Life is not meant to merely survive but rather to thrive. A happy, thriving life is achieved through creating space for the things you love – in other words, pursuing your passions!
Your passions are the very things that inspire you to stay excited and engaged in your life. According to best-selling author Gretchen Rubin, “A passion gives you a reason to keep learning and to work toward mastery. It can often give you a reason to travel, and therefore to have the new experiences so key to happiness. It gives you something in common with other people, and so fosters social bonds. It gives you purpose. It often has a satisfying physical aspect—rock-climbing, fly-fishing, knitting. It gives meaningful structure to your time. It makes the world a richer place. When you’re in pain, it can be a refuge, a distraction, a solace.”
However, you might be thinking, “What if I don’t have a passion?” or “What if I don’t know what I’m truly passionate about?”
Fortunately, finding your passion is easier than you think. By taking the time to identify what drives you, you will gain clarity on areas of your life that may need to change and the steps that you need to take to increase your happiness.
Whether you’re looking to find passion in your personal or professional life, these tips will help you get there. The key is to do something you love every single day!
Let’s uncover what brings you a sense of love and enjoyment – and make sure you’re prioritizing and planning more of that in your life!
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1. Think Like a Kid
Return to your childhood, just for a moment. While your interests have changed, tapping into a childlike sense of living in the moment and an uninhibited optimism for the future can help you rediscover things that you love and enjoy.
To dive deeper into this topic, head over to our previous post: Think Like a Kid to Discover New Passions.
Be curious, ignore your obstacles, and unleash your creative mind as you go about the steps below.
2. Brainstorm What You Love
Now that you’re in the right mindset, grab a notebook for a brainstorming session! Wondering how to know if you’re passionate about something? Think of situations where time flies by. Notice what makes you feel like a kid again – or simply what makes you feel most happy, free, and alive as an adult. Consider what you’re most curious about. Define what you wish you had more time for.
If you’ve thought of something that is interesting but doesn’t quite fill you with a sense of purpose and excitement, you’re not there yet. Keep thinking until you land on something that makes you enthusiastic and motivated. That’s your passion! And that’s where you will create and serve best.
3. Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
Assess how you spend your time. Are you stagnant in your job? Are you planning activities in your personal life only because they are comfortable to you?
It’s easy for any of us to get a little stuck in our ways. Try “un-sticking” yourself with new and different (and fun!) plans for how to spend your precious time.
You don’t have to go to extremes, such as quitting your job tomorrow or ending a relationship. Simply do one thing every week that gets you out of your comfort zone! For example, identify your true career aspirations and let your manager know that you’re looking to grow in a certain area. Personally, you could make plans to take a new yoga class or go to a concert one night instead of staying in.
With each small step out of your comfort zone, you’ll grow from the experience and you’ll be glad that you did!
4. View Life As An Adventure
An adventurous life is one that is filled with curiosity, experiences, and activities. Know that life can be an adventure if you make it one!
As you plan your days, start carving out time in your planner for things that bring more adventure into everyday life – fitting them in wherever you can. You will start to change in beautiful and positive ways! And this alone will inspire you to keep the adventure going.
5. Imagine You’re in the Future Looking Back on Your Life
One of our favorite strategies is to visualize yourself in the future. Imagine that you’re elderly or even just ten years older, looking back on your life. Personally and professionally, what do you wish you had spent more time doing? Who do you wish you had spent more time with? What do you wish you had learned more about or experienced more in life?
This exercise encourages you to start living today with your future self in mind! It also reminds us to make every day count.
What to do when you’ve lost your passion?
When our passion starts to cool or we lose our love for something, we often find ourselves lost and unfocused. If you’re feeling disinterested and distracted, it may be time to remind yourself of what it was that first drew you to your interest in the first place. Then get out there and rekindle that love! Alternatively, take time to discover new things that you love and enjoy. We believe your passion is there and we’re here to help you uncover it!
Prioritize Your Passions
Don’t be afraid to embrace your passions and live the life you were meant to. And remember, it’s never too late to begin something new! Start by planning your days in your Day Designer – the original daily planner created to help you live an authentic, fully present, well-designed life. Add things you’re passionate about into your daily life to boost your happiness and fulfillment levels!