Maybe you have a good career, a solid friend group, and an overall satisfying life but you just can’t help but feel like something is missing. That’s because you haven’t yet discovered your passions or reached your full potential. Luckily, doing so is easier than you’d think, and these things will help you get there.
- Consider what you’re drawn to. When you look for content online, what do you gravitate to most? Maybe it’s interior design articles or eBooks about becoming an artist. What you read says a lot about yourself. Keep an eye out for a pattern relating to similar topics. It’ll give you insight as to what field you should possibly go into or at least do more research about.
- Ask around. Turn to friends and family to find out what you’re good at. They’ll be able to pick out good qualities you may not see in yourself. Alternatively, ask them how they found their passions in life. It could help you do the same.
- Write down aspirations. If your mind goes blank when someone asks you what you’re passionate about, write down aspirations instead. Where do you see yourself in five years? Write down potential career paths, creative outlets, and activities. Even if it seems impossible, jot it down. Having an idea of your desired end result could help you figure out the steps needed to get there.
- Try out your options. Look over that list of aspirations from the last step. Pick a handful of them and put them to the test the best you can. Let’s say a potential career path is writing. Before quitting your day job and going all in, start off small. Launch a blog or look for publications to submit work to. Do it for a month. After that, revisit the experience to see how you liked it and if you want to stick with it.
- Be goal-oriented. It’s one thing to dream. It’s another to take action towards it. Finding your passions and reaching your potential requires commitment. You can’t say you want to do something then sit idly by, waiting for opportunities to just drop into your lap. You need to be proactive.
- Understand that challenges will arise. Setbacks are a part of life. Most of them suck, leaving you stuck and wondering what the next steps are. Others are easier to handle. If you’re serious about your goals, you’ll find a way through the hard times. Life is a series of problems. You can either choose to ignore them or solve them. Solving them takes you further; ignoring them keeps you stagnant.
- Stay motivated. One challenge you’ll encounter more often than not is the rise and fall of motivation. Some days you’ll be filled with inspiration while others you’ll be looking for it in every corner and crevice. It’s easier to stay motivated when the big picture is kept at the forefront. Refer to your goals whenever you feel stuck.
- Remember that practice is progress. Whatever your passions, you’ll most likely feel behind the curve. Other people have been doing it longer than you, but that’s okay. We were all beginners at one point. What separates amateurs from experts is practice. Keep at it and you’ll see progress. Lose momentum constantly and you’ll start over more times than you’d like.
- Consider the impossible. Want to turn your newfound passion into a career? It’s possible! Think of the days before influencers were a thing. Someone made it happen and now anyone can become one. All it takes is motivation and the will to make it a reality. Heck, building things out of Legos is a career (and they make good money doing it too!).
- Devote time and stick with it. You can’t say you’ll experiment with a passion then drop it when it gets hard. Tough times will always be around the corner. It’s a matter of how you get up when you fall. Exploring your passions takes time. Create a schedule where you dedicate anywhere from an hour to a whole day doing what you want.
- Find a coach or mentor. Sometimes we just need extra help and there’s nothing wrong with that. Finding a life coach or a mentor in the field you want to break into is smart. You can talk to someone directly about what’s ahead for you. It’s also nice to have someone in your corner that you can rely on whenever you have questions.
- Celebrate small wins. Following your passions is courageous. Many people spend years wishing to do the same. You have to celebrate the wins in life, whether big or small. Maybe you stuck with one of your options for a month and it’s paying off. Or you tried something new and you didn’t like it. Just acknowledging that is a reason to celebrate. You’re not confining yourself to something you don’t love.
