“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 the past three years, I’ve been in the throes of a quarter-life crisis.
Just a few months into my first cubicle-bound job, I had the life-altering realization that most everyone comes to eventually: I’m going to work a job every day for the next forty-plus of my life. If I want to make that enjoyable, I need to be living my purpose and engaging my passions.
Knowing that life is short and the best time to change is now, I dove headfirst into reading and implementing advice on how I could discover and live my passion.
In the three-year search, I registered for hobbies that interested me. I researched and pursued various careers. I talked to my friends about what I was good at. I encouraged my husband to find his passions so that we were both supported in this dream. I waited patiently and openly for inspiration.
Soon enough, some of my passions bubbled up to the surface in easily identifiable ways.
I loved writing, interacting with people one on one, business, yoga, rescue animals, chocolate, coffee houses, and digital newspapers.
To see what ideas “stuck,” I started businesses, changed careers, wrote freelance, initiated a local yoga community, volunteered, and truly “discovered” myself.
But these attempts at finding a passion that could become my career always happened the same way—I’d start out with massive bursts of energy, produce great results, and then hear the small voice in my heart whisper, “This isn’t it…there’s something else out there for you.”
After a couple of years of trying and failing at finding the passion that would stick, I decided to just stop looking for a while.
In the meantime, I would work hard at my job and come to terms with the fact that the most people never have careers that engage their passions—and maybe that’s okay. After all, I could still have passions outside my work.
But the drive to create a career around my passion never went away.
My turning point came one night as I was sitting at home with my husband watching The Legend of Baggar Vance—a movie about a down-on-his-luck golfer who enlists the help of an inspirational golf caddy (Baggar Vance) to perfect his game.
In one of the scenes, Baggar says to the golfer:
“Inside each and every one of us is one true authentic swing. Something we were born with. Something that’s ours and ours alone. Something that can’t be taught to you or learned. Something that got to be remembered.”
And I sat stunned for a second. Although the movie went on, my mind was stuck on this idea: your passion—your one true authentic gift—has to be remembered.
For so long, I had been searching, trying new things, exploring jobs, careers, and “attractive” passions outside of myself—without ever trying to remember what passions have been with me all along.
In an instant of clarity, I remembered that for my whole life, I have been in love with business and personal finance. My father and grandmother had always been very determined to teach me about the flow of money and how starting a business could ensure my freedom.
From these constant little lessons growing up, I picked up an interest in business that had permeated my life in ways that I just didn’t really recognize.
I remembered back to the time I was nine years old and told my grandma I’d love to be a financial planner to help people with their business and money, the way she’d helped me develop those skills.
I remembered too how I sat enthralled reading business magazines on airplanes. I remembered how what I really wanted out of my career was to run my own business one day. I realized that this was a deep, steady current that connected many phases of my life.
But how could my passion be so… plain? Aren’t passions supposed to be artistic, exotic, or inspirational? Aren’t passions supposed to wow people?
Perhaps not. Perhaps my passion for the mundane things could be a way to bring life to an otherwise mundane topic—the way your crazy history teacher started talking really fast and excitedly about the Civil Rights movement, making you excited about it too.
Since this realization, I’ve started pursuing a business in financial coaching, and I am so happy. The small voice in my heart is whispering, “You’re on the right track!” for the first time. I haven’t been distracted by what other things I could be doing. Even better, I am engaging my other passions too.
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.
About Leah Manderson
Leah Manderson is a personal finance coach who has been featured in Forbes, LearnVest, and The Daily Muse. In her blog and newsletter, she publishes weekly tips and tricks that help people afford the life of their dreams. Join her free 7-day Money Made Easy mini-program to learn 10 money mindsets that pay you for life, and how to create ease and clarity around your monthly money to-do’s.
Though I run this site, it is not mine. It's ours. It's not about me. It's about us. Your stories and your wisdom are just as meaningful as mine.
I think a number of people struggle with finding their passion. I know I have struggled with it for years. Not so much because I thought it needed to be exotic or sexy, but because of that same voice in my head saying, “this isn’t it…” Passion is tricky business. If you are like me then you likely have many interests. Problem is that only a few of those interests rise to the level of passion. Good job on finding yours. Thanks for the tips!
I m going through now.. My heart and my mind is not in sync with my new job.. my mind says this job is great and lots of opportunity but my heart doesnt agree with it. I tend to say i like and love my job but my heart dislikes… How am i to find my passion.. i been reading , writing what i like and dislike, meeting my frens anf sharing but cant find..
