How to Find Your Passion?

“Doing what you truly love” and “Finding your passion” are common sayings that come from many individuals who want to make a difference in the world.

I think it’s important to find something you love doing and to find your passion in life. I think you can do this on a daily basis.  This can be shown through your relationships, extra-curricular work, and career.

Have you ever met someone who is doing work which they truly love? Their excitement about their work can be infectious.

These people will probably be quick to tell you that they didn’t get their special job overnight, that it took a lot of time and effort and chance encounters to get there.  The people who I have heard from will also tell you that the job that they have now and LOVE was not the specific job they had in mind when they started out a long time ago.  They turned their interest into a career.

How did they find their passion? Well as a wise friend once told me (who is doing an incredible job doing what he truly loves):  Follow the ‘Watched Pot Never Boils’ Principle. If you look for something awesome, it won’t come. Just do something and keep moving forward.

I found this to be quite true in Hawaii.  The beautiful rainbows, turtles, and whales came when I wasn’t looking for them (or watching the pot so to speak); they came unexpectedly.

When looking for a career, find something that caters to your strengths.  Try using the StrengthFinder 2.0. or take a Myers Briggs Personality Test.  It doesn’t matter what the job title is; just do work that you are good at, and you will feel empowered.

Some suggestions from me on what to look for when thinking about work:

1) What – are some common job titles you are interested in? What do you like to do? What attributes and strengths do you possess? Also, a big question to ask is, does it pay you well?

2) Who – as in who do you like to work for (alone or a company) and who are your prospective clients/patients/customers/students/athletes?

3) Why – do you want to do this job? Why should you be doing this? Why should the employer hire you?

4) When – do you want to start this job? Is it feasible to start it right now? Any constraints?

5) How – are you going to get this job? How are you going to turn this vision into reality? Do you have the funds available?

Also, find a job where there is a positive and supportive community around you.  Relationships are very important.  You are going to be with your co-workers for a long time so you might as well enjoy them.  If you spend your time with people that don’t empower you – it may not be what you want to do.

There is a dilemma, however, when you want your “job” or “career” to fulfill your every need.  Every job and choice you make in your life comes with sacrifices.

If you are waiting around for the “perfect” job that you think you will love, you may have to wait a LONG time and go without a supportive community and lack of funds to find it.

You probably “have it all” right now.  After all, “now” is all you have!

Thoughts? I'd love to hear your stories of how you found your passion. Please feel free to share.  I'll share my story with you all in an upcoming post.