Find Your Passion

True happiness comes when you “do” what you’re most passionate about. Is there a passion you’ve abandoned because there’s no room for it in your “real life”?

The mountain of responsibilities we take on as adults often leads us to abandon activities that once brought us joy. Maybe as a child you lived for tennis camp, but haven’t picked up a racket since you were little. Perhaps you love to travel but haven’t taken a vacation since you started working a 9 to 5. Why do we let go of pastimes we love? Adulthood - and all that comes with it - makes us feel like we’re not allowed to pursue activities just for sheer pleasure. Hobbies become indulgences that we get to enjoy after all the “important stuff” is done. But practically speaking, is your to-do list ever really complete? Fortunately, passions are persistent - as much as you try to push them away, they are always there, itching to be let back into your life. Here are a few tips to help you rekindle your passion.

1. Give yourself permission. When you think, I should use my time for more productive things, tell yourself that your dream activity does have a purpose - namely, to give you happiness, which will support you as you tackle everyday tasks, from preparing dinner to leading a meeting at work.
2. Make room for your dream - literally. The writer Virginia Woolf famously said that one of the keys to a woman’s freedom is having a room of one’s own. Claiming a space where you can indulge in your passion is like saying, “X marks the spot.” It’s an expression of your decision to take your dream seriously. So designate a writing area in your living room. Place an easel in a corner of the bedroom. Don’t need a specific spot to practice your passion? Make an altar to your effort: Display items that move you (photographs, books, etc.) or create an “inspiration board” by pinning motivating clippings to a bulletin board.
3. Set a date. Every type of goal needs structure. Otherwise, real life just washes over it like a tidal wave and sweeps it away. To build a solid foundation any dream, construct a schedule: Decide how much time you’ll devote to your hobby, whether it’s an hour each night or twice a week for two hours, and block it off on a calendar - this “makes a promise” to that time and, by extension, to yourself. Then, commit to that schedule for 90 days - that’s just long enough to create a habit; face the challenges of making room for your dream in your busy life; and decide if you’re going to keep at your goal for good.

Passion is a rich, soulful emotion. Whether it makes you feel angry, excited, inspired or tearful, passion is something that moves you in a very powerful way. Finding your passion means connecting your head with your heart, engaging that part of yourself that “feels” in a big, bold, spiritual way. If you don’t know what your passion is, do some quiet soul searching and listen to your heart. Once you find your passion and pursue what you truly love to do, you will see that your life is more fulfilling.

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