How To Find Your Passion
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What is your passion? What drives you in life? These are only some of the hard-hitting questions that teachers, family members, friends, or acquaintances may ask you on a daily basis - especially if you’re heading to college. It’s totally understandable to be confused. In today’s society, so much emphasis is placed on working hard, doing well in school, and juggling a whole load of extracurricular activities at the same time, that it’s hard to find time in between all of that to cultivate a passion.
However, passion is crucial if you want to find a job that will not make you absolutely miserable. Chances are, you already know what your passion is, and this article will only serve to reawaken that knowledge in you. But if you don’t - and that’s okay - then following these helpful tips will surely put you on the right path.
Go Back To Your Roots: Your life may be as hectic as can be right now, but there was a time when it wasn’t always so, and that was probably your childhood. When you’re a child, there is so much more time to experiment, and indulge in activities you enjoy - time that is not necessarily available to a teen or adult that has responsibilities to fulfill. Thinking back to your childhood, what activities did you particularly enjoy? Was the mini-version of you in love with painting, and was the best artist at school? Or were you obsessed with soccer? Whatever your former talents and loves, try experimenting with them in your free time today, and see if that same feeling of joy and love washes over you now, as it did then.
What Are You Curious About? The key to finding your passion does not necessarily belong in your past. It might be found in what you’re curious about currently. Have you ever wondered about how the inside of a car works? Or perhaps you have always wanted to take up pottery. Wherever your spark of inspiration and curiosity stems from, make sure you follow it. Read as much as you can about it, and take a class in it. The more you learn about, and immerse yourself in this specific activity, the more likely you will be able to tell if it is your real passion.
Who Do You Admire? When you think about all the people you admire in your life, you probably admire them for their positive qualities, and the way they live their lives. But chances are, you also admire them because they have succeeded in a particular activity/career that you are interested in, and could even be passionate about yourself. Try writing out a list of all the people you admire. This list can include celebrities, friends, family, and members of your community. Now, write beside their names what they do for a living, or what they are particularly passionate about. Do you see a recurring pattern? Are many of the people on your lists writers? Doctors? Chefs? This method isn’t foolproof, but it can point you in the right direction to what drives you.
Don’t Have Money On Your Mind: Sure, money is important. It allows you to get into a great university, travel to your dream destination, and lets you shop till you drop. However, it is this very knowledge around the uses and needs of money that restricts and dictates our thinking towards what our real passion is. Many people do not pursue their passion because they believe it will not make them much money, and therefore they should opt for a career that guarantees a higher income. For instance, we have all heard of people who might have always wanted to be a famous actor/actress but have instead become surgeons and lawyers because that’s where the (guaranteed) money is at. Don’t be lead by money, instead allow yourself to be lead by your passion - you will get further.
In life, it is the people that follow their passions - wherever they may lead - that create awesome work, wake up each day with a sense of purpose, and change the world. As you search for your blazing passion in life, keep this quote by the great Steve Jobs in your mind and heart; “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”