Listen to your heart. If you really feel excited, energetic and enthusiastic about your daily work and you are not just doing it because it is necessary to survive in the society then you should stick with it. Otherwise you should find something else that motivates you.
Yeah it’s exasperating to keep thinking what the society wants! There are some things you gotta do fo your own self.
I think it is possible to have many passions and pursue them all. It becomes not about finding your passion but doing things that make you feel joyful!
What you are doing nowadays
It would seem your life was changed by a great man, ‘The legend of Baggavance’ was written by Steven Pressfiled, his book ‘The War Of Art’ is literally the most important book about finding motivation and passion your likely to read. I never comment on these but was bowled over that you’d found your inspiration in his fiction !
Thanks for sharing! I completely relate to your story, and have been doing the same thing you were doing, going from new thing to new thing hoping I eventually find inspiration gold. I hope this works for me.
Wow Leah, life answered and you heard it. Unfortunately life answers all the time, but we’re not conscious enough to listen. I love the theory of remembering your passion vs trying to find it. Lately I’ve been hearing/reading a lot about transitioning from “seeking” to “finding” and this is yet another! It’s so true though, if we seek we will never find because we’re “seekers”, but if we FIND we’ll find all the time! Great article Leah!
Hey Jeffrey…Very interesting concept. What are you reading or where might one find out more about the seeking vs. finding topic? I’d love to read more about it myself. Thanks for the note.
Hi Simone,
I read it in the book “The Power of Now” by Ekhart Tolle
I also heard someone talk about it on a podcast, but I can’t remember which one 🙁
I also wrote a bit about it here: http://www.smallstepsbigchanges.com/guru/
It’s such a simple mind shift, yet so incredibly profound of a transformation. Everything becomes so simple and the strain fades away.
Great! Thanks Jeffrey.
When I read your comment I was thinking to myself, this is a guy who might have read Tolle. Guess I was right. I read “A New Earth” and am waiting to let that sink in before I try “The Power of Now”.
Thank you for this Leah! 🙂 Congrats on remembering your passion!
I think the most important thing that you did was give your passion an attempt. IT’s great to remember, but more importantly to try and achieve your passions. I see many people sit and think about what they want to do, but hardly ever give it an attempt. On top of that, the happiest people I’ve noticed in my life are those that don’t really care about what the ‘norms’ of life are…like social status. For example, I teach abroad and meet many people doing many other things outside of teaching. Many of these people are living a good life (travel, food and fun) but more importantly don’t worry about what everyone else thinks. They find success with what makes them happy.
That’s very well said. Thanks!😁🙏🏻
I think we all have a lot of ‘true passions’ we can develop at the expert levels. To say that there is only one drive for us to submerge ourselves in might be a bit shortsighted.
I think the biggest mistake we make is planning or trying to find something. We know at a basic level is, and all we need to do is commit to these interests and amazing things will flourish from the experiences. Stop thinking our way through a solution and disciplining our actions each day. Results will evolve regardless of the field or passion we get involved in
Hi Kael could you please tell what was the first step you did?
Id like to start doing what makes me feel good I’m I correct?
Could you expand on which step you are asking to take?
Really appreciate this. I think though that it may be possible to have more than one passion. There may be people who have only one passion, but is it also possible that some have more than one? I feel for instance that I have more than one passion, and I intend to explore all of them to the best of my ability before I die.
What a beautiful article, Leah! I related very much. I also had a few “stepping stones” after leaving a job that I had once loved, but grew out of. It was startling to hear the little voice that said, “This isn’t it. This is not your landing place.” I did find my landing place from reconnecting with my passions. Love the Bagger Vance reference! If you haven’t already, do read the book by Stephen Pressman. You will have even more revelations! So good!
I spent years searching for a passion, all the while writing short stories and novels for fun. I never even considered that was my passion until a friend gave me a short story I wrote for her 3 years prior and it was like a light bulb went off, accompanied with the word “duh!”. haha
Wow, this works. I made four columns from the above remembering topics and I realized that I always loved working one on one with people!
Leah
I also believe that the authentic gift has to be remember. I believe
everyone is born to do everything in life such as being a doctor, lawyer, etc…just those people that do become that, remember. We’re born with all the knowledge in the world.
Leah
I also believe that the authentic gift has to be remember. I believe
everyone is born to do everything in life such as being a doctor, lawyer, etc…just those people that do become that, remember. We’re born with all the knowledge in the world.
