It’s not uncommon to feel in your heart and your head that you should be doing things you love, yet due to your obligations and the pressures of everyday life you choose an easier road or more direct road. The end result, unfortunately, is usually unhappiness.

More many years I asked myself: “What is your burning desire, Gina? What is your passion?” I knew I yearned for more yet I had no idea what that “more” was.

So, I Googled – A lot! “How to discover your passion” and “Secrets to finding out what your passionate about”. “Find your passion in life” and “define your life’s purpose”. There is a LOT of information out there. And most of it just left me with more questions.

Finally I stumbled across Janet Bray Attwood and Chris Attwood’s “The Passion Test”.  It was a simple way to get started, so I jumped in. Months later, I became a Passion Test Facilitator. I was in love with watching people connect to their true desires.

Finding your passion takes time. The reality is that you won’t be able to figure out what your passionate about without some self-reflection. That said, start here to get the passion flowing:

1. If you only had a year to live, how would you spend it?

With the clock ticking, we’re much more able to focus on the important stuff and let everything else go.

• Just reminding yourself that you’re going to die one day can be helpful. The reminder that your time is limited can reduce the habit of wasting time and being indecisive.
  

2. How do you want others to remember you?

What would you like your obituary to say? How would you like your children, friends, and other family members to remember you?

• Make a conscious decision about how you’d like others to remember you and put together a plan to live that life.

3. What did you love to do as a child that you no longer do?

As children, we’re quite clear about what we like and don’t like. In addition, younger children aren’t concerned with the perceptions of others. We do things solely because we like them when we’re 6-years old. What have you given up over the years?

• As we become teenagers, social pressure and the need to impress others can steer us away from the things we love.
• In young adulthood, we become overly concerned with the practicality of our choices. “Can I make enough money at this to have a decent lifestyle?”
• With a little thought, you can find a way to make a living doing what you love. Life is short. Consider what you once loved to do and find a way to incorporate it back into your life.

4. What type of discomfort can I handle?

Everything is awful part of the time. Living your life’s purpose will have its disadvantages. What can you handle? This is important to consider, if you dream of being an artist, musician, writer, or actor, you’ll be rejected alot. If you want to create a law firm, you’ll spend at least a decade working 80-hours each week. Do you want to be a teacher? Can you handle the parents and the children that constantly disrupt class?

• If you can’t handle the worst aspects of pursuing your purpose, consider reconsidering your choice.

5. What topics and activities make you lose track of time?

Have you ever gotten so involved with a conversation or an activity that you missed a meal or were amazed by how much time had passed?

• Make a list of the times you’ve been so focused that you forgot about everything else.
• Imagine if you had a career that incorporated this phenomenon. You’d never have to “work” another day again!
  What do you dream about doing but are too afraid?

Admit it.

There’s something you fantasize about, but you can’t quite get yourself to take action.

• Why haven’t you taken the first step? In many cases, you’ll find your resistance to trying something new is fear. Often, it’s the fear of failing, especially failing in front of others.
• Keep in mind that the only way to become good at something is to work through the initial period of being bad at it. It’s unlikely that your first script will be purchased. In fact, it will probably be awful. But the next attempt will be better. It takes time to become good at a new skill.
• The more embarrassment you can handle, the greater your ultimate success.

7. How could you best serve the world?

Of all the challenges that exist in the world, how could you best solve one of them?

• True happiness requires contributing to something outside yourself.
• It’s not possible to solve any of the world’s problems alone. You’ll be forced to work constructively and creatively with others. This could be the kind of fulfillment you seek.
• Make of list of all the ways your skills, interests, and talents could benefit the world in a meaningful way.

The answers may not come to you right away so spend some time with you and you will find them.

If you would like any help, please reach out to me.