Are You Confused About What To Do In Life? Here Is How To Find Your Passion In Just 8 Simple Steps
There is a saying, “Keeping up with the Joneses”, you must do something because he or she is doing it, or not to do it because he or she is not doing it. A whole lot of people today are deciding what to do, depending upon what they get out of it. What kind of money? What kind of lifestyle? What kind of leisure? This is what they are thinking of. Which is a very wrong approach to life. This way you end up spending this entire precious life just for the cost of living. In reality, to achieve something great you must do something that matters to you, that you are passionate about. Something you can do for the rest of your life happily and would not regret it when you look back even 50 years from now.
But what if you are yet to discover your passion, and finding it difficult to figure out what it is that calls you? That’s the most common issue that has been in this world since inception and people who have resolved it, have reached the sky of success.
I was lucky enough to find something that I was passionate about. Some people never find it, or they are always looking, or maybe they don’t look hard enough. That was exactly my case. I suffered from the same problem for almost 28 years of my life until last year, when I got that break in life to pause, think and analyze where I am going. All thanks to COVID-19 and the lockdown. When COVID was a disgrace to humanity, it gave a direction to many like me, to live for a better purpose. I read and listened to many successful icons, businessmen, and spiritual leaders and I found a common thread in the teachings of them all that I followed, and it changed my life.
So, with all the findings and my personal experience, here I have to offer you these 8 simple steps to find a passion for yourself and live for a better and successful tomorrow.
1. Start With The Right Perspective
If you walk into a restaurant, thinking- “I’m not hungry”, then there will be nothing there that you will feel like eating from the entire menu, you just won't want to be there. The same principle applies to life. If you’re convinced that finding your passion is hard, or it's not going to happen for you then you are already closed for any opportunities. After all, how can you expect to find a fulfilling work, if you don’t believe it exists. Believe that you can do what you love with your life. The best way to do this is to spend more time with people who are following their passion.
How many of your friends and family are following their passion? If it’s not many, then it's time to expand your friendship circle. Associate with and be around people who are inspired by their passion and make it their living.
2. Detach From Your Anxiety & Concerns
First of all, you must not be driven by your anxiety, frustrations or your concerns. You must do one thing without the influence of your parents or relatives, friends or your teachers. Without the influence of the peers of your age group or maybe any other kind of influence. Somewhere stay by yourself for at least 5 to 7 days. It can be your either your house or maybe a solo trip. Just do it and ask yourself, what is that I want to invest this precious life in? What is it that will be worthwhile today and worthwhile even after 50 years for me to invest myself in? You invest your life in that. Whatever it is. Be it the smallest thing, if you see that this is truly something worthwhile to invest your life in, that will be a life of fulfilment.
You must see what matters to you, it doesn’t matter whether it pays or doesn’t pay you. But if your heart's not into something, believe me, you will never give your best. One of the greatest charismatic business pioneers of all time said
“The journey to success is so difficult,
that if you do something that you aren't passionate about,
Then eventually you will end up giving up”
-Jim Rohn
3. Brainstorm Your Life So Far
Once you have decided that your passion is findable, it's time to do some brainstorming on your life so far and look for evidence of what you already love to do. Do you have or used to have a hobby that you pursued? Or maybe something that you still do for your self-satisfaction? Ask yourself, what is it that you love doing even if you don’t get paid for it?
If you scan the instances of your life, you will find certain things that mattered to you the most. Things which you care about, which bring out the emotions in you. Something which lights up your eyes when you hear or talk about it. Identify those key ingredients.
But be careful, don’t get confused by mere joys. Differentiate between the diamonds and ordinary glass stones. For example, I love photographing women. I might assume that the key ingredient here would be photography. But when I paid close attention, I realised what I care about most are women themselves. I just find photography is the easiest medium for me to express my emotion and concern for them. So, don’t get carried away by mere joys but look for something that speaks to you.
4. Discern Between A Hobby & A Profitable Passion
Once you’re done finding all the ingredients, everything will seem very disconnecting at first like painting, cooking, helping others etc. It will be like finding random ingredients in the refrigerator and cooking something delicious out of it. It's time to see a bigger picture and try to connect the dots.
For example, one of my friends, Tshering, is a northeast Indian girl whose ancestral roots are from Bhutan. She is very concerned for her culture and wants to change the notion others have for north-eastern people. Also, She loves to cook delicious food for others and when they appreciate her, that’s what gives the most joy to her. Looking at a bigger picture and following her dream, she started up a home kitchen living in Bangalore. Where she cooks and delivers Tibetan and Bhutanese food, spreading awareness about Bhutanese culture, festivals and food to local south Indian residents.
Also, If you want to turn your passion into a profitable business, you need to be realistic about whether this could turn into a career and what you need to make it happen. You might also have to learn various other skills to turn your hobby into a business. For example, I was from a finance background but I realized to pursue photography I have to learn physics, the mechanism of the human eye, inverse square law, marketing fundamentals and many other uncountable things. To turn your hobby into a profession you might need to add other professional skills so that you can sell it.
Be alert to who might need your newly emerging passion, and aim to have a conversation with them to know how, when and where you can serve them.
5. Expect Fear Of Failure & Reciprocate
Being human, we all face huge fear of failure and vulnerability, instructing us we must not do what we love. The human brain works in multiplication. If you seed one negative thought in your mind, it multiplies it into two, four and so on. So if you let these voices of fear win, your passion will remain out of your grasp. Instead, uncover the years of conditioning: from parents, schools, society and reassure yourself that your ship is sailing in the right direction. Remember, to be an exception you need to break this bubble of society beliefs and do something exceptional.
6. Find Your Limits Of Bravery
If you find your calling, don’t just put in your resignation tomorrow. Take your time analysing your weaknesses and strengths. Evaluate your market and learn new skills you need to sustain and flourish there. Why would anyone hire you over someone else who is already in the business for years? Be truthful to yourself, are you deserving enough to beat others in the market? Or is your work worth enough to be paid the price that the market leaders are charging? If not keep working on it, you will be there soon. Have faith in your passion.
If you can work your passion as a side job and establish your business for a year or two, it's better. Or else if you quit too early, it will be difficult for you to survive and you will end up giving up your passion. Work double shifts, office jobs during the day and for your dreams at night and weekends. See if you’re willing to work so hard for your passion. I still do a sales job in a Marriott hotel to pay my bills even after three years of professional photography.
7. Keep Practising & Be Patient
If you are getting closer to learning how to find your passion, don’t just jump into it at an amateur skills level. If you want someone to pay for your skills, you need to have professional skills.
Success doesn’t come overnight, so keep working every single day and be patient. Remember the 10,000 hours theory, if it's something you’re passionate about, the practice should be something you want to do.
8. Never Quit Trying
Perhaps you thought you found your passion but discovered several months later that it wasn’t for you. Start over again and find a new one. There may be more than one passion in your lifetime, so explore all the possibilities. Giving up early is a sure way to fail.
“The only way to do great work in life is to love what you do.
If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.”
-Steve Jobs
The Bottom Line
Don’t forget that all of this will be a lot of work. The only rule is, you need to try and test these things yourself. Merely just reading and moving on won't ever help you. If you are genuinely not happy with your life or your job. Or if you’re at the early stage of starting your career, invest in the time to learn how to find your passion. I assure you, it will be the best investment you have ever made.
Feel free to comment your thoughts or doubts (if any) down below. I will be more than happy to help you!
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