Finding A Passion In Life
Dec
When you think back to when you were a kid, can you remember how much you loved your hobbies? Maybe it was collecting Star Wars figures, playing Super Mario Brothers on your Nintendo, or riding your BMX bike.
Whatever it was, you were probably consumed by it. I remember back in 1985, the year that Roger Clemens rookie baseball card was issued. I was a huge card collector and spent what little money I had on packs of cards.
I remember buying box after box of Fleer and Donross wax packs desperately hoping I would find one of his valuable rookie cards. When I finally found one, I was ecstatic. I couldn’t wait to show off my new find to all of my friends.
I spent about 6 years collecting cards, going to trade shows every weekend, and trading cards with my neighbors every chance I got. Talk about having a passion for something, this was mine!
The point is, we all have a passion for something, even if we’ve forgotten what it is. Sometimes it takes a deep look into our past to find what we really love to do.
When we find the thing(s) that truly gets our hearts pumping and minds racing, we should consider ourselves blessed. Finding a passion in life, something you could do every day without getting paid, is something we ALL should strive for.
A Great Exercise
I read a great article recently by Steve Pavlina titled “How to discover your life purpose in about 20 minutes“, in which he discusses a simple, yet profound exercise for discovering your purpose.
The exercise consists of writing down answers to the question “what is my true purpose in life”. When you come to the answer that makes you cry, you have found it. Now this may seem a bit hokey, but it’s actually very powerful.
I believe there is a strong correlation between your life purpose and what you’re most passionate about. After all, how can we live our true calling if were’ not passionate about it?
Deep within everyone lies a passion that we value above all else. If it takes an exercise like this to help us figure it out, then so be it. Finding something that moves you enough emotionally to bring you to tears is a gift.
Discovering Your Passion
Finding a passion in life is all about discovering what makes you feel great inside. If you can find something that keeps you up at night because you’re so excited about the future, you should be very thankful.
I’ve heard many people say they don’t have a real passion for anything, and I how frustrating that can be. We want to really believe that we are here on earth for a reason and when we don’t know what that is, it’s frustrating. There are countless books (many of which I’ve read), about how to discover your passion or your purpose.
It May Be Harder Than You Think…
It seems like such an easy thing to figure out. What do I LOVE to do and how can I make it my life’s work? In my experience, it’s actually much more difficult than it seems. We all like certain things, have interests, and enjoy hobbies, but that’s not enough.
I had never even thought about my purpose here or what I was really passionate about until I was in my thirties. Only then did I start to do some serious soul searching. The scariest part is when your search comes up empty. That was me. I did research until I was so sick of reading about “how to find your passion”, that I gave up.
As it turned out, my passion was right in front of my face. And now I write about it on this blog.
For me, I can’t think of anything more important than having a lifestyle that affords me more time with my young daughters. Working a 9 to 5 job is destroying this goal of mine and is doing the same to millions of others.
My philosophy is simple: Don’t waste your life doing something you don’t want to. Find what you love to do and find a way to make it your life’s work.
Justin Popovic
Hey Steve. I can definitely tell you are passionate about this stuff just based on this single post. You are among the very few who actually DO something about the miserable situation they face at work. I’m not saying everyone with a 9-5 job is miserable but I AM saying that there are a TON of people who have 9-5’s and they can’ stand it.
I know it because I lived it. I worked in the corporate world for 7 years and watched so many people around me just “logging their time” waiting for retirement to come. When I realized I was the same person, much like you i HAD to change. Once I set the intention, my vision became a reality within a few short months.
I like what you are doing here and I will be keeping an eye on your progress!
Cheers
Justin
Steve
Justin,
I’m glad to hear you are one of the few who escape the cubicle! You’re absolutely right, most people will punch their clocks and work a dead end, boring 9 to 5 job their whole lives. It’s unbelievably sad and depressing. 9 years I’ve been doing this exact same thing and it’s bullshit. It’s now just a question of when, not if, I’m getting out.
Derek Potocki
Hey,
One thing I want to add from my experience and research. I run a blog on goal setting, so I think about passion often.
My current conclusion is, that we can be passionate about more than one thing. So discovering passions rather than passion maybe another choice.
So perhaps once you cry once, keep searching because you might cry again and again:)
My personal approach is to focus on different areas rather than single passion (like Leonardo Da Vinci for example).
Single passion subject is tricky, because we live in a dynamic world, not static, so our needs and interests change.
But your post is very valuable. It’s a good start for exploration.
Another thing is to transform your passions into goals to make your passion doable, like I do here.
Greetings:)
Steve
I appreciate that Nick. That’s a wonderful compliment coming from a writer such as yourself. As you well know, when you can write directly from the heart, the message comes across in astounding fashion.
Sam Davidson
Great points, especially the last paragraph. The goal isn’t passion in itself; it’s to see where your passion can take you. You want more time with your daughters; do what you need to get there.
Steve
That’s it. It’s not about finding passion just for the sake of being passionate. I think life is about finding what makes you the happiest and then figuring out how to live it every day.
Steve
Everyday, I have been trying to figure out what I’m passionate about for the last 5 years and I’m start to get sicken tired of it. In stead, I’m start to say what i’m grateful for everyday and hopefully it will make me happy.
Steve
5 years is a long time to think about that! What do you do for a living? Your site is interesting as well, although I didn’t see anything about Red Bull. I’m totally addicted to it.
Keshav
You are a lucky man Steve. You found something you love to do. I know it was not easy.
I want to do a million things. But can’t select one out of it!
Steve
Keshav,
DO NOT follow in my footsteps and spend years being overwhelmed with the question “what is my purpose”. You need to spend time writing out what matters most to you and figure this out. Otherwise, it just might drive you crazy!
Andre
I graduated from college May of 2010 and have been working since and in the proccess found out that what spent four years learning in college is not what i want to do or is not what i am passionate about. I am stressed, defeated amd tired. I feel that i failed myslef by wasting four years of my life studying to become an airport manager and now i hate it with a passion. The sad thing is that i owe a ton of money and now have to work in job i hate to pay my loans. Until i am out of debt. It is worst than physical torture because it is Psychologically draining and i can actually feel the pain in my body. Tha bad part is that i don’t know how to change this.
Steve
Andre,
You’re killing me, dude. I hate reading this shit because I know exactly what you’re going through.
Here is what I’ll tell you:
You did NOT waste 4 years of your life. I didn’t go to college after high school and have regretted it ever since. I don’t think getting my degree will help me in any way in reaching my business goals, but it is a personal goal. Take the knowledge you learned and think of it as a gift.
You are not alone. There are millions of people who went to school and either aren’t working ion that field or they hate their field. Once you know you hate it (which you do), now you can plan for a change.
Just because you owe a shitload of money doesn’t mean you’re stuck in your job. Why aren’t you looking for something else?
What do you want to do? If you know the answer to that question, you have taken the first step.
Remember, it doesn’t have to be this way. There is always a way out…