The Passion Test

October 1, 2007
Co-founders of the online magazine Healthy Wealhty 'n' Wise, husband and wife team Bray and Attwood have produced a self-help guide with a simple test at its core, requiring readers to list and prioritize their goals, wants and desires, weeding and striking until they have just five "passions" listed; those are then held against one's life to determine how close one is to each (readers are encouraged to retake the test every six months). A full life steeped in passion is achievable, the authors assert, through the application of three concepts: intention, attention and "no tension." In part one, these concepts are explored in depth, along with seven steps for "Living Life Aligned with Passion"; part two puts these ideas into action. Throughout, the text is peppered with anecdotes, theories and analysis from experts and colleagues who have taken the test and put it to use in their lives. There's nothing revolutionary about Bray and Attwood's technique, but it's a simple (if not exactly "effortless") approach to organizing and prioritizing that's both practical and intuitive.