Yes, you are a better person for reading this article because you've signaled to me that you're the type of person who isn't interested in doing something "good enough" to get through life. You want to do what you love, what drives you. So good for you for realizing this so early in life. Now how do we find your calling?
Let’s start by asking some questions: What do you love? What excites you? What makes your heart beat faster? If I asked you, “What do YOU want to be when you grow up?” what would your answer be?
If your answer is something like “I don’t know,” don’t panic! We all went through this stage at some point in our lives; it’s normal and part of the process of discovering ourselves. The important thing is that now we have an opportunity to explore who we are at our core.
So let’s explore: Who are YOU outside of the expectations others have placed upon you? What makes YOU happy? What makes YOU feel fulfilled? What makes YOU look forward to waking up every morning and getting out of bed? Once we figure that out—and it may take some time, so be patient with yourself—we can start working on making our dreams a reality. Hey, I mean it. I am invested in your success!
Once you’ve answered those questions and thought about them, it will be much easier to figure out what jobs or careers would suit your lifestyle.
Let’s get some things out of the way first.
Overwhelmed when trying to figure out your career path?
You’re not alone. I know it seems like everyone has their life figured out, but they don’t.
We’ve all been there. You’re in your early 20s and trying to figure out your career path. Or you’re approaching your 40s (like me), and you’ve just realized that the career path you’ve been on for what feels like forever isn’t really what you want anymore.
The first thing you can do is take a step back from what’s stressing you. You need to be able to look at your life objectively in order to get a better handle on what’s going on.
And this is where journaling comes in! Journaling is an excellent way for anyone to organize their thoughts, especially when it comes to figuring out your career path. By writing down everything that’s going on in your life right now, as well as any thoughts or feelings that come up when thinking about your future, you’ll be able to get a clearer picture of what needs fixing before moving forward.
Think about it and brainstorm
Brainstorm a list of hobbies, personal interests, and skills that you have. These can be anything from playing the piano to being a great listener. Once you have your list, start thinking about how these skills or interests could be applied to different careers.
For example, if you’re a people person design, you might want to consider a job as a a website designer or developer(in demand at the moment). If you’re a creative type, you could look into careers in the arts or fashion. And if you’re a natural leader, plenty of management and executive positions would suit you perfectly.
There are endless possibilities when it comes to finding a career that’s right for you and plenty more opportunities opening up grace to startups, freelance work, and other entrepreneurial ventures.
Remember that your list doesn’t have to be limited to traditional jobs or careers. With so many options available today, the sky’s the limit!
Carve out your dream
Everyone wants to know how to find their passion in life. But what if I told you there’s something else you need to do first?
Before you can figure out what it is, that gets your blood pumping. You need to think about what kinds of people tend to be involved in these careers and interests—do they look like the kind of people who have made a lot of money? Are they happy? Or are they stressed out and exhausted? Do they come as content and satisfied?
Ask yourself why these people love their jobs or interests. What about the work makes them enjoy going to each day? How does it make them feel? I even encourage you to contact them and ask these questions. You may be amazed at how many people are willing to talk to you about their work and their passion.
If you can answer these questions honestly, then you’ll know whether or not this is something worth pursuing further. If you don’t have an answer yet—if all these questions make you feel unsure—that’s okay! Not everyone knows what their career should look like at 20 years old (or even 30 years old), so give yourself time to figure things out.
Seek, and you shall find
When you’re in a job you hate, it’s easy to forget that other things are out there. You’ve just been doing the same thing for so long that you don’t even remember what it felt like when you wanted to do something else.
But I’m here to tell you: there are other things out there! And if you’re not sure what they are, I have some tips for finding your passion in life.
First, let’s talk about those boring ol’ terms “passion” and “meaning.” They sound serious and necessary, but they just mean fun stuff you like doing. So if you think about it that finding your passion is just about figuring out what makes you happy, it won’t seem so scary!
This brings me to my next point: don’t be afraid to try new things. As much as we all love our favorite hobbies and pastimes, sometimes they get stale after a while. If this happens, it might be time for something new! Exploring new things is one of the best ways to discover what makes us tick (sometimes we end up liking them even more than our old favorites).
Look at the current job market
The job market is a big, scary place. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the options and the time commitment it takes to pursue them.
But here’s the thing: you can’t afford to look at it closely. You are not only investing in yourself but in the future. Take this opportunity to look into the current and prospective job markets and their trends. Doing this research can give you incredible insight if you are unsure about particular career paths.
This is also a great way to help assess what kinds of skills and education you may need to develop to make yourself more marketable and attractive to future employers. Take a site like Glassdoor, for example. It’s a great resource that provides an in-depth look at various companies, their cultures, and what it’s like to work there.
So take some time (maybe even an afternoon) and explore the job market! Look at how different industries are doing and what kinds of people they’re looking for. You’ll learn so much about yourself, your skills, and where your future might be headed.
Learn to let go
I’m not talking about your luggage—though that is important, you should always take care of it. I’m talking about the things in your life that are weighing you down and making you feel stuck.
