3 Steps to Finding What You’re Passionate About

Don’t let fear hold you back!

If you are anything like me, you have jumped from one thing to another in your life in regards to what you want to do in life.

When I was a young girl, all I wanted to be was a teacher. I got to college, majored in liberal studies and started on my path to becoming an elementary school teacher.

About 2 years in I realized this wasn’t the profession for me. I am a math girl at heart. The coursework to obtaining a multiple subject credential had way too much science and English based classes and not nearly enough math for my taste. Plus, as I started observing in classrooms a light bulb went off in my head…

This will not be the one carrier you will want to do for the rest of your working life.

I contemplated switching to a math major to become a math teacher but… let’s be real, high school kids HATE math and usually then hate their math teacher. I didn’t want that.

The very next semester I changed majors to business administration. I had a couple reasons for choosing this new major. First, I was not sure what career I wanted to go into since all I have ever thought about wanting to do was teach. Secondly, I knew this was a diverse major with many opportunities for me when I received my degree. I felt this was the best decision for me, at the time, when I didn’t even know what my passion in life was anymore.

If you find yourself in a similar situation as I was, whether it was with a career choice, hobby, side hustle, etc. here are 3 specific things you can do to try and find what you’re passionate about.

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

This might sound like an obvious one, but many of us get caught up in our daily lives and routines that we forget there is a big world out there to explore. Get out there and try something new. Maybe it’s that one thing you have always wanted to try but haven’t been able to yet. Maybe it’s something as simple as reading a book or watching a movie that is not usually something that would interest you. You never know when something might spark your interest and give you an idea of what to pursue further.

For me, my spark was ignited through writing and making YouTube videos. I have never been a writer or one who thought she would like to be in front of the camera.

I have never liked to draw attention to myself.

Once I gave them a try, though, I found something new that I loved doing and they have both brought a new joy into my life. They have also further motivated me and gave me a new sense of purpose each day. If I never would have gotten out of my comfort zone and tried new things I would never have found these new interests.

Make New Friends

There is a whole world of people out there to meet. Maybe start social networking with new people outside your current groups. Join a new Facebook group or respond to a stranger’s tweet or Instagram post, that stands out to you, with a thoughtful message or compliment.

Surround yourself with positive people that will lift you up and encourage you. Do this both in your real life and on social media. Go through all the people you follow on social media and ask yourself this simple question…

“Does this person make me feel better or worse about myself?”

If seeing their posts or reading their comments makes you feel worse about yourself or you start comparing yourself to them, unfollow them. It might not be anything personal towards that person but you will feel so much better only seeing things that bring happiness, positivity and motivation to your life.

A couple other ways you can meet new people is by going and sitting down at a new coffee shop or restaurant to relax or get some work done. Switch to a new gym with new faces. There are many ways to get out there and meet new people. Just to acknowledge… this one might be tough, given we are currently in a pandemic during the writing of this article

Believe in Yourself

This is a big one. If you don’t trust and believe in yourself to get out there and try new things, meet new people and explore to see what might interest you, you will never do these things I have outlined.

I know we are all guilty of doubting ourselves, our abilities, and what we are really capable of. We need to stop doing that! If you don’t believe in yourself first, no one else will.

Don’t worry about what others will think of you. Be yourself, take a risk and you will find that passion that has been missing in your life.

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