It’s time to get you thinking about and acting on your life passions.
How to Find Your Life Passion
1. Be honest with yourself. Take the time to listen to your inner voice.
2. Create an inventory list of what excites you. Include hobbies, books, activities, and dreams.
3. Build a Community. Surround yourself with people who believe you have so much to contribute to the world.
4. Try something new. Don’t be afraid of doing more things badly.
5. Determine how you prefer to help people. How you offer help provides insight to your passions.
6. Proudly review your knowledge, skills, and abilities. Determine if you are passionate about any of your talents.
7. Familiarize yourself with reoccurring themes in your life. Is there a topic that you continuously bring up in conversation?
8. Solicit feedback. Ask others what they think is your life calling.
Assignment. This is your moment!
Jump down to the comments section and share one life passion that you have been wanting to incorporate into your busy life. There is no such thing as too big or too small. Maybe it’s something you want to spend more time doing. By posting your life passion dreams on this blog, you are taking the next step towards incorporating your passion into your life.
I shared what I want to incorporate into my life in the first comment. Check it out!
Next Post > How to Incorporate Your Passions into Your Life
You deserve to balance your roles and responsibilities with your passions!
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Be sure to check out part two of this series (how to incorporate your passion into your life).
I decided to also be a participant in this activity. The life passion I want to incorporate into my busy life is to have my very own creative practice. This means a standing time for my writing and painting. I’m currently reading “The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It For Life” to learn the secrets of Twlya Tharp’s success. Now it’s your turn to share and comment.
first I loved your mazel tov comment…and have been singing the song from fiddler ever since I read it (a blessing on your heeaaad. mazel tov! mazel tov!).
and you caught me.
Im stuck right now.
not passionless—-but trying to be open to new things. new passions Ive excluded as ‘so not me’
all my creativity is with words—-I want to try something else. with my hands. painting knitting clay.
SOMETHING.
MizFits last blog post..MizFit Commenter O’The Month: Lance of the JUNGLE!
@MizFit – So now I’m singing “If I were a rich man….” Thanks. LOL. One of the first steps is to be aware that you are stuck, so you have already reached your first milestone. I encourage you to take time this week (possibly using the techniques I outlined in this post) to think about your next steps. Can you identify one passion you can focus on? Think about how much time you have each day or each week to commit to your passion. From your comment I’m thinking it will have something to do with working with hands. Maybe go to the library and take out an art book. Or go to an art gallery or art supply store and see what speaks to you. Let me know what you discover.
Oh Stacey, You’re making me think now. My passion is to write and to educate. The feedback I get from those around me is that I make a good writer and that I always offer intelligent motivating advice. So this is an area I want to grow and devote most of my time. It has been great meeting people like you,you have inspired me in more ways than you know.
@Rarestone – I’m curious…do you have a writing practice? Do you have internal or external barriers preventing you from growing and devoting more of your time to these passions? Or are you already spending significant time living these passions?
Thank you for your kind words. Your feedback means more to me than you can ever imagine. It is difficult to know how people will react when I throw life passions, creativity, and words out into the blogosphere.
My passion is very similar to rarestone – writing and educating. Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to write a novel (like a cheesy romance novel, I’ve somewhat outgrown that, but I still want to write something creative!) The other dream I had was to be an entertainer of some sort. So now that I’ve gone through the Artist’s Way, discovered my blockages so I can work with them instead of against them, I’m now focusing so much more on my writing (yes, I have a regular practice and recently formed a writing group).
The education/entertainer part is coming together and my goal is to create a 1 stop online resource for living well at home and at work that includes articles, videos (hosted by me) and more…I’m still mapping it out. The ultimate goal is a national TV spot.
I have gone through your list above previously and that’s how I came up with what I’ve come up with. I’m finally “in the right place” so to speak.
Great thought provoking post!
@Stacey Shipman – First, I think I’ll start adding your last name to my reply comments because of our same and brilliant first names.
Second, I’m happy to know you used similar techniques as the ones I posted to get in the right place. It’s validating for others to know that these tactics really work.
Third, I can relate to all of your passions. I have always known I have stories and ideas that must be shared. I want to educate anyone who is willing to listen about the importance of practicing the art of life balance. And one day I want to be sitting in a big comfy chair on Oprah’s stage. My Oprah (national spotlight) drive never (never!) stems from wanting to be famous, it steps from getting to word out to as many people as possible.
