How You Can Find Your Passion

 

‘There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.’ - Nelson Mandela

These words by Nelson Mandela are golden. Passion is a centripetal force that drives you from within. It is a self-motivation that makes you want to work for your goals with hard work and perseverance. It structures your time with productivity. When you’re in pain, it can even be a refuge, a distraction, a solace.

One must always do what he/she is passionate about. A task done with passion will always be successful. It is because that task will be done with love and motivation rather than disinterest and pretention. One must always pick the side of passion while taking important decisions of like.

Finding your passion can be tricky at times. Most of the time, it stands right in front of you but remains hidden in plain sight. As difficult as it may sound, finding your passion is essential to find success in life.

Here are a few ways through which you can find your passion:

1. Find Whatever Sparks Joy

The first and foremost way to find your passion includes finding your happiness. Half the battle is won if you can find that one activity that sings to you. Stress is not exclusive to the reader of this article – we all experience stress at some point or the other. However, each one of us has a separate mechanism to bust stress: you might sing on top of your volume, or write a poem quietly in your room or you may just sit back on your couch and read your favorite book.

Chances may be that you like this activity because you feel a connection towards it. Try to form a relationship with this activity of your choice. Treat it the way you would treat a living entity, with care and respect. Try to find ways in which you can incorporate the said activity in your routine. Find out how to improve upon your skill set and better yourself every day in what you like.

You must be in comfort with your passion. It is because following your passion can provide you unabashed success. Although the true meaning of success varies from person to person, we all aim to be successful in our lives – that’s the Endgame. Nothing would be better than incorporating joy into your career.

2. Understanding the Difference Between a Hobby and a Passion

It is easy to confuse passions with hobbies. However, there is a big difference between the two. A hobby is a relaxing, fun-filled or a peaceful activity, done in leisure time. On the other hand, passions may not be so relaxing. They don’t leave you alone, they insert themselves into your life whether you have time for them or not.

While it is possible to convert hobbies into a passion, but it is not possible in every case. For example, a hobby of walking every morning cannot be converted into a passion.

Another point of difference between hobby and passion is that a hobbyist writer may love to maintain his/her personal diary or personal blog. However, a passionate writer would pursue writing as a career. No laziness no prior schedule, nothing would stop him/her from writing, from publishing the blog on the pre-determined time. A hobbyist may find excuses, but a passionate person never has one.

3. Passion Knows No Fear

When a baby first learns to walk, it falls down seven times but stands up eight. The fear of falling does not stop it or blur the wish of parents to see their child walking. If you observe an ant climbing a wall, it also slips several times but begins and resumes its journey again and again. This is because both the baby and the ant are passionate about walking and climbing respectively. The fear of falling or slipping does not stop them.

Passions are not easy to follow. It takes effort and perseverance to follow one’s passion. However, passions know no fear. Often people stop trying to achieve what they believe they are passionate about. However, what these people fail to realize that these are not true passions.

Passion does not see any hurdles. Hence, your passion is what makes you fearless. The anticipation of winning or the fear of loss does not alter the due course of passion. For a person following his/her passion, failures are just steps for success. Hence, your passion is what makes you fearless.

These are the 3 best ways in which you can decipher your passion. Remember, passion is a force, energy that won’t stop you. Your passion lies within you. It drives you. It may be difficult to identify at first, but when identified, it won’t stop you.

Written by - K.R. Swathi
Edited by - Vasudha Sabharwal