How do you find your passion in life and is it worth it to pursue in this day and age? My answer is an absolute yes and let me tell you why.
I was a lost & overwhelmed working mom and couldn’t admit this to myself because of the guilt that came with not having passion for my work anymore or any major problems in my life.
When I was forced to do some soul searching, I found that having a passion, even if I had only a few minutes a day for it, would have made the daily grind feel a little lighter.
If you’ve lost passion for your work, have no clue where to start, or would like to pursue something that lights a flame inside of you, you’re in the right place.
Here are five simple ways to find your passion and feed your soul.
1. Notice Your Inner Sparks.
When I used to think of passion, I thought of a strong emotion tied to an irresistible desire. Over the years, I learned that passion can be as simple & small as noticing your inner spark, or what lights you up inside when you think of it.
Big or small, passion, or the thing that sparks joy inside of you, can can nourish your soul as well as give you a clue what you are passionate about.
The things that spark joy inside of me just thinking about them are spending quality time with my family, reading an interesting book, sipping a steamy cappuccino, writing in my journal, and listening to soft music while I bake cookies in my cozy kitchen.
Here are some other examples of passions to give you an idea of what I mean:
- Reading
- Calligraphy
- Collecting vinyl
- Riding bicycles
- Theater
- Making terrariums
- Baking cookies
- Creating the perfect cup of coffee
Where focus goes energy flows, so don’t forget to follow your inner spark.
2. Look Back At What You Loved As A Child.
Your childhood interests can hold clues to your passions in life because they were untouched by bias, judgement, or expectation.
As a child, I loved to read, draw, paint, play the piano, dance, write, garden, and pretend I was a doctor or nurse.
I ignored some of them as I got older because they seemed impractical. I only came back to them again when I realized I still loved them, didn’t have to make a living from them, and could pursue them just for the pure enjoyment they gave me.
Take a walk down memory lane and ask yourself what you loved to do as a child. Did you love:
- Writing or storytelling?
- Creating art?
- Exploring nature?
- Asking questions?
- Helping people?
- Building or organizing things?
Your passion can grow from the same sandbox.
3. Pay Attention To What You’re Naturally Curious About.
Your passions can come from your interests. Take a look around you and simply observe. Look at the collections you have around your house.
You might have a collection of old CD’s sitting on your shelf. I have a collection of books, journals, and pens because I’m passionate about reading & writing.
The next time you talk about something you’re interested in with someone, make a mental note of what it is you’re communicating with them.
You might catch yourself talking about favorite movies, sharing cool rock bands, or exchanging delicious recipes.
Your curiosity can reveal your passions and leave breadcrumbs for you to follow.
4. Think Of Something That Scares You & Delights You.
This might seem kind of counterintuitive, because fear makes everyone want to run in the other direction. But the fear might be hiding behind something that secretly delights you.
I used to be afraid of doing watercolors because I didn’t want to mess up or have someone say it was ugly.
Then I realized that I didn’t want to regret not trying it because I was too scared. All those stories I made up were in my head anyway, so why not just go for it?
I’m so happy I did because even if some of my paintings are terrible, some are actually decent. It doesn’t matter because I feel deep satisfaction & joy just doing it.
Sometimes your passion is something that both scares and delights you. It doesn’t matter if you ever become great at it. All that matters is you enjoy it and you’re not letting fear stop you from pursuing your passion.
5. Ask Yourself What Would Your Life Be Like If You Didn’t Pursue Your Passion.
I listened to an interview of Toni Morrison by Mavis Nicholson on YouTube. These are probably not the exact words because the video is 22 minutes long and I didn’t want to listen to the whole thing again to find it.
But this is essentially what Morrison asked of herself during the interview: “What would make me feel like I died inside if it were taken away from me?” Morrison’s answer was being a mother and a writer.
The question is unconventional and even scary to think of. But I think it’s great and something worth asking yourself because passion is like the tiny flame that ignites the big fire.
Without passion, our lives would feel cold and colorless. It’s the thing that feeds our souls and makes us feel alive.
Why It’s So Hard to Find Your Passion.
I struggled in the beginning to find my passion in life because I felt guilty about wanting something other than my current lifestyle.
Maybe you haven’t started finding your passion yet because you had strong feelings or preconceived notions about it, too.
If so, here’s a short list that you might relate to:
- Preconceived thoughts about finding your passions.
- Strong feelings about it, especially negative ones.
- Prioritizing other people’s needs over your own.
- Losing touch with your deepest desires.
- Fear of choosing the wrong passion.
- Believing your passion has to be big & grand.
They might help you become aware of any roadblocks that are preventing you from pursuing your passion:
15 Journal Prompts To Help You Find Your Passion.
Here are some journal prompts to use if you’re unsure where to start your journey for finding your passions in life:
- What makes me feel alive inside?
- When do I feel like the best version of myself?
- What activities make me lose track of time?
- What makes me feel most connected to myself?
- What do I daydream about when no one is around?
- What have I always wanted to try but was afraid to?
- What topics excite me enough to research for fun?
- When do I feel proud of myself?
- What do people say I’m naturally good at?
- What do people usually come to me for?
- What secret talent am I hiding from people?
- What did I love doing before life got busy?
- What feeling do I want more of in my life?
- What would I pursue if I didn’t worry about being perfect?
- What small step can I try this week to explore a curiosity?
Last Thoughts On Finding Your Passion.
If someone told me that I would enjoy watercolors, writing, and public speaking someday as an introverted working mom, I would not have believed them.
That’s the great thing about finding your passions. They have a way of surprising you. They don’t have to be your mission or work, although they can be.
They can be anything that you find joyful, loved as a child, talk about constantly, find scary & delightful, and can’t imagine your life without.
More Ways To Find Your Passion In Life.
If you want a list of passions to help you start your journey, read A list of over 130 passions to inspire and motivate you and 75 exciting passion project ideas to spark your creativity.
If you want my personal list of books to help you dive deeper into finding your passions in life, check out 7 best books on finding your passion in life.
I’d love to know your thoughts! Leave me a comment below!!