I’m looking forward to watching your online resource come to life. Let me know if you are ever looking for support or a collaborator on any of your projects. I have played around with the thought of posting my own videos on CreateaBalance.com. I even own a Flip. But so far every day seems to be a bad hair day (hmmm….I am hearing some of my own procrastination). Thanks for the thought provoking comment!
I think mine really boils down to finding and sharing the world’s best insight for work and life.
I like your point on surrounding yourself with people who believe in you.
J.D. Meiers last blog post..Social Loafing
@J.D. – Welcome and thanks for sharing. Based on what I’m seeing on your website, it looks like you are actively living your life passion of creating a knowledge center filled with the best insight you can find for work and life. I’m here to encourage, so I want to ask…do you have any other hobbies or interests that you want to incorporate into your life?
I have been having this feeling recently Stacey. And the feeling is that life is flying by way too fast. Am I making the right decisions in my life? Am I really happy? Do I love what I do? And, I struggle with answers to all of these. If I’m going to be honest with myself (#1) – then I’ll say that I’m not passionate and in love with the work I perform. I really like it (and therein lies the problem). What I’m finding I’m passionate about is writing. And, in writing – I come alive! I don’t know where this is taking me yet. As much as I know change for the right reasons is good – change is still very difficult. Taking a step into the world of blogging has been a step in that direction of change. I’m not sure where it’s taking me yet. And that leads into #3 – build a community. I feel (at a very deep level) that community through the writing and exchange of ideas that happen through blogging. It has been way beyond my expectations. I am constantly amazed at how deeply this has touched me. How much it means to me. And that, when I feel that way, is when I feel life’s passion running through my body. I think I’m beginning to ramble on here, and I’m not even sure if any of this makes sense…so I’ll stop there.
Stacey, you reach me at this level. With your writing here. With your comments. You challenge me understand “me”. And it’s what I love about you. Your way of making me really think about my life.
Today, I leave here with the knowledge I’m going down the right road. That this road I’m on, where I write from my heart, is where I should be. Even if it is scary and unknown sometimes.
And, I also wish you well on your writing (although you don’t need the well wishes, it’s already excellent) and your painting. I need to look at your paintings…I just went and looked at your site, and found a couple. Wonderful! I love the “Bright Light” painting.
Lances last blog post..I’m Famous!
@Lance – Change isn’t easy, but navigating through the change process offers many rewards. Goethe offers some words of advice “Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” I think you have already started your dream and your blog is already magical. Also, try to remember the passion is in the journey, not in the destination.
Thank you for your feedback. Knowing that I have been able to contribute to your thinking process reassures me that I am already living my passion and that I’m already living my dream of helping people thinking about life balance.
Your feedback on my paintings also made me realize I need to add my Flickr link to my homepage. Thanks for making me think too!
Hi Stacey
First time reader and so I thought I should be a first time commenter as well. Loving this site, surprised I haven’t found you before now.
As for the life passion I want to incorporate into my life, I’d like to start a mentoring program for writers, particularly creative writers wanting to write their first novel or explore their story writing voice. I know so much about writing and story structure and I used to teach, so I would love to combine my passion for writing with my desire to help people bloom creatively and pursue something important to them. I really believe we can all write, we just have to find a system that works for us and sometimes we just need some encouragement.
Why I haven’t pursued this passion so far is I keep thinking I can’t do it until I get my first novel published (I’m on my 3rd draft now) or I finish my Masters in Creative Writing ( I quit at Grad Dip because I wasn’t happy with program and value for money). But lately I’ve been thinking who says I need to wait, maybe I have something to offer now and it’s really a confidence issue. I don’t know…
But that’s what I’d like to bring into my life. Just saying it makes me feel nervous!
Thanks for this great post.
Kelly
Kelly@SHE-POWERs last blog post..Bloggers Unite for Darfur and Launch TrainforHumanity.org
@Kelly – Welcome. Thank you for sharing your dream. You do not need to wait! This is your moment! What I’m hearing you say is that you need to confront and manage your fears. Fear happens. We all just need to figure out how to keep fear from paralyzing us. You are SOOO much further along with your writing than most people. People would be blessed to have you be there teacher/mentor.
