How to Find Your Passion

In my last blog post I revealed how finding your passion can actually help you live a long and healthy life.  But how to you actually find your passion?
 
If you are not sure, first try changing the word “passion” to hobbies.  Basically a passion is a hobby, supersized!   
 
“Don’t worry about what the world needs.  Ask what makes you come alive and do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” – Howard Thurman
 
For some people finding their “Passion” can be finding your purpose.  A burning to do good in the world.  Some examples are: Helping bring clean water to the world, Feeding the hungry, even bringing education to the world.  All of this is very noble, but may not be what is right for you.  Only you can find out what your Passion is.
 
Here are some ways to find your passion:
 
Start with the right mindset
 
If you think finding your passion is hard, or that it’s not going to happen for you, you’ll remain closed to possibilities.  Choose to adopt the perspective that you can do what you love in your life.  One way is to surround yourself with people who are living examples.
 
Look for Evidence
 
Look for evidence of what you already love to do.  If you examine your life you notice you have had peak moments.
 
Research
 
You can research online hobbies that may be of interest to you.  One great place to start is at this website:  http://discoverahobby.com .  This website has a lot of great information about all the hobbies available and how to start.
 
Try new things
 
Take a dance class or sign up for classes at your local community college.  Do something that you have never done before.
 
Follow your Curiosities
 
“Find that one little thing a day to be curious about and then act on it by ready, sharing, or creating.  Let that one curiosity be a trail of breadcrumbs that leads you to the next curiosity.” – Heather Ferguson
 
Talk to Strangers
 
By talking to strangers regularly, you open yourself up to a world of possibilities and diverse perspectives which you may not have been exposed to otherwise.
 
Travel
 
Travel can be the best way to get outside your bubble and see the world from other people’s perspectives. 
 
 
These are just some of the ways you can find your passion.  Just remember that it can be a process.
Finding a passion does not have to happen overnight and it does not have to be the same over time.  People change, ideas changes, and with that passions may certainly change.  Nothing is ever set in stone.
 
Still having problems finding your passion?  Here is some really great advice from Leah Manderson who is a personal finance coach and spent many years trying to find her Passion.

“So if you’re struggling to find your passion, even after trying what feels like doing everything, I encourage you to do this: sit down, open your journal, pour a cup of tea, and try to remember your passions.
Think back on your life, and remember things you wanted to be, the habits you developed naturally, the games you played, the books you read, and see how they may apply to your life and career today. You might be surprised by the connection points that have been right under your nose all along.”

As we get older it is really easy to “forget” all of our passions and dreams as children.  Going back and remembering what drove you in your youth, just might be what will ignite your life now.