How to Discover Your Passion

These five steps will help you find what you truly love to do.

What do you do with your free time? Are you so motivated with your life's tasks that you jump out of bed in the morning, eager to start your day? Does the word "task" have a negative connotation for you?

The happiest and most successful people on this planet are those with a sense of purpose, driven by their passions. But how does one go about discovering what she's passionate about?

I've read a lot on this topic over the past 20 years or so and I have a certain amount of personal life experience to back up what I’m about to say. So, without further ado, here is my step-by-step process of how to discover your passion.

1. Meditate. This might mean learning to meditate--it certainly did for me. The best way to get to know yourself, who You truly are, is to get quiet and listen to your inner being.

2. Observe your reactions. Take a week or so to examine and reflect on your reactions to the things around you such as television shows, newspapers, conversations, books you read, and any other stimuli that causes you to react in a passionate way. If you come across something that has been of interest to you for a long time, make a note of it.

3. Answer some questions. What are you really good at? What specific quality do you possess that others may not? Whom do you admire? Why? Who do you know that is doing something you would love to do? What's to keep you from doing it? How could you make this world a better place?

4. Analyze your surroundings. What collections do you have in your home? Do you collect old photographs? Do you have a green thumb? There are probably many clues in your very own home or room that will provide the insight you're looking for. We tend to hold on to things we love, so, what's in your closet?

5. Try it. You do not have to be certain about something before giving it a try. Once you get involved in something, you'll either want to stay with it and expand your knowledge, or you'll lose interest and move on to something else. Keep in mind that our passions change throughout life. We are constantly growing, expanding, and wanting more. Some passions remain the same for a long time, and some come and go on a fairly predictable basis.

For example, my husband's passion for dentistry has remained strong for over 40 years. Some gardeners get excited about their passion in the spring, but tire quickly as the weather warms up. Yet, every spring, they have a strong desire to plant something. It's all good, you just have to know yourself well enough to say, "Okay, since I only like gardening in the spring, I’ll plant strawberries. That way, the harvest is over before my enthusiasm wanes."

Then, of course, there are some passions that may last for a few months or years, and then fizzle. That's okay, too. Anything you attempt will get you closer to discovering your long-term passion. And I fully believe that for some people, their passion is constantly trying new things! I had a Life-coaching session with an incredible woman a few months ago who knew herself well enough to tell me, "I'm a starter. I like to start companies, get them up and running, then sell them." She's done that several times and it works for her. Her "problem" was figuring out what to do next!

When you find your passion, you find your reason for jumping out of bed in the morning.

When you get in alignment with your inner being, you will feel exhilarated and alive.

When your time is spent performing tasks related to something you are passionate about, you do no "work," and you have a sense of vitality that is wonderful beyond words.

So find your passion. The result is worth it. YOU are worth it.

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