You have something important to say to the writers of this world. They are waiting for you to arrive. Here is a quote from Twyla Tharp… “If you try and it doesn’t work, you’ll try a different way next time. Doing is better than not doing, and if you do something badly you’ll learn to do it better.”
I can’t wait until Oprah is sitting on MY stage! Ha! Perhaps we could have a conversation on how to make that happen!
Hi there, My passions are my kids and husband, my sports and my art. I never had enough time to combine all of it together. So I went and asked for an 80% workschedule. So soon I will get enough money and still have time to do it all. 🙂 You have to stop dreaming and start pursuing them.
Mindful Mimis last blog post..Fight with me – Sen. John McCain
@Stacey Shipman – I’ll be sure to Tivo the episode when Oprah is on your show! Let’s talk!
@Mindful Mimi – Welcome! Good for you! Flexible work schedules are the new American dream. Be sure to come back to CreateaBalance.com and let us know how it’s working.
@Stacey – Thanks! I try to follow my passions and I like the encouragement.
You’re right, there’s more .. I want to sail the seven seas, climb the highest mountain, crack the nut on human effectiveness, travel the world in a hot air balloon, find buried treasure off some cool little island, and start a school for kids for skilled living. Oh, yeah, and go on a walkabout in Australia. And ride my motorcycle cross-country. I’m also pretty tempted to follow up on a legacy where I’m related to royalty if I link back up with family roots.
Basically, I want more travel and adventure. I also want to shift from a tech writer to a storyteller. Maybe adventure stories. Maybe a mystery for my Mom, a kid’s story for my niece … etc.
I’m working on ideas how to blend it with my day job (I run project teams and write books at Microsoft.) For example, maybe I can go on customer expeditions for finding and sharing patterns and practices for building software … and have adventures along the way. I’ve been an active mentor for softies, but I can crank it up a notch (see my “Effectiveness” bucket on my work blog: http://blogs.msdn.com/jmeier/archive/tags/Effectiveness/default.aspx)
My immediate plate is finishing my next book (it’s way smaller but more challenging) and finding a way to lift my family and friends up in today’s world and help everybody make the most of what they’ve got.
Ideas?
J.D. Meiers last blog post..Social Loafing
I share the same passion as many of the bloggers commenting here; that is to write and coach. Blogging has helped me find a voice that I never knew quite existed. I also enjoy the community around and the warmth of friendships (including yours!!!) even though most of you are half way across the world from me.
I want to travel more.
I travel a lot already, but life is so short and there are so many places that I want to see.
Vered – MomGrinds last blog post..Almost-Wordless Wednesday: Correct Your Nose Without Operation!
@J.D. – One of CreateaBalance.com’s goals is to be an encouraging force for my readers. If you would like more encouragement from this blog…just ask for it! Thanks for sharing your bag full of additional passions. They are great! You asked for ideas, so here are my thoughts. I suggest taking one passion on at a time. Sometimes taking on too much can be exhausting. For me, I try to add one passion at a time…and once my passion becomes a habit, I practice the art of life balance and work in my next life passion. There doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day for me to do everything, so I have to set my priorities and I have to hold myself accountable for what I truly want to accomplish in each day.
@Evelyn – Thanks for sharing. I never anticipated the friendships and the support that I have found via CreateaBalance.com. Somehow the world now seems smaller and brighter.
@Vered – Do you have an “action plan” that helps you focus on your travel dreams? I know if I don’t focus on planning and scheduling my next trip that it will never happen!
My passion is writing, and be able to make a good living with it. That dream is coming slowly, but it’s coming! Great post!
BC Doans last blog post..Support "Train For Humanity"
It’s taken me the past year to re-find my passion in writing. I feel like it’s finally progressing. Your post made me think about what other passions I have that are waiting in the wings. The one I want to spend more time on is my photography. I love the time spent getting that perfect picture, the joy when you finally do. I just need to dedicate more time to it.
@BC – Welcome. Tomorrow I’ll be writing about incorporating passions into our lives. Come back and share how you are already doing this!
@Sarah – Thanks for commenting on CreateaBalance.com. As I mentioned to BC, I’ll be posting some ideas on how to incorporate your passions into your life this week. I hope you check back and let me know if any of my suggestions apply to your life.
I want to be a web developer; I want to unleash my creative skills!!!