How important is finding your passion?? For me it was as fundamental as breathing, so I wanted to share my top 4 tips to finding your passion.
I read a statement/quote the other day that said,“the greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure”. I agree that often it is, but only if the journey you are on is the right journey and that you are on the right path. Lets consider; what if the greatest barrier to your success was hanging in there when really you should be doing something else!
If what you are doing is worth fighting for then there are ways to overcome that fear of failure. But if the passion is missing, if the desire is lacking, is it the fear of failure that is blocking you or the absence of passion?
In my early days I struggled to find something I was truly passionate about. I enjoyed experiencing a number of different things but finding that something worth jumping into lock, stock and barrel alluded me for many years. I recognised that I needed to put time and effort into each endeavour before I took the decision to walk away. I was often called reckless, a lost soul who lacked focus, someone who was unable to commit. I often felt that the grass was greener on the other side but that drive to find that greener grass motivated me to keep looking.
At that time I did not care about the labels because I knew deep within that I would find whatever that “thing” was and in my search I viewed all those experiences, not as mistakes or failures, but as key learnings and experiences. Consequently, another door would open and lead me into a new chapter of my life
I saw another quote that said “Failure Is Only Fatal If you Quit” A lot of people think this way because we have been conditioned to think that quitting is bad. This was the mentality my parents generation had. You get a good, stable job, you work hard, stick at it whether you like it or not. Its not about happiness or challenge or passion, its about not quitting, it’s about taking responsibility and seeing it through. Although I do think this still exists today I get a sense that the holistic health and wellbeing model has created
I have been very fortunate that I found a number of things that I can truly say I am passionate about and that I have been able to earn an income from. Even today I am still continually trying new stuff, experimenting, pushing the boundaries because I reckon there might be some more nuggets of passion just waiting to be found.
My 3 top tips to finding your passion
1. Take a chance – move outside your comfort zone and experience life from a different perspective. The fear of trying something new can stop you from finding that one, two or three gem.
2. Really find out what you are good at and what you love. There are lots of ways you can do this, from using psychometric testing and analysis tools and books but often you just know instinctively. Maybe you are a good numbers person, someone who enjoys being around people or who loves to travel. This is the first clue as to where your passion might lie.
3. Don’t give up unless it truly is NOT your passion but be ok to say “enough is enough” and move on. If you find it then embrace it wholeheartedly with tenacity and gusto.
4. Surround yourself with like minded people, positive role models, mentors, family and friends and who believe in you and what you are trying to achieve. Omit the nay sayers.
On a final note I firmly believe that when you find your true passion you will automatically have persistence, motivation and drive, because you will love what you do. My favourite quote to finish is “Do what you love, and you will never work a day in your life”