Thank you for remembering me the most important thing – to help people achieving their goals, as you said “I’d love to be a financial planner to help people with their business and money” 🙂
I think we often get confused with what we want from our lives or I should put it this way,the expectations of others often bend us down.And really each one of us has a passion,the only difference is some people find it earlier and easily than others.The key point is follow what your heart tells you and everything else is secondary.
“PASSION” Years ago while studying for my business degree a instructor of mine said don’t do what you feel passionate about, instead do what comes ” NATURALLY” for you. I always remembered that statement.
Precise.
What a great final note for this amazing post.
Thank you. Thanks Leah! Thanks everyone! 🙂
Sitting at the office cafe reading this because i too am on the same boat. Mid 30s and more than a decade into the corporate world, constantly looking for an escape. Financial responsibilities for my family always stops me from taking risks. But more importantly, I don’t even know what i want to take a risk with. All i know is I’m a warm friendly person who is good at making people feel better. And i LOVE romance! That’s all i really know about myself. Maybe there’s a connection somewhere n maybe i can make a career out of these things. But i just have no idea how. I like to think that i love writing but not really sure if i actually like it or is just a fantasy.. Gosh i want to be making more sense but oh well..
I so have needed this lately. Thanks for uplifting me like you wouldn’t believe.
I’m really, REALLY struggling with this and of the many things I’ve read on the subject of finding your passion, doing what you love, becoming the authentic you, etc…, most advise trying to identify “what you love”. Trouble is, when I ask myself that question, the answer is, “I don’t know”. Am I over thinking it? Maybe I”m trying to identify what I love whole-heartedly and extremely, maybe I need to be looking at the things I enjoy and that bring me pleasure? I think I’ll take Leah’s advice and start signing up for everything until “it” finds me!
Hello Renel, I know you wrote this 4 months ago but I wanted to know whether you came up with a passion. I have the same struggle as you. I read all these articles and blogs about passion and take all these quizzes but none of them resonate. It actually makes me sad that there is nothing i really have a passion for. Nothing to be “remembered” either as a child. I feel like the days pass me and there is nothing that motivates me. None of the book on inspiration or stories on how revolutionary peoples live have become…nothing. Your comment was the only one I could relate to so i was thinking whether you could give insight on what helped you
I feel the same exactly. If either of you is willing, perhaps we could set up a correspondence to explore the issue together? I think it may help.
hi i too feel exactly the same, been kind of searching for a few years faintly but recently ive started searching allover to find something i can aim for, please let me know if you you find anything that helps my twitter is @splntrs maybe we could set something up
Hi Renel, Sandra, Kimberley & Joe, I’m really keen to hear how you are all getting on as I can totally relate to your comments, I have no idea what my passion is now or ever was, I think as a child, as a result of moving around a lot at short notice, I protected myself by ‘not’ having a passion becuase I never would know when my life would be uprooted and change again. I feel sad that I don’t know what it is that I’m truly passionate about and feel like I should. Any advice is welcome. Thank you.
And regarding your situation I think we just need to try new things and see if we like them or not, I know it’s hard when at home or in your little work bubble as I’m the same there’s loads of things I want to do but never seem to do them I just get distracted and end up on the laptop on watching TV but I’m getting really really bored of this cycle now and I’m gonna explode if I don’t do something soon. There’s answers about we just have to search for them.
Kristen….read my reply to Sandra. I’m working on it and would welcome a forum for discussion!
Still searching Kirsten I’m currently saving up as much money as possible then hopefully go travelling in a few months time, I just want to live and feel alive do some crazy things see some awesome places meet new people and just see where it goes. I’m very scared though all of my freinds are settling down so I’m gonna have to do this on my own, I don’t know where I’m going to go yet but I have a few ideas, if u want to connect I’m at jgrtrx888@gmail.com that goes for anybody else who is feeling the same. Let’s start moving forward ! Haha joe
I’ve been searching for my passion for many years too. I’ve tried many new things and enjoy them for a while, but after I learn the basics I grow tired. I so wish there was something I KNEW I wanted to do with my life so that I could go ahead and get on with it, or at least planning how to get to it. It’s a real struggle sometimes just working, sensing your valuable time passing, with this uneasy feeling that there is something out there for you which you are somehow missing.
in a way it feels good to know there are others in the same position, but im really growing tired of it.
hi joe – it’s been a month since you have commented..any luck? i just came across this site now and feel connected to some of these comments
O god.. I have companions in this.. so, is it that many are not so clear about their passion or what they really want… !!! i was getting quite depressed if I am the only one not knowing or not having anything that intersts my life,, inspite of performing great in the present job.
