Imagine this. You wake up early in the morning to the birds chirping and the sun shining through your window. It’s another gorgeous day, and you can’t wait to get up and see what life has planned for you today. When you look in the mirror, you see your beautiful face looking back at you. As your coffee is percolating, you step outside into a cool breeze, take a deep breath, and feel the energy of the universe taking over your mind. Insights are pouring in about how to ease through the day, take each moment as it comes, and live the life of your dreams. You have found your passion in life. You head back to the house, get your coffee, and prepare for another marvelous day.
Has that ever happened to you?
I know your ego is saying right now that that never happens. No one is that positive, and life is not that easy.
But what if it could be?
What if you did find your passion in life and woke up every day excited to live it out again?
Let’s be realistic; that can’t happen every day.
Or can it? Wouldn’t it be cool if it could?
I’m not saying that obstacles won’t get in the way; in fact, that is welcome. They are your life lessons. What can you learn, and what other path does that reveal?
The first step in living the life of your dreams every day is to find your passion in life. Find the thing that makes waking up every day exciting and get you ready to face new adventures.
6 Questions to Help You Find Your Passion in Life
What comes easy to you?
You were born with skills that no one else has. There is something that comes easy for you that others are in awe of. Maybe it’s cooking, writing, speaking, leading, making people laugh, or even knowing all of the birds by their songs. What are you doing when people compliment you or ask you how you do that? It may not seem special to you because it is natural, but that may be the unique skill you were born with and what fuels your passion.
“The person born with a talent they are meant to use will find their greatest happiness in using it.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
What scares you the most?
When you think about the things you love to do, why aren’t you doing them? Is it because you aren’t good enough? Are you afraid to fail? Will someone think negatively of you? Then ask yourself, So what? Write those things down and pick the little pieces you can do now.
For example, let’s say you want to go back to school to be a nurse. Are you afraid people will say you are too old to change careers? Will it be too hard? Are you afraid to spend money? Start by registering at a local community college. Then register for one class and see how it goes. Bit by bit, and soon you will be a nurse. Put your blinders on and just go!
“Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” Babe Ruth
Related Post: 10 Lessons I Learned From My Mom
What do you want your legacy to be?
Whenever I attend a funeral, I listen very carefully to the eulogy. I love to hear how this person lived and how they are going to be remembered. What would you want to be said at your funeral? How do you want to be remembered? If you don’t think you are going to like what they say, it’s time to do something about that. What do you admire in others? Who is following the passion that you envy? Find your way of following suit.
I’ll never forget the words that were said at my mom’s funeral. “She always made other people feel welcome.” That’s what made her feel purposeful.
“Ultimately, death is the only thing that gives us perspective on the value of our lives. Because it’s only by imagining your non-existence that you can get a sense about what is most important about your existence.” Mark Manson
What can I do with my life that is important?
We all know that there are a lot of problems in this world. Pandemics, immigration, racial inequity, environmental issues, homelessness, cancer, hunger, poverty, hate, etc. Which one makes you the maddest? What can you do to help?
My family started a fund along with another family that helps pay non-medical bills for cancer patients. It’s a way for our family to give back after my mom died of breast cancer. Cancer is a disease that doesn’t discriminate, and we want to help others deal with the fallout it creates.
Has something happened in your life that gives you the passion to help others going through something similar?
“You are not going to fix the world’s problems by yourself, but you can contribute and make a difference. And that feeling of making a difference is ultimately what’s most important for your own happiness and fulfillment.” Mark Manson
Related Post: 9 Important Lessons Following My Passion Has Taught Me
What do you do when you want to have fun?
When you are experiencing joy, your internal guidance system is telling you that you are on the right path with your life. So, what brings you joy? How can you incorporate that into your life every day?
If you experience joy in your work, you know you are in the right job. If not, see if you can find ways to bring more joy to your job or start a side hustle you love. Life is too short to spend 80% of your time doing something that doesn’t bring you joy. Make a list of all the ways you have experienced joy. Your experiences are proof that it is possible.
“Find joy in everything you choose to do. Every job, relationship, home… it’s your responsibility to love it, or change it.” Chuck Palahniuk
What do you do when you want to get away from it all?
If you could let go of all of the expectations of others and just go be yourself, what would you do? Take a deep breath, quiet your mind, and let ideas float into your mind. When you are true to yourself, you’ll automatically be led by your natural inclination and impulses to do the things that please you most.
Besides spending time with my family and friends, my natural inclinations are to sit outside in nature, read and write. Sometimes I just write for myself and sometimes I write things I want to share.
Making the most of this life is why we are here. Why not live with passion and purpose?
“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” Oprah Winfrey
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” Maya Angelou.
Related Post: Let Go of Other People’s Expectations
After you do the work to find your passion in life, I hope you wake up just as we imagined at the beginning of this post.
For more on how to live a marvelous life, check out my book The 5 L’s of Living Marvelously.