to make, focus improves, and progress toward personal fulfillment becomes linear instead of random, haphazard, or soap bubbles of hope.
If something is worthy of your time, devote attention and energy toward doing the best you can. The pride that comes from quality completion always warms the soul. There is a loyalty, commitment, and importance that comes from demonstrations of true devotion that seem to be lacking these days. Reflect on what matters most in the life you want to live and invest the time in devoted pursuit.
Intentionally or not, we all project out into the world our “personal brand.” Your devotions are pillars of that brand. Be proud of them, maintain them, and build around them.
Best always,
Ocean Palmer