I sometimes get confused if it is really the job that is not satisfying or the people around or that i am getting bored with the same envt and same nature of work. Or is it yet another ‘other side is green’ phenomena..
I am really confused guys..
Have you considered exploring this with someone like a coach? It could open your mind to new possibilities just the process of going through the sessions. I can offer a free session for yourself.
Sure, Kimberly, I would welcome that!
I think you two have really hit on something. After reading the article, I thought, “Hey, maybe others are facing the same challenges as myself. I wonder what they have done?” It seems others on this particular thread have the same feelings of hitting a brick wall when it comes to finding our passions. Perhaps we could all “get together” in some forum, such as FaceBook, and journey towards discovery together?
Hard hitting and raw. I find myself in a similar position, searching endlessly for that magic solution to help me find my passion. How did all of you fare in this endeavour ?
Sorry Sandra, I sort of forgot about this forum. I wish I would get some notification about the activity on this post. Anyway…..still searching. Although I did make one bold move. I quit my job and decided to take 3 months off to regroup, find myself, heal my psyche etc…Now I’m at the end of the 3 months and at least one small step closer to figuring out what I want. Another milestone: I turned 50, which causes one to do a lot of reflection and analyzing about what is most important in life….oh, and being 50 lends itself to learn to let go of all the fears that come with youth and mid-life (beauty, sexuality, success, perfection etc.) and learning to embrace the wisdom that comes with age, the imperfections of the physical self, and releasing the self-hate. It’s a process and I’m reaching out to every source that speaks to me, and like I said in my first post, just trying on everything to see how it fits, so to speak. Next stop….new job. Will it be the perfect job? Probably not, but who knows? Gotta try. The great thing is….I’m not afraid. I can move on if it’s not the right thing. Anyway…journey on!
Thank you for this truly wonderful article.. It’s exactly what I needed this evening as I continue to ‘find’.
Tina can i have your email ID…i have few queries to ask you
I’m in this weird place where I used to be VERY driven at what I did (music and writing) and it encompassed everything about me. Then, I had my first child and suddenly stopped both. I had and still have zero interest in writing/performing music and little interest in writing. It was alarming for a while, and some people in my life are still sad for me over it. But, I’m at peace with this. The problem is, I’ve stayed adrift for the last 4 years and now I have no idea what to do with myself, yet I have a strong drive to do something. I’ve been home with my kids for 4 years, but part of me lusts to have something to work hard for (as if raising kids isn’t hard in itself). But, I have no desire to go back to my old passions. Sometimes I feel like I don’t even know what I like anymore, and I was o.k. with this for a while, but the itch is getting strong to do something. This is interesting, this article. I may think hard about what I loved as a kid (although music and writing was very much on that list). Maybe there is something there that I’ve forgotten, that is totally different and more fitting for me now.
I think I’m in a similar boat. I did my passion from high school until my mid 40s. I even started a business in my early 30s. It failed but I thought I’d eventually try again under better conditions. And then around 43 I stepped out of my field for 4 years unintentionally and when I rose my head again I found I’d almost completely lost interest. It’s now been 5 years with no clue. I did what I loved as a kid. What I told everyone about. That no longer fuels me.
I’m at this time where i don’t know what i should do , and what suits me . I have so many things that i do and this makes it hard to find what i’m really passionate about and i think i struggle with this way too much for my age (16) . Recently and ongoing i have had this inkling of passion for music even though i haven’t been trained , but i think that this is a trick feeling. But every time i want to spend my time i either start to learn a language , and start designing concepts for games ( and drawing art ) and this is something i enjoy alot. Thing is since im entering college ( or high school in american terms) ill be studying things that im not so passionate about (i like them) and i might lose my way. But this new love for making my own music / songs has just popped up and is quite a strong desire. If anyone has any advice or may be able to decode these feelings i would appreciate it , but im going to let life live on and see where it takes me 😀
Thanks for sharing. Something I can start with to find my own passion.
Thank you for this article. I’ve been working in the oilfields of Saudi Arabia since completing my under-graduation a couple of years ago. Even though the job is great experience-wise and monetarily, I’ve felt on several occasions that my work isn’t significant enough and that my calling might lie elsewhere.
I’ve been brainstorming for a while and have been unclear about what I’m truly passionate about. Through college and on the job, it isn’t what I did that excited me as much as certain aspects of my work, such as realizing that I enjoy looking at the big picture, connecting people and events to make things happen. In other words, I do enjoy running a show and derive most happiness from the gratification that comes from having executed a complicated and tedious job well, even if it’s not always intellectually stimulating.
