How to Find Your Passion in Life

How to Find Your Passion in Life

Are you struggling to find your passion in life?  

Are you tired of people asking you what you're passionate about, since you don't know the answer?  

If so, you're not alone! A recent study found that only 13% of the United States work force are passionate about their jobs. Or, you might have personal passions, but don't feel any passion for your professional career. 

We are often told to pursue our passions in our professional and personal lives. We've all heard the saying "Find a job you love, and you'll never work a day in your life." But that’s easier said than done.

But here's the rub. If you want to pursue your passion in life, first you need to figure out what the heck they are. And that can be challenging for many people. If you're unsure, you'll need to try different strategies to discover work that unleashes your true passion. passion.

What are Passions, Anyway?

The dictionary defines "passion" as a strong feeling of excitement or enthusiasm for a particular activity. So, instead of dreading going to work every morning, you look forward to it because you care about it on intellectual and emotional levels. You don't show up just to pay the bills, but because you feel passionate about what you're doing. Another way to define passions is something you would love to do constantly, such as going into a specific profession like doing medical research.

Current research describes "worker passion" as an activity that motivates us to solve tough problems and embrace challenges. When we have worker passion, nothing deters us, and we have a strong desire to make an impact through our career choice. Interestingly, researchers have found a direct correlation between living your passions and the level of success you experience -- both professionally and personally. 

Of course, it's not always easy to find a way to get paid for doing what you love. You might have to do research to find professions that connect the hobbies and skills you feel passionate about to a career.

How to Find Your Passion

Finding your true passions is essential for the happiest and most fulfilling life. Remember, passions come from the heart, not the head. Think about what type of work would create excitement for you each day. If you're having trouble coming up with anything, try to remember a task, activity, or role in the workplace that you've loved doing, or you wanted to do. How does that memory make you feel?  Do you feel happiness, enthusiasm, or even joy? Those are signs that you're emotionally connecting to your passion. 

What Type of Work Would You Commit to?

Can you think of a type of work you'd be 100% devoted to? Meaning, you'd keep showing up even when it gets overwhelming and difficult? And you'd even look forward to solving challenges and problems? And even if you don’t feel well, you keep showing up to do the best you can? That's true devotion.  

It's a winning combination when you feel both passion and a deep commitment for your work, which means you've found a career that you love. It’s not enough to have one or the other -- both are required for you to stick with the work for the long term.

Here are other clues to look for to discover your passion...

• Time will fly by when you're engaged in your work. 
• You won't dread going to work each day, you'll look forward to it. And while in the middle of it, you'll feel exhilarated and like you're doing the work you were born to do. At the end of each day, you'll feel proud of your accomplishments. 
• You won't mind working overtime.
• You'll accept a lower salary to do work that you love. 

Passion is not just for dreamers and artists. You're entitled to find and do work you're passionate about because that's why you were born.