You may think these things have nothing to do with finding your passion, but they do! When you forgive old grudges, let go of anything that doesn’t serve you, and stop holding on to negative feelings from the past, you’ll feel lighter and more joyful than ever before. And the. BAM! You’ll realize that your passion has been right under your nose all along!
Need more advice about letting go of the past? I wrote an article about it here.
Seize the day
Did you ever have the opportunity to watch “Dead Poet’s Society?” It’s one of my favorite movies, and there’s a scene where the main character, Robin Williams, tells his students to “seize the day.” He says that they should live each day to the fullest and not let anything hold them back.
I know it’s just a movie, but I think there’s a lot of truth to that. If we want to find our passion in life, we need to be present in the moment and open to new experiences. We never know when or where we’ll find our love. Carpe Diem, seize the day!
I know, I know. It’s cheesy. But it’s also true.
In life, there are two kinds of people: those who work jobs they hate to make money they don’t need—money that they’ll never have time to spend on things they really want because they’re too busy working at jobs they hate.
And then other people do what makes them happy, even if it doesn’t make them a ton of money right away or even ever! Those are the game changers, the people who end up having the most fun anyway because they’re doing something that fulfills their souls and brings joy into their lives every day. So why not go for it?
Don’t waste time trying to conform to other people’s standards when there are so many amazing things out there waiting for you!
Don’t quit your present job
This may seem very tempting, but it’s not the best idea. Why? Because you’ll probably just end up getting another job that you hate.
Instead, take some time for yourself outside of work to focus on finding your passion and plan it out. Map out your escape plan so you’ll be prepared, and the wheels will already be in motion.
Ever watched “Oceans 11”? It’s a classic heist movie, and one of the things that makes it so great is that the characters have a plan. They know precisely what they’re doing, and they’re prepared for any obstacle that comes their way.
Now, I’m not saying you should rob a casino (that would be illegal). Still, you can take a page from their book regarding finding your passion.
You need to do the same thing: map out a plan and make sure there are backups if something happens along the way.
What advice do you have for people who are trying to find their passion in life? Share your perspective in the comments below!
Take a test run
So, you’ve decided to take a test run.
That’s awesome! You can finally implement your plan and see if it works for you.
Before doing this, remember to save enough money so you can live comfortably while trying to find your passion. I recommend you carefully consider all your living expenses and put aside enough for at least one year.
You don’t want to put too much pressure on yourself, or you’ll quit before you even start.
Once you’ve saved up, go ahead and start trying out some of the things on your list of things that make you come alive with passion. Bear in mind this is more for the entrepreneur in you. If you wish to pursue an academic route and get a degree or certification, that’s fine too! You’ll need different strategies and tactics than what I’m talking about today.
The tools that will guide you
Alright, you are approaching the end of this simple guide on finding your passion in life. You’ve saved up money, have a plan, and are ready to make things happen. The only thing left is to have some tools to help guide you on your journey. Consider taking an assessment!
You’re going to have to be prepared for anything. There are several great tests, such as The Princeton Review Career Quiz, that can help get you started, or The Myers-Briggs Personality Test that can give you more in-depth information about your personality type and how it might match up with different careers.
Another time test and resource is books! There is no shortage of what you can read regarding finding your perfect job. There is no shortage of what you can read regarding career planning. Books like What Color Is Your Parachute? by Richard Bolles have been around for decades and provide a wealth of insight into the world of career planning. Also, consider Find Your Why by Simon Sinek or Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans.
These books will help you look at life and work differently and find more meaning in your work. And this is just the tip of the iceberg of what you can read and learn.
The internet is another excellent resource, with sites like Indeed, LinkedIn, and others where you can research companies and job postings to find out what’s out there.
And finally, don’t forget about talking to people! You can learn a lot from other people’s experiences, so reach out to your network and see if
The first step is determining what kind of work environment suits you best. Are you a people person? Do you prefer working alone? Do you like having deadlines? Are you a night owl or an early bird? What about travel? Are you excited about the opportunity to experience new places as part of your job description?
Once you’ve established that, it’s time to take a close look at the market situation. How many positions are available for your chosen field? How competitive is it? What kinds of skills do employers look for in candidates?
There you have it! I hope this guide has helped you as you try to figure out how to find your passion in life. Just remember, it’s not going to be easy. But if you’re willing to do the work, anything is possible.
What suggestions do you have for others who are trying to find their passion in life? Let us know in the comments below!
If you are a new reader, welcome, and we are delighted to have you. Please take the time to subscribe so you don’t miss a beat. We promise to deliver value every week!
Suppose you are a regular reader, nothing but love and appreciation for you. Thank you.
Please let your friends and family know about the Mentor Motivations blog, so we can spread the word and make some noise. The more people that know, hopefully, we will have the opportunity to impact their lives positively.
Have suggestions, comments, or feedback? Let us know what resonates with you or what you want to see more of in future articles.
Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life
