When what you do is fueled by passion, your labor of love often takes time to grow, to be noticed and appreciated. This is my takeaway from watching my husband, Lee Carroll, with his music and his collaboration with Senegalese artist Alioune Guisse. They have been working on their music project for five years and are just now being given recognition.
We were in Chicago for the World Music Festival where they were given top billing. Finally, after years of work they received an ecstatic response and rave reviews. Finally.
Here are some notes on the importance of staying the course, maintaining the passion for what you love.
BE PATIENT WITH YOUR GROWTH
There is nothing more personal and creative than taking what speaks to your heart and letting it fuel your creativity. It takes time to nurture, just like cultivating a sapling into a tree. Your passion is what makes you unique and what makes what you do important. It deserves the time to nurture and develop. No matter the field – the time you put into yourself to develop your message, your skills and talent is essential to your personal development.
YOUR VALUE DEVELOPS OVER TIME
Contrary to the cultural message to seek instant results, true mastery, skill and value can only be developed over time. Real results often don’t come until you have invested years in a project. In my work for social justice change in mental health, we use the rule of 7 years, it often takes that long for real change, like decriminalization and legislative action to be implemented. Stay the course.
RECOGNITION COMES AFTER PERSISTENCE
There is a reason that full recognition often comes later in life. Persistence and dedication to what you passionately love builds, develops, deepens and grows richer over time. Your consistency and belief in the value of what you do is the important message that may take time to be noticed. But it will come – just as Lee and Alioune’s journey illustrates, they are receiving rave reviews after decades of disciplined work doing what they love.
How willing are you to give your passion time to grow? Reach out if you’d like support for it.
