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There is nothing on this Earth as pleasurable as pursuing a passion. Discover how to find your passion (or multiple passions) right here.
A person with a passion is a powerful thing – sometimes unstoppable.
But not all of us have a passion. Some people go their entire lives never finding something that grabs them. Does that sound like you? Do you sometimes look at people who are super-engaged in their chosen life path and feel a bit of envy, wishing you, too, could strike a spark that kept on burning?
Finding something you’re completely crazy about doesn’t always come naturally, and those who stumble across these burning desires are fortunate.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t find something to hold your attention if you just put yourself out there a little bit more.
What Is the True Meaning of Passion?
When asked, many will say the true meaning of passion is happiness and having a more fulfilling life. Life is full of ups and downs; the key is finding happiness even in the low points. To do this, you need to find something you care about—something that gives your life purpose. Look for potential passions you can explore in your free time.
To find true passion, you have to do the hard work. It isn’t just about figuring out what you enjoy most in life but also discovering what you are willing to sacrifice.
Someone with a true passion immerses themself in a hobby that defines them or finds a career that fulfills them for their entire life. They know what they were born to do.
How to Follow Your Passion
Are you ready to start your passion project but don’t know where to start? Below you will find a few steps on how to do just that.
1. Explore Potential for Passion
If a passion has never found its way to you, it might be because you’ve never opened the door.
For instance, many people who are not particularly passionate about anything go their entire lives without trying anything out. They just fall into the mundane routine and basic functionalities of living – going to work, getting married, having kids, and maybe spending time at the bars on the weekends if single.
But if you keep doing the same thing every day, how can you ever discover anything new to define you and spark positive change for a more meaningful life?
You’ll never develop a passion by sitting around thinking about it all day. A legendary guitarist has to pick up a guitar for the first time. An award-winning author has to read interesting books and then try to write a few lines themselves before they start penning novels. Even if you have a natural talent, it must first be discovered.
If you’re sitting around, waiting for passion to find you, you’re doing it wrong.
2. Find the Right Perspective
If you start out doing something with negative thoughts, you aren’t going to give what you are doing your full time and attention. If you have convinced yourself that finding your passion is too difficult, you will find yourself closed to possibilities. For these reasons, you have to start with the right perspective. You can’t find passion in life if you don’t believe it doesn’t exist.
Related: How to Change Your Mindset
3. Don’t Wait for Passion to Find You
What it comes down to is that you need to actually dig your hands into life and try out different hobbies and small-time interests until something grabs you and holds your attention.
Then, once you discover something you are really interested in, you can stop and focus your attention on it, exploring it further. Doesn’t this make more sense than just waiting for inspiration to strike?
4. Write Out a List of Your Interests
Today you’ll get proactive about finding a new passion in life.
To start, get a piece of paper and a pen. Now, write a list of all the things you’ve wanted to try. You can make it a “bucket list” or “things you want to do before you die.” Doesn’t matter what you call it or what form it takes.
Include as many things on that list that excite you as possible.
Traveling the world. Riding a motorcycle across China. Going skydiving. Learning to cook. Taking dance classes. Studying a language. Volunteering at a soup kitchen. Getting a small airplane pilot license. Anything you can think of.
If you want to find something that engages you, you need to engage with the world. And this list is a world of potential at your fingertips.
A chance to experience different things in life and see how you respond when actually trying them out.
5. Digging Into Your List
Now some of the interests and experiences on your list might be impossible to implement anytime soon due to money and time constraints. That said, if one becomes important enough to you that you’re willing to put in the time and energy and make it happen, it’s a very good candidate for something you can become passionate about. So do it.
After identifying the ones on the list you’d be willing to run through concrete to try, move on to the ones with a low barrier to entry.
There are almost always some you can put into action right now.
If one of the items on your bucket list is to learn to draw, for example, nothing is stopping you from getting your hands on an instructional booklet or pulling together the minimal amount of cash needed to take a basic class in your local community. And with the internet these days, you can self-teach about anything you want.
So pick out a few of these interests and experiences that particularly grab you, and don’t take a ton of cash or time and then put them into action. If not today, then this week.
6. Make Trying New Things a Habit
The key is that if none of these experiences becomes a lifelong endeavor, you need to keep trying new things – and I’d say that’s the case even if one of them does.
I like to go down my bucket list and prioritize things. I put a “1” next to things I can do right away or am willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen right away. A “2” next to the ones that are next in line. And so on. Of course, my way is pretty rudimentary, so feel free to devise your own system.
As you scratch things off the list, move to the next and make these a priority. And, of course, your list will grow as you evolve and life presents new possibilities.
Try to commit to trying something new every week or two. You want to make it a habit to constantly dig your hands into new ideas and life experiences. Get out there and get dirty. Engage. You’ve only got one life, so make sure you live it.
