What is life without passion?
Finding your passion is what gives life purpose. Life is a journey, and it’s not necessarily linear. Sometimes, when you feel like you’re progressing in one direction, something redirects you another way or backward, or perhaps your trajectory stops altogether.
No matter where life takes you, passion and purpose should be at the heart of all you do. Finding your passion leads to self-improvement and feelings of fulfillment. What is it that gives you the desire to get out of bed each morning?
What is your “why?”
After a long day at work, you might tell yourself or your significant other, “I don’t know if I can do this anymore.” The late great NFL coach Marty Schottenheimer once said, “If you’re not excited now, your pilot light is out!”
If you frequently lack enthusiasm or often experience the “Sunday night blues” before the workweek begins, it could mean that your metaphorical pilot light, which fuels your motivation for work or any other pursuit, has been snuffed out. How do you reignite it?
For what are you willing to suffer? You might wonder, “Wait, I thought you would discuss finding your passion?” Interestingly, the ancient Greek term for passion is πάσχω (páthos), meaning “that which befalls one, a passion, a suffering.”
What pursuits are our spirits deeply connected with? What do you feel strongly enough about that you’re willing to suffer for? That is the essence of discovering your passion.
It’s not about physical suffering but about wholeheartedly investing in activities that sincerely mean something to you. These activities may entail facing regular failures or disappointments, but you willingly go through them because you learn, grow, and find joy in your committed efforts.
When I ask people what truly makes them feel alive, joyful, or wholly engrossed in the present moment, they not only mention the happy moments but also acknowledge the challenging aspects of their pursuits — and yet, they are perfectly fine with it. Others might have walked away, refusing to engage, but those who live their passion embrace it wholeheartedly.
Psychologist Mihaly Robert Csikszentmihalyi, who spent 25 years trying to figure out what makes people happy once said, “The best moments in our lives are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times . . . The best moments usually occur if a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile.”
Finding Your Passion: How to Engage Your Imagination
Imagine a life where resources are limitless. There are no restrictions. It’s a utopia where anything is possible. You always have everything you need to achieve anything you want. What would you choose to do for the rest of your life?
Let your imagination run wild and envision what that life would look like. What would you do if you had the resources and ability to do anything? Take a moment to jot down these ideas on paper and visualize them.
Now, consider how you could transform these dreams into reality.
If it’s not possible now, don’t worry; perhaps you can make it happen later. But think about why it’s not possible now. Do you lack time, money, or other resources? Are you not sure where to start or who to ask for guidance? I encourage you to repeat this exercise annually and observe if your perspective on your passions changes.
Revisiting this exercise can also help you uncover ways to overcome the obstacles you may be facing. Remember the age-old saying, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
When looking to spark imagination, take a moment to reflect on your childhood and the activities that brought you immense joy. Unfortunately, in adulthood, these activities we used to love often get pushed to the back burner for various reasons, from work to a general lack of time. But if they once brought you joy as a child, odds are they would still do the same in your later years.
Is it possible for you to reintroduce these activities into your life? If so, what would that re-engagement look like?
In Which Activities Have You Excelled?
What kind of pursuits have you excelled in or received compliments for your performance? What are you good at?
I have conducted workshops at my workplace that go beyond my regular job responsibilities. These workshops focused on fitness, nutrition, and emotional well-being, and I noticed a positive impact on the participants.
I thoroughly enjoyed preparing for and facilitating these workshops, and people encouraged me to pursue this further. Therefore, I am now actively pursuing this endeavor to continue assisting others, and I’m delighted I shifted to pursue this passion.
Is there something you excel at and enjoy so much that it doesn’t feel like work? When finding your passion, you don’t just have to focus on activities you’re good at. You could love writing, but you don’t necessarily have to be good at it to consider it a passion or something that gives you purpose. It just has to excite you.
Take a moment to think about all the high points of your day. Are there any tasks or activities you find yourself looking forward to? There may be something there. Even seemingly insignificant activities could prove to be the peak of your day. Identifying these points could bring you closer to finding your passion.
Hone in on these high points, no matter how big or small they may be.
What Activities Make Time Fly By?
What activities do you often engage in where time seems to fly by? You don’t regularly monitor the clock to see how much time remains. This is a clear sign that you are truly immersed in whatever you’re doing. We all know the saying, “Time flies when you’re having fun,” and that’s largely true.
We all have tasks in our lives that seem to drag on. It could be a specific chore, a weekly meeting you attend, or work itself. Even if they take up a lot of your time, these tasks that make the clock feel slow aren’t your passion.
