As we enter into 2017, some are looking forward to a new year filled with possibility. Others are dreading what could be a dramatic change in the global political climate.

Regardless of where you stand on the issues, one thing is certain: there are incredibly passionate people making very impassioned arguments. People who feel their emotional involvement and need to create or support a cause as an outlet for their passions. It's as if a spark has been ignited, and that cause serves as the oxygen and fuel that grows that spark into a flame.

Causes are one of the primary drivers of passion. Whether it’s human rights, environmental concerns, or animal protection, when people feel very strongly about a topic, there is no stone left unturned, no fact left hidden. Although debates can devolve into shouting matches, they often begin with well educated and thought out points that are developed after hours of background research and conversations with people on both sides of the argument.

If you aren’t driven by a cause, it may be because you haven’t found one to connect with yet. Not everyone is impassioned by social justice, and that’s ok. If you find that gentrification in your local community is your focus, then make it your focus. If you find that protecting open advancements in technology is important to you, then make it your focus. If you find that animal cruelty hits a certain spot in your heart, then make it your focus.

Learn everything there is to know about building a strong community that supports each other, provides the necessary services to the residents, is diverse in it’s offerings and so on. Connect with people in other communities that are experiencing similar issues and determine which course of action is showing the most promise. Attend meetings with local officials and let your voice on the matter be heard.

These types of actions are driven by a passionate response to a cause. Find that cause that has evoked even the smallest amount of emotion in you and investigate it further.

Start to ask the questions that maybe haven’t crossed your mind:

What would I volunteer to help with?
What side do I find myself falling on during debates?
What websites, news sources, and stories am I reading most often?

Finding a cause will in turn encourage the development of your passions. Otherwise, you may find that you are unable to work your passions into your life without feeling as if something is missing.

What cause drives you?

- Ryan

Fan The Spark To Find The Flame