To Do List | Get Going On Your Passion

One thing that everyone I know, including myself, has struggled with, is trying to pinpoint what we feel like our passion is. I believe life has a special way of taking you through a specific course designed just for you in order to put you exactly where you belong and that there is no greater satisfaction than living a purpose filled life. I know how difficult it is to be stuck in a creative limbo, where you know you should be doing something but can’t narrow down exactly what it is. It took me 25 years to reach my “aha!” moment and had I not actually taken the time out to dig and search for what my passion was, I’m certain it would’ve taken much longer.

I can confidently say I’ve always had a good grasp on who I was, even as a little girl, but experiencing a whirlwind of change all at once had me feeling lost. I was living a good life. I was 23, graduating, intelligent, traveling, experiencing love and preparing to embark on setting the tone for the rest of my life – which was invigorating but more than anything, confusing and frightening. I was a few months away from walking into the real world, having to decide what move to make next. I had a choice – I could sulk in the uncertainty of my future, or I could make a conscious daily effort to make the days to follow some of the best days of my life. So I took it upon myself to grab life by the balls and dig deeper. I knew my happiness was beyond what job I had, who I was in a relationship with, the car I was driving or anything money could buy me.

I spent a lot of time alone getting to know myself. I consider this the best investment that I’ve ever made and I encourage everyone to do it. It’s not only healthy, but incredibly refreshing to unlock your true self. I got really real with myself and had a deep desire to understand myself better. I handled my business and never missed a beat, but I also spent many weekends home alone enjoying my own company. I traveled often, had conversations with strangers, read dozens of enlightening books on beaches during unforgettable sunsets, and all of those things helped me connect the dots for where and who I was as well as what I was supposed to be doing.

One day if you’re lucky enough, a little voice in your head will tell you exactly what it is that you’re supposed to be doing. But if you’re anything like me, you probably think that voice is taking too long. Get going on your passion. Search for it around every corner. Anticipate finding it. Tapping into your passion and sharing it with others will quench a thirst that nothing else can.  I’ve included a list that will help you dissect what could possibly be your gift. Treat discovering your gift like an emergency that can’t wait.

How to identify your passion

1) Look carefully at what you’re drawn to in life. What do you read, watch, listen to, follow?
2) What agitates and upsets you in the world and compels you to DO something?
3) Where are the people who inspire and uplift you? What are they focused on?
4) If you could take one college level course or program for free on anything at all, what would it be?
5) In what areas are you drawn to helping others?
6) What “mess” in your life can be turned into a “message” for others?
7) What skill or talent do you wish you had, that would be exciting to pursue?
8) What area do you secretly fantasize about being involved in but feel foolish to say it out loud?
9) If you knew you couldn’t fail and it would all work out beautifully (financially and otherwise), what would you try?
10) What did you adore doing as a child that you’ve let slip through your fingertips?
11) What (or who) holds you back most from pursuing what excites you most?

List via Kathy Caprino