7. Think About Things You Already Enjoy
Once you determine that finding your passion is possible, take a closer look at what you already love to do. Think of the experiences you have loved the most in your life without limiting yourself. Why did you love these experiences? Is it because you met new people or learned new things?
Look for what you feel strongly about; this will lead you to the key ingredients you need to find your passion in life, whether it is following a new career path, trying different things, or finding your true calling.
8. Break Down Your Fears
Some of us may put off finding our passion because we are afraid. Now is the time to break down those fears and learn how to overcome them. If not, your passion will remain just out of your grasp.
If you are afraid of running out of money, try saving up before embarking on your passion. If you are afraid that you are not good enough to succeed, break down why that may be and if the fear is unfounded.
Uncovering a Passion
In most cases, when you come across something with the potential to become a lifelong passion, you’ll know it.
You’ll immediately want to do it again. And again. You’ll find yourself studying and reading about it. Thinking about it when you should be sleeping.
At this point, you know to at least start putting more energy into this area, and it’ll either hold its charm for the long run or not.
Other things on the list might just be interesting enough that you want to try them another time or two, and these have the potential to turn into something more over time. Give them another shot. Get closer and dig your hands in deeper. You might like what you find.
Fringe Benefits of Seeking Your Passion
Even if the new things you try don’t turn out to be as fun or exciting as you would have thought, one of the keys to a successful, happy life is always exposing yourself to new experiences. The more unique things you experience, the more doors you open to new avenues of thought and new potential life paths.
In addition, experiencing new things can sort of “stretch” time for you, making a day take on that slow, enjoyable pace you used to experience when you were a child before you became an adult, and the days started flashing right by.
So even if none of these items on your list become a passion, you will still start having a more interesting life experience. For some people, experiencing new things even becomes their passion!
But the main takeaway is this. You won’t find a passion by thinking; you find one by doing. So get out there and start doing it today.
What Is Holding You Back From Your Passion?
We have given our suggestions on finding passion, but it is also important to understand what may be holding you back from living it.
Negative Thoughts
We discussed this above when learning how to find the right perspective when searching for your life purpose. Our thoughts can’t always be controlled and come and go as they want.
What we do have control over is how we respond to those negative thoughts. Instead of allowing those thoughts to influence what you do, choose to respond to them with positive emotions.
Comfort
Did you know that comfort can be a true enemy of passion? Comfort can breed complacency and can spur people to play it safe. This could be staying on a current career path instead of working hard for a dream job. Now is the time to reflect on life and find the opportunity to choose a different path and determine where to focus your attention.
Can You Be Successful Without Passion?
If you have no passion, can you really feel successful? Success is subjective. What you consider successful might not deserve that same praise for another.
Success is so much more than just following your passion. And without passion, you may find it difficult to achieve your goals. Without passion in life, you live out your days not doing anything special for yourself or those around you. Is that truly how to find happiness?
When we have a passion, we often feel more fulfilled and accomplished. This also helps boost our self-esteem and mental health. When searching for passion, you overcome challenges along the way, achieve your goals, and lead with positive emotions and thoughts.
Research has shown that even having a hobby can help those suffering from stress, low moods, and depression. Any activity you enjoy can improve your mental health and make you feel happier and more relaxed.
Quiz to Find Your Passion
If you’re really serious about developing a passion for something, these questions are a great place to start.
What things matter most to you, and do you consider them essential?
When answering this question, think about what matters the most to you. Is it friends, family, health and fitness? Maybe it is your income, independence, influence, power, talents, and personal growth.
What tangible things do you not want to live without?
Now think about the things in life you can’t see yourself living without. Think beyond food, air, water, sleep, and shelter.
What stands out as essential to your joy?
What makes you happy? What brings you joy in life? Maybe it is something as simple as drinking a hot cup of coffee or writing in a journal. Is there someone to love, something to do, or something to look forward to in your life?
What type of impact or goal compels you?
You can set yourself up for success by breaking down a big goal you have into smaller tasks. This is easier when you are passionate about your goals and are motivated to achieve them.
When thinking about the impact or goals that compel you, aim for the sky, never let it go, and listen to yourself rather than others. Always focus on the big picture and understand that there will be challenges along the way.
What do you love doing that makes you lose track of time?
If you lose track of time doing something you love, then your passion for it may be far greater than you thought.
What have you always loved learning about?
Finding your passion may also be as simple as continuing to learn more about something you always loved learning about before. What is it?
What dreams have you given up on? Was fear the cause?
Now think about all the dreams you have given up on in life and determine if fear was the cause. Did giving up your dreams cause your values to change? Do you think you can rekindle lost interests? The answers to these questions can help you find your true passion in life
The Beginning
Now that you know the value of being passionate about something, it’s time to get out there and find it! We hope you find a hobby, activity, or profession that enriches your life and allows you to enrich life for others.
If you already have, share your story with us below and help inspire others too.