Almost everyone has goals and dreams they are passionate about. When asked about their progress, many people will hem and haw, giving reasons why they haven't started yet or declaring an imagined date for beginning in the future. They may know what they want but don't know how to get there.
The fact is, though, that you can start following your passions right now. No matter how busy you are or what obligations or responsibilities you have, there are a few changes you can make to do what really matters to you or get you closer to the dreams you harbor.
Embrace Curiosity
When you were a child and people asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up, do you remember what you said? Were you excited to answer the question? It's likely that some of your passions have changed since then, but there is value in tapping into the glee that accompanied your response. Is there anything that makes you feel that way now?
If you can't think of anything, don't despair. That just means you have the opportunity to explore. Take an afternoon to visit your local library, and browse the nonfiction section for topics that interest you. Enroll in a class that lets you learn a new skill or hobby or teaches you something new about the one you already have. The more curious you are, the more likely you are to stumble onto something you're passionate about.
Start Where You Are
It's likely that there are things you already do in every area of your life that tap into your passions. For example, you probably took the job you have because it was appealing to you in some way. Through job crafting, you may be able to restructure your workday to better pursue the aspects that are more meaningful to you:
- Make a list of all the tasks you do and the relationships you have at work.
- Highlight the ones that bring you joy.
- Brainstorm ways to incorporate these tasks and relationships into every workday.
- Identify the parts of your job that can be delegated to someone else looking for a new challenge.
- Reorganize your schedule to better reflect your passions and values.
While you may be limited in the extent to which you can restructure your job, you can still apply these same principles to other areas of your life. What tasks are you doing at home that you can give to a child who wants to earn extra allowance money or needs to learn new responsibilities? What obligations do you have at church that you don't really enjoy? Perhaps it's time to let go of some things so that you can make room for what makes you really come alive.
Make the Necessary Changes
The only thing left to do after you have a plan is to put it into action. This may be more difficult than you expect. Trying something new (or even a new way of doing something that's already a part of your life) can be scary. Many times when people end up in a rut, it's because they're stuck in their comfort zone. While being comfortable is rewarding in some ways, it doesn't challenge you to grow. Having a workable plan in place may be the motivation you need to break out of familiar habits that no longer serve you or your passions.
Following your passion may seem like a faraway dream at first. Once you start breaking down how you want your life to look into manageable steps, however, you may be delighted to find how simple taking the first step can be.
