6 Simple Tips to Find Your Passion

Everybody talks about how much more successful you can be - how much more enjoyable your life can be - once you find your passion. For some people - those lucky few who seem to be practically born knowing what they want to do - identifying what really, truly motivates them is simple; it’s almost part of who they are. But for the rest of us, identifying passion in our lives and in our careers takes a little more work. Here are six simple tips to help you get started:

Start by building lists

Grab a pen and paper and make a list of the activities in your life that interest you, no matter how small. Then write down your talents and strengths - what you’re good at and what you enjoy doing. Finally, write down any activities that give you a sense of purpose. Now, look at each list and find the common themes. This simple activity can help you cut through the “noise” of life to find what really motivates and inspires you.

Revisit your childhood

Most of us had plenty of fun pastimes as kids; as we get older and need to take on more "serious" responsibilities, those pastimes often fall by the wayside. Think about what interests you had as a kid and if they still motivate you now the way they did then. You might find your true passion buried somewhere back in your past.

Volunteer!

Volunteer opportunities are great ways to “try on” your passion shoes without purchasing them outright. Get a sense of whether a particular interest is something you want to pursue long-term. Plus, studies show that volunteering is good for your health!

Assess your hobbies

Is there something you can’t wait to do whenever you have a free afternoon or evening? Something you find you happily “waste” time doing? Or maybe you have a particular talent or aptitude for something you could turn into your life’s pursuit. Not sure you want to jump in feet first? Maybe you can turn your interest into a side gig first to see if it’s really what you want to do as a career.

Feel free to break free

This is the age of entrepreneurs! If you have a passion that doesn’t “fit” into a traditional or existing job profile, make your own job - or your own company. A recent poll found only 13% of employees are engaged in their jobs. Don’t let this be you! Make sure you are set up for success in your career - and pursue your passion on your own terms.

Follow your curiosity

What if you go through these steps and you still can’t identify your passion? Don’t get discouraged. Instead, take action. Explore a possibility. As you go along, you’ll be able to “zero in” on what it is about that option that you like - and what you dislike. Maybe you'll find you don't have a particular passion right now - and that's OK too. The main thing is to keep moving forward, keep learning and keep expanding your options and your awareness of all the possibilities that surround you. Just keeping your eyes and your mind open to new possibilities can make for a much more exciting and enjoyable life.