After reading your article today, I tried to remember what I’ve always wanted and I concur – I’ve always wanted to run a big company – the books I’ve read, the habits I’ve developed and the people who I admire – it all connects.
That said, I still lack clarity on where I should start and what I should do. Being an entrepreneur is exciting, but I still haven’t figured out a field of work that I’m truly passionate about. For my skills and strengths, it could be anything honestly – I’m unsure where to begin. I don’t want to be reckless and hop around searching aimlessly. Yet I’m exasperated thinking and must get started now.
What do you suggest?
Read this words in this early morning in Korea(6am)and thought ‘where the hell did my passion go.’ My life was always the same ; nothing special and always chasing the money (waking up -work-sleep) but as I have read this, I couldnt stop thinking I NEED TO FIND WHAT I LOVE. Thank you for the great words. It realy was a turning point to me
I know this article is over a year old but I am very happy to have come across it. I am home from work sick. I seem to be taking more and more sick leave than I ever have. I don’t think it’s because I’m sick, I believe it’s because I’m not happy. The golden handcuffs are getting me down ! I earn well but I don’t feel like I’m doing a very good job because I don’t love it. Thanks for taking it back to the basics. That’s exactly what I need to do.
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Great article Leah 🙂 I can completely relate. I really like the quote about not worrying about what the world needs, because the world needs for you to come alive. So true on so many levels. I always struggled to try to find my passion. I have become a jack of all trades because I love to research and find out how to do things on my own, but the one thing that I absolutely love to do no matter what is just to help people. It feels good to be the person to help and know the answer that will ultimately help someone else in whatever they are going through. Thank you for sharing this!
What a piece of writing . Marvellous really.
Awesome writeup. I could relate to the entire article with my personal experience
I find that many are not so clear about their passion or what they really want…
!!! i was getting quite depressed if I am the only one not knowing or
not having anything that intersts my life,, inspite of performing great
in the present job.
I sometimes get confused if it is really the job
that is not satisfying or the people around or that i am getting bored
with the same envt and same nature of work. Or is it yet another ‘other
side is green’ phenomena..
I am really confused guys..
I am into really “thinking” a lot as to what really motivates me or engross me
Thank you Leah. Very inspiring. 🙂
Thank you from my heart to yours!
I’m stuck too, I’m very passionate about allot of things for a short period time in a period of a week or a month, in my head I’ve created mastered and completed some kind of project so then, I can never start in reality as it feels I’ve already done it. I’ve just googled how to find passion and came up with this page. I guess that’s not the answer to find, how can I make my passions create a better life for me. If only I could find my perfect swing or at least create something that fits me. I’m so glad you found yours, there is hope!
I’m really trying to find my passion for the first time in my life. I LOVE working with numbers/money; and very organized person. Leah – personal finance coach sounds so interesting and I think this would probably be my passion. What kind of courses do one do for that or if anyone have any advice for someone who is organized and very efficient.
What if you don’t have a passion? I’ve been living my life very focused on school. I did basically nothing outside of studying biology to get my masters. I hate science, I can’t stand it and don’t want to do it anymore. But I own over 100K in student loans and can’t go back to school anytime soon. I am basically limited to science jobs until I pay most of the loans off. Am I doomed to being unhappy for the next 20 years it takes to pay these off? I have a few hobbies I have occasionally pursued such as sewing scarfs and I made a sewed a halloween costume I was really proud of once. But even if I pursued this as a career, there is no way I could make the 70K plus a year that I need to in order to pay off those loans, and I need to pay them off before I have a family. I feel very trapped. I want a job I at least tolerate or that pays me more so I can pay off my loans faster (being a lab tech doesn’t pay much) but wtihout going back to school which I can’t afford I don’t see how I can do that. :/ I spent so much of my life studying or watching TV, now Im paying the price I guess.
I wanted to respond because this is an older article. I don’t know how many people will still read it. I hear you. I try to take all this advice and remember what did I like to do when I was younger. However, I had such an abusive childhood, I can’t remember a lot of the good things. I do remember where my imagination would take me. I dreamed of being a figure skater and a singer. I’m 42 now. Don’t think there’s a chance in hell I’ll be a figure skater! LOL. If I could sing, that is what I would do. I am also stuck with loans. I’m not even using my degree. I have a 14-year-old. She is my focus until she finishes school. If I didn’t have children, it would be different. I could take more chances and travel more. It sounds so selfish, but sometimes I feel so stuck. I’m so anal about making sure my daughter’s life is very stable (which is why she’s such an awesome kid!) that I’m very limited by what I can do at this very moment.
so… have you done it?
