The thoughts we entertain and the way we think have the power to build up our life or tear it down. This episode explores why it’s important to monitor your thought life and what you can do right now to change your life by changing your thoughts.

Have you ever had everything you ever wanted but ended up feeling unfulfilled? Maybe it was professionally related; you put a lot of the blood, sweat, and tears to get that promotion or that career-changing opportunity to only end up unsatisfied. Or maybe it was personal related; your health was in check. Your bills were covered. And your relationships with family and friends were solid. Despite the good you had around you, you weren’t at peace within yourself. Fulfillment is something we all inherently desire. But what is fulfillment exactly? How do we experience it? Is it something we achieve? Is it a goal far off in the future? Or is it something we can experience each day? In this episode of the Passion With Purpose Show, we are going to address all of these questions and much much more. Get Part One of my book Passion With Purpose now by visiting www.passionwithpurpose.org/fulfillment!

We have reached a point in modern history where we have never been more technologically advanced or have had such quick and easy access to information at our fingertips. Despite our progress, we’ve never been more unsatisfied, discontent, and in some instances struggling with hopelessness. And current statistics show this: Thirty percent of workers plan to quit their jobs in the next year, with fifty-six percent seeking new employment in the next twelve months alone [1]. Only twenty-six percent of leaders create psychologically safe environments for their teams [2]. Only fifteen percent of employees worldwide feel motivated [3]. Fifty percent of Gen Z is battling anxiety and depression [4]; And globally speaking, anxiety and depression cost the global economy a staggering one trillion dollars annually [5]. Many say that there has never been a greater need for leadership in our world than now. And I agree with this sentiment. But is our crisis of leadership the root cause of the challenges we are encountering, or is it just simply the tip of an iceberg? The annual investment on leadership development within the United States alone is one-hundred sixty-six billion dollars [6]. In many instances, leadership development is focused on how to lead others or on how to lead organizations. Little attention is paid to how one should lead oneself. And this is where our focus should be. We often get so caught up worrying about what’s going on over here or over there that we forget to lead ourselves. We forget that leadership is a divine calling on all of our lives. Yes, some are called to lead nations, organizations, or small communities. But we are all called and have a responsibility to lead ourselves. In fact, our ability to lead ourselves is a predictor of how well we can lead others, organizations, and the world at large. To provide a little more context; it’s not like we don’t try to grow in self-leadership or personal development. People in the United States collectively invest ten point four billion dollars per year on self-improvement [7]. But if we are investing all of this time and money in leadership development and self-improvement then why does it still seem like the world is crumbling around us? Why is it that 50% of Gen Zers are struggling with mental health [5] and that only 15% of employees worldwide are engaged in their work [3]? Why is our world filled with brokenness, pain, and despair? Because we aren’t only facing a crisis of leadership. We are also facing a crisis of purpose. You cannot put a price tag on purpose. It’s something we all inherently long for. And too easy it is to find purpose in all the wrong places, and even in the places that appear as good. The time has come for leadership development and self-improvement initiatives to be rooted in Truth and timeless principles. That’s why I created Passion With Purpose. To empower people to unlock human potential and performance by renewing their understanding of human nature so they can skillfully build passion within themselves and others. With a mission such as this I dream daily about a world one day where primary motivation, passion, and behavior is ignited, energized, and sustained by truth, integrity, & purpose. A world where people embrace authenticity and are on fire for who they are and what they do; not simply for their own good, but for the good of others around them. This is the call of leadership. This is the vision of Passion With Purpose. Life will throw everything at you to burn out your passion, but Passion With Purpose is here to inspire you, encourage you, and empower you, as you take your life and leadership to the next level with a passion that is fireproof. Passion With Purpose isn’t just a leadership development organization; it’s a movement. It’s a journey of transformation into becoming the leader you were destined to become. Join us, engage in this mission, and learn more now at passionwithpurpose.org. References: [1] Gillespie, L. (2023, April 3). Survey: 56% of workers plan to look for a job in the next 12 months. Bankrate. https://www.bankrate.com/personal-finance/job-seekers-survey/ [2] McKinsey & Company. (2021, February 24). Just 26 percent of leaders create psychological safety for their teams. https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/sustainable-inclusive-growth/chart-of-the-day/just-26-percent-of-leaders-create-psychological-safety-for-their-teams [3] TeamStage. (n.d.). Motivation Statistics: Numbers in 2023. Retrieved October 3, 2023, from https://teamstage.io/motivation-statistics/ [4] Lee, C. (2023, March 20). Latest Federal Data Show That Young People Are More Likely Than Older Adults to Be Experiencing Symptoms of Anxiety or Depression. KFF. https://www.kff.org/mental-health/press-release/latest-federal-data-show-that-young-people-are-more-likely-than-older-adults-to-be-experiencing-symptoms-of-anxiety-or-depression/ [5] National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2023, April). Mental Health By the Numbers. Retrieved October 3, 2023, from https://nami.org/mhstats?gclid=Cj0KCQiA7bucBhCeARIsAIOwr-_mryPgVr3hp8Lz9-i-aijtm5GJWQeY_Q8IM0faz9DI722oo2Q2TFAaAjFGEALw_wcB [6] Westfall, C. (2019, June 20). Leadership Development Is A $366 Billion Industry: Here's Why Most Programs Don't Work. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/chriswestfall/2019/06/20/leadership-development-why-most-programs-dont-work/?sh=7ce8c25261de [7] Weiss, M. (2022, September 7). U.S. Spends $10.4 Billion/Year on Self-Improvement: September is Self-Improvement Month. Belongly. https://www.belongly.com/u-s-spends-10-4-billion-year-on-self-improvement-september-is-self-improvement-month/

