Many people, at some point in their careers, will find themselves feeling aimless or like they’ve settled for work that is less than fulfilling. If or when this happens, the important thing is to remember that it is not a permanent state of feeling. By knowing how to find your passion and purpose, you can get out of a rut and improve your quality of work and life.
But how does one find their passion? For some people it’s obvious. For most, however, it requires some reflection and intention. If you’re feeling a bit stuck and want to change gears, but aren’t sure where to start, this article is for you. Read more on how to find your passion and purpose.
Ask yourself what you enjoy most
The first step in knowing how to find your passion and purpose and get your career on the right track is to ask yourself questions. Ask yourself what you enjoy doing, what activities or interests inspire you, and what you want to spend more time doing in life. The answer can be anything, from DIY projects, to writing, to cycling, to travel, to food, to games. The list goes on. At this point, if you’re still struggling to find something that excites you, think back to when you were younger. Were there any interests you were particularly consumed by? If so, would you be interested in taking them up again?
Take stock of your professional skills
Once you’ve identified something you are interested in, the next step is to go over your professional skills and strengths, in order to know how to find your passion and purpose.
Think about how these existing capabilities could be combined with your passion. For example, if you have experience in social media management and have a particular passion for food, there are many possible avenues. You could start your own food social media account or blog; you could reach out to local restaurants and offer your social media services to get your foot in the door; or you could approach food industry publications or platforms about potential job or freelance openings.
At this stage, it is also important to identify what skills could help get you to where you want to be. If they aren’t already in your toolbox, learn them. You’ll never regret learning a new skill, especially if it takes you one step closer to finding your passion.
Talk to experts or people that you respect
Career trajectories aren’t always clear. You may have an idea of where you want to end up, but have no idea what the steps are to get there. You may also feel that you don’t know what options are even available. Talking to someone who is well-established in their job—whether it’s full-time or freelance—can be very insightful. People love to talk about themselves and share how they got where they are. Seek out people whose careers and lives you admire, and invite them to talk about how they made it to that point. And it doesn’t necessarily have to be someone with the same interests that you have, talking to people in different fields and jobs can broaden your horizons and introduce you to new options you may not have considered before. You never know, you might find something new to be passionate about when looking for how to find your passion and purpose!
Believe in yourself
Finally, one of the most important steps in learning how to find your passion and purpose, and turn it into a fulfilling career, is to believe in yourself. Deciding to make a career change and pursue something new is a big decision and big decisions can often become mired in doubt.
It is vital to believe in yourself and your capabilities. When negative or doubting thoughts inevitably pop into your head, hear them and then think about the many reasons you can succeed.
This will also help to boost your confidence in the long-term, which in turn can improve the quality of your work and life. Finding and following a passion can be challenging—we’re not here to say otherwise—but it is almost always worth it.
Freelancing can help you follow your passion
Freelancing can facilitate the pursuit of a newly found or renewed passion. On the one hand, it gives you the freedom to link and integrate your passion with your professional skills. You can, as they say, “monetize your passion.” On the other hand, freelancing can also give you the flexibility to follow your passion outside of working hours. The ability to make your own schedule and hours lets you make time for other things you love. As your freelance career progresses and your services are more in demand, you also gain greater control over the types of projects you work on. This means you can take on higher value work and dedicate more of your free time to your passions, or you can look for projects that align with your passion.
For more tips on freelancing, check out our SkillPack blog!