I tried Leah’s method, but no answer came. So I lived and grew and asked again. Still no answer. I went through hell and grew and changed. Still no answer, now not even a reply. Twenty years later, still no reply. Perhaps some people are passionate and some people aren’t. Think about it. How many unknown millions of people have lived on earth and not been famous CEOs of megaCorp. A lot.
Why do you mention CEOs in this context? As she said, your passion doesn’t have to be exotic or extraordinary, it might be something simple like cooking, doing a certain sport, learning,… try different things and work on it, her approach might not work for everyone, some people have to develop something before they see it as their passion. It was like that for me with yoga.
you saved my life
What if I have none? I have many small interests but I would hardly call them passions, as they aren’t things I want to commit my life to or just aren’t feasible (just stuff that I research for my own interest from time to time). What am I to do, then? I don’t mind leading a mediocre life but I keep getting the nagging feeling that I am not living to my full potential and just am wasting my life away.
I’m there with you. I’m finding that there are so many little interests, some of them very deep, some of them fairly new, and others waiting in the wings to try things out. A short list of things I’ve tried as hobbies in the recently:
Video production (vlogging), video editing, cooking, car repair/extensive maintenance, building computers, gardening, writing, travelling, advertising, marketing, web-design/programming… And that’s the short list!
I have one driver and that’s to be a great husband and father: I’m way passionate about that but I’m looking for ways to grow as a person in other respects and can’t seem to settle. There’s never just one thing that demands my attention/curiosity.
I’m also searching out a community out there of like minded people and can’t seem to find anything.
Where are you on your journey, Rong?
I am pretty much not progressing anywhere at the moment, though I am going to start a course soon. I don’t know what I feel of it as I am still new to programming and networking. I have tried many things but none really interests me long enough or does not interest me in the first place. A lot of stuff I am interested in are pointless and not lucrative, and I am broke right now so I can’t spend anymore on hobbies.
Wow guys, you are both describing the exact thing I’m experiencing. And the funny thing is that your description about being a great partner is also my only big driver. I’ve been looking for community myself also but no succes either :/ currently working as a webdesigner/programmer and I enjoy it but don’t love it. Good to know I’m not alone in this!
I know my passion is really helping autistic children/special special education but owning the business. I have been working in the field for a while now but do not want to go to school to acquire my Masters degree. Secondly, i love writing, I’ve started writing a book but still undecided.
Thank you so much for this simple truth. Congratulations for seeing your passion as unique and beautiful even if it’s not the “wow” kind; like you said, teachers wowed us about subjects we might have thought boring if taught by a less impressed teacher. I will do this in more areas of my life too! For example, It’s hard to make friends in a new place when your 30 so I will remember and channel how I did it when I was younger. It’s not something new. So good.
I actually have more artistic passions and academic interests that I can’t focus on only one or two things. So, I thought back like you said: What did I used to like? I had a passion for architecture. I’d been a career designer til I had to retire. I decided to “visualize” what my main passion focus would be if it were a building built…what the foundations would be like, what I’d surround myself with. I don’t have a focus except excited to go hang out in an old building on our lot that “looks” like my vision. I’ll get in touch there among nature, I believe.
Personally, I discovered that there is no only “one” passion you may have and sometimes it may not even be a good indicator of what you’re supposed to be doing with your life. There are other things to take into account i.e your strength and ability, the need for your passion in the market place etc. I remember hearing Mark Cuban say ‘forget pursuing passion, pursue effort and the passion will follow. The more you dedicate yourself to any craft the more passionate you become about it. So, I’d say at least in my personal experience that passion is an element but effort is also crucial. Even more important is your purpose, because if you know your purpose or “calling” you can organise your strengths, abilities and passions to accomplish what you were created to do.
This was a divine find – exactly what I needed to read right now!
I have been searching for a passion for 53 years, still no luck. As a kid I liked being outside alone in the wilderness…..not practical for a person with disabilities and chronic illnesses…….feel defeated.
Thank you so much, Its so helpful.
I am a computer science student and i am very poor in programming.I did loved computer science while i joined the course.But over the time i started feeling depressed that i couldn’t learn it and got very less marks in almost all my subjects.This course i took as my choice. Now i fear whether i will get a good job or not. I couldn’t decide what to do.I feel like i am good at nothing.