How often do you hear the phrase "Follow Your Passion"? It's time to redefine what passion truly is and debunk this misleading piece of life advice. Passion is more than just a hobby. It is the symphony of our thoughts, feelings, and emotions. It is our soul set on fire and the source of energy on our journey of purpose. Etymology Definition of Passion - https://www.etymonline.com/word/passion. Read Part 1 from my book 'Passion With Purpose - The Fire Within' for FREE here: https://www.passionwithpurpose.org/fulfillment.

The key to living a fulfilling life is not waiting for it, but it isn't all that simple. In this episode, Author Steven F. Mezzacappa discusses the topic of fulfillment and how applying the idea of resilient passion can pave the way to living a fulfilling life right now, even when wrestling with seasons of suffering and adversity. Interested in learning more? Get Part One of Steven’s book, Passion With Purpose - the Fire Within, that focuses on the relationship between fulfillment and building passion by visiting www.passionwithpurpose.org/fulfillment. Steven's social media handles: @sfmezz Passion With Purpose's social media handles: @thepwporg For more information, visit https://www.passionwithpurpose.org/.

Are you seeking to be more authentic and set the world on fire with your passion? Pursuing your passion with purpose requires faith, trust, and authenticity. In this first episode of "The Passion With Purpose Show," Steven F. Mezzacappa explores the connection between authenticity and passion. He challenges listeners to reflect on how how authentic they are living and offers practical insight on how to live with an authentic passion. Interested in learning more? Grab a free chapter of Steven's book, Passion With Purpose - The Fire Within, that goes into more detail regarding the relationship among authenticity, identity, and passion by visiting https://www.passionwithpurpose.org/authentic. Steven's social media handles: @sfmezz Passion With Purpose's social media handles: @thepwporg For more information, visit https://www.passionwithpurpose.org/.

Are you seeking to live a more vibrant life filled with passion and purpose? Do you seek to be a better leader in your family and community? Are you passionate about faith, leadership development, and personal growth? If so, then The Passion With Purpose Show is for you! This show pulls back the curtain on some of the major theme's behind Steven F. Mezzacappa's book 'Passion With Purpose - The Fire Within' and especially Steven's theory of passional intelligence that goes beyond emotional intelligence. Passional intelligence is about assessing both the spiritual and physical activities of life that affect our soul. While emotional intelligence empowers one to be socially adaptive, passional intelligence empowers one to be spiritually adaptive. It addresses the why and truth behind the human experience and behind the thoughts, words, and actions of people. Visit www.passionwithpurpose.org to learn more.