Discovering
and claiming something you love to do has an amazing
effect on your entire life. It’s like rain landing on a dry, barren soil. The
instant it falls to the ground, something dormant comes back to life as the
living sprigs forth from the dead. True passion can take on a life of its own.
Your passion is the reason you wake up in the
morning, and just the thought of it can keep you up late at night. Passion can
also be a quieter feeling of satisfaction, knowing you’re living life on your
terms. Not everyone knows exactly what their passion is.
Don't worry because whether you're looking
for your passion in finding a new career, or if you're looking to get
completely immersed in a new hobby, there are several things you can do to find
the passion buried deep inside you.
1.
Inventory your talents: What do you have a
natural aptitude for? Forget about what you’re good at but don’t really like
doing much. I’m talking about the things you have a delight in performing. Are
there things you like to do that you don’t think you’re that good at, that
other people have complimented you on? Perhaps you rejected their enthusiasm.
Identifying things
you love that you’re good at is a great way to unearth potential passions.
Don't be concerned if what you love isn't practical or common. You don’t have
to be good at something for it to quality as a passion. You don't have to ever
earn a penny of income from it either. Talent can simply be a clue. When it comes
to your passions, the only thing that matters is that you enjoy them.
2. Notice when you lose
track of time, or what you hate to stop doing: What would you love
to spend hours doing, that you never get enough time to do? That’s a passion,
and you probably need to do it more than you are.
3. Pay attention to what
makes you annoyed (or jealous):
Are there
people doing things that are frivolous who annoy you? Take a closer look at
that irritation. Is the truth behind your aggravation that you wish you could
live so freely? You don’t want to have so many serious responsibilities. You
hope someday to be as adolescent as they are?
4. See your passion hunt
as a fun, joyful adventure: I do believe it’s critically important to
discover and engage in things that light you up, but it’s just as important to
cultivate an un-serious child-like attitude of play, wonder and adventure. When
you deliberately open yourself to noticing things you might enjoy doing, don’t
be afraid of getting it wrong. It’s all an adventure; you’re learning and
growing as you go.
Happiness research shows that trying new
things increases dopamine levels in the brain, contributing to
sustained levels of contentment. Notice what you love. Notice what makes you
feel like a kid. Notice what you long to have more time for. Make time for
these things, whatever you can manage, and watch your life start to change.
It’s really magical.
5.
Think of what you loved to do as a child: This is probably the
simplest way to unearth what pursuits hold the potential to light up your days.
Before the grown-ups get to us with their ideas, most of us know exactly who we
are and what would make us happiest.
6.
Three questions to
help you determine your passion: The reward for
you happens when you know your life purpose. It all comes to answering three critical questions
that can aid in discovering your passion: What are you good at? What difference do you want to make? What excites you?
“Don’t worry
about what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and do that, because
what the world needs is people who have come alive.” (Howard Thurman)[i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“Five Steps to Finding Your Passion” by Dr. Susan Biali
·
“The
3 Questions to Help You Find Your Purpose” by Alan R. Zimmerman
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