For many people finding their passion is a really easy question. But what about those of us who struggle to find the answer?
When I was little, I knew exactly what it was that I wanted to be, and I knew exactly what I needed to do to get there.
I wanted to become a news journalist. But my world came crumbling down when, even after working at that dream job, I was desperate and unhappy.
There was an itch that I just couldn’t scratch, but I wasn’t really sure what that ‘it’ was. It was only when I could no longer take the desperation that started paying close attention to my real passion using the following steps:
How to Find Your Passion
1# Brainstorm
Get a piece of pen and paper, and brainstorm all of the things you enjoy doing and make you feel good now, all of the things that you used to get excited about when you were little, any clubs or societies you were a member of and anything that you are interested in pursuing, but have never done.
If there are any crossovers then it’s good. It means that these are things that have continued to pop up throughout your life, and are likely to continue doing so – which could mean it’s your passion and you just haven’t considered it before.
With me, my brainstorming revealed that I had always loved to write — so I started up writing features for a few websites and found that it was something that I was not only good at, but it was something that I was really passionate about.
2# Explore
From your list of things that you enjoy, pick three that are most appealing to you now and incorporate them into your life. Try out classes, or clubs to see if these are something that you still enjoy.
You’ll eventually find something that you love, and wonder why you hadn’t thought of it before. If this doesn’t work, take up something completely different and outside your comfort zone and see if you like it. Finding your passion can sometimes be as simple as trying out a new activity.
Throughout my life, I tried many hobbies — karate anyone? I played the Cello, I attended ballet lessons, I read books, I tried learning German, I joined a running club.
I eventually found out that cooking was more like my thing, I started to really enjoy myself.
3# Don’t be influenced by negative people
It’s natural for people to try and give you their advice on what they think your passion “should be”.
The problem is that you aren’t them, and only you can really fully understand if something makes you feel good, or if it’s something you can be passionate about.
When you’re with your friends you might not have told them that you really enjoy painting, because they might think it’s weird or out of character.
I will never forget the day that I said I wanted to travel the world, have a huge adventure, and not know when I would come back. I was shot down immediately by someone whose opinion really mattered to me at the time.
I was hurt and upset, so I put it to the back of my mind. A few months later after a night out with one of my closest girlfriends, I had an epiphany of sorts.
She told me about her own travel experiences without trying to influence me. By the next week, I had booked my flights!
4# Don’t be afraid of failing
This one’s most important. If you’re struggling to find your passion and are feeling disheartened by it all, give yourself a break.
Sometimes it takes a while to really find what your thing is and taking a risk to find your passion is worth it. By trying different things, at least you can definitively say if you like something or not, and if it isn’t then surely it’s better to know before running off and starting to pursue something as a full-time career.
Do you have any tips and tricks to find your passion? Please share them in the comments below!
Image by orangeacid.
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