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Finding Your Passion: Figuring What You Want To Be When You Grow Up

By Will Turner

In a recent survey, 50% of respondents said they would choose a different career if they were able to start all over again. Why is it that so many people are going through the motions with a job or career that doesn’t excite them? For most, the thought of having a job that they love seems like an unattainable goal. It’s called “work” for a reason, right? Can you really make money doing what you love to do?

A client recently told me, “I’m very successful, I’m good at what I do, and make a great living; but I’m tired of it. Isn’t there anything more?” The answer is an emphatic “Yes!” It’s called living your life with passion and it comes from figuring out your life’s purpose.

Figuring out what you have a passion for and then finding a way to make a living doing it takes some self-discovery, creativity and effort. But the journey will pay huge dividends and the rewards will last a lifetime.

Follow These Five Basic Steps To Determine The Perfect Career For You:

STEP ONE: Discover and understand what you are passionate about. Of course, that’s easier said than done. It may help to think in general terms now, so you don’t prematurely eliminate possibilities. To help you, try this exercise. Think of three times in your life when you were truly excited and energized. It could be in a work setting, pursuing a hobby or an activity with family or friends. Write down whatever comes to mind. Now examine your responses and see if you can discover a common thread. What was it about these three moments that got you excited?

You may need to go through more self-discovery exercises to really hone in on what you are passionate about and what your defining purpose is. Build your awareness of what you enjoy, as well as what you don’t. Your life’s purpose should be able to be completed by filling in the blanks of this statement: “I exist to serve by ________ing ____________. For example, you might say “I exist to serve by organizing projects.” Or “I exist to serve by developing people.”

STEP TWO: Once you’ve defined your life’s purpose in general terms, it’s time to do some real “possibility thinking.” Since your life’s purpose is not too specific, you are only limited by your creativity in defining a career that would make your heart sing. At this point, don’t eliminate any possibility because you don’t have the experience, the money, the connections or whatever else may be holding you back.

STEP THREE: Identify the obstacles, including your own limiting beliefs and attitudes that will keep you from living your life’s purpose. Be honest with yourself. What is holding you back? The obstacles you uncover will probably include internal, as well as external roadblocks. Write out all the things that are holding you back; there are no obstacles that are too trivial for consideration and closer examination.

STEP FOUR: Remove the obstacles by developing effective, planned-out solutions. Seemingly insurmountable obstacles often melt away when you start to devise step-by-step ways to address them.

STEP FIVE: Take simple action steps to achieve your dream and live your passion. Now that you’ve identified the obstacles and come up with action steps to address them, it’s time to take action. Nothing will happen until you make it happen. The good news is you can start today by taking another step forward.

You’ll be amazed at what doors will open up to you, when you trust in yourself enough to begin your journey. You will be living your passion and doing what you love to do. You will be living your life’s purpose.

© Dancing Elephants Achievement Group 2003