Instead, look for the activities you wish you had more time for. Even if you spend hours on them, it never feels like enough because you genuinely enjoy what you’re doing. That feeling of time racing past you indicates that you’re doing something you’re passionate about.
Can You Perform This Activity on the Side?
Unfortunately, we all have responsibilities we must tend to, and everyone cannot devote the bulk of their time to their passion. If you cannot pursue your passion as your principal occupation, consider dedicating your non-working hours to its pursuit.
This could lead you to discover a similar activity that could be a viable option for you. By engaging in this passion alongside your current job, you can create a platform for potential migration once you decide to leave your job or retire. Start by offering your services for free on the side, allowing yourself to gain proficiency, experience, and exposure.
Pursuing a passion project on the side has recently grown in popularity with the rise in “5-9 side hustles.” The idea is this:
- You don’t need to quit your 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. job to pursue your passions.
- Shift some of your energy to working on your passions after hours from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. or even before hours from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m.
While it may not seem like a lot of time compared to the hours spent at your primary occupation, you’d be surprised by the results. You’ll see from dedicating just a few hours a day that finding your passion and working on the projects and activities will fulfill you.
If everything else fails, reach out to a coach like me who can assist you in delving deeper into what truly brings you to life and how you can transform your passion into reality. That’s what coaches are around for, and it’s my passion to help you find yours.
Coaching has the potential to generate momentum. Life is too short to spend it constantly watching the clock, experiencing burnout, or feeling trapped. It’s important to reflect on what reignites and sustains your passion. Don’t succumb to the belief that “I could never do that.” This mindset only perpetuates the feeling of being trapped. And that’s toxic to your soul. We need enthusiastic, positive people in this world. And whether you believe it or not, the truth is, you can do it.
Tapping Into Your Intuition When Finding Your Passion
Dedicate 15 minutes to connecting with the inner Spirit that guides you. This inner voice, also known as intuition, is a divine force. Unfortunately, the demands of life, along with human ego and technology, have stifled this “fountain of inspiration,” as I like to call it.
But not all is lost.
To tap into this higher source, try the following exercise: Take a deep breath through your nose and exhale slowly through pursed lips. Incorporate this practice into your daily routine and make note of any insights that come to you. Doing so will gradually open the door to a higher power that often goes unnoticed or is disregarded by many.
Throughout the day, pay attention to any hunches or ideas that arise.
Julia Cameron, author of “The Artist’s Way,” suggests journaling upon waking in the morning. Keep a notebook on your nightstand and immediately write your thoughts without analyzing, rereading, or critiquing them when you wake up. Repeat this process each morning for at least 30 days, and then review all your entries to identify common themes, trends, or insights that may be emerging. I have been practicing this routine for the past month, and I am gaining valuable insights from my life.
This practice will heighten your awareness of what steps to take next and what path to pursue in life and help guide your decisions. Remember, the power within you surpasses any technology or false narratives found in your phone or computer. The answers to most of your questions lie within yourself. Your inner Spirit and guiding voice will tell you all you need to know. It’s up to you to take time to listen.
Conclusion
Finding your passion isn’t something you can do overnight. Like life, it’s a journey. It requires honesty, time, and openness to explore who you are, what you like, and what you feel gives your life purpose. Consider pondering these thought-provoking questions: What is the legacy I want to leave behind? How would my life be described if it unfolded exactly as I desired? The power is in your hands to begin crafting or reshaping that description at this very moment.
If you’re feeling burnt out or lost your spark, it’s time to reevaluate where you are and what you’re doing. Life is too short to constantly watch the clock, wait for the task to end, or feel trapped. You deserve to experience self-improvement, fulfillment, and meaning in life, and finding your passion makes all those feelings possible.
Finding your passion and purpose doesn’t have to be linear.
It’s OK to try multiple activities and ideas while you look for something that sticks. On your journey of self-discovery, don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone to try new things and take risks. After all, that’s where actual growth happens.
You can do a lot of the work of finding your passion by thinking about what you like, what you’re good at, and what interests you. You can also revisit activities that bring you joy, especially those from childhood that we often let go by the wayside as we grow up.
But you can also seek help on your journey. Coaches like me, your friends and family, and books and podcasts can all be excellent sources of inspiration and guidance.
Finding your passion and living authentically as the person you desire to be gives life meaning. Imagine an ideal world where you’re not limited by a lack of resources or social stigma preventing you from following your heart.
What would you do in that world? What would your life look like? There’s no reason why you can’t take those dreams and turn them into reality. It’s never too late to start your journey to finding your passion and purpose, and I’d say today is as good a day as any.
