I know, I know…Finding your passion is easier said than done. Some lucky people know what their passion is from an early age, but most have to work to figure it out. When you find your passion, you are not just happier yourself, but your passion becomes contagious and inspires others to find their own passion. One of my favorite quotes about passion is “When we focus on leading a passionate, meaningful life, we are also inadvertently creating a spectacular ripple effect of inspiration in the lives around us. When one person follows a dream, tries something new, or takes a daring leap, everyone nearby feels their passionate energy; and before too long, they are making their own daring leaps while simultaneously inspiring others.”
Not sure yet what your passion is? Here are some questions to ask yourself:
1. Are there certain activities that come easy to me?
2. Are there certain subjects that I gravitate towards when reading books, watching movies, etc.?
3. Do I enjoy certain activities enough to do them for extended periods of time?
4. What topics do I love to talk about and learn about?
5. What are my strengths?
Hopefully some of these questions will help guide you in finding your passion. Have you found something you’re passionate about or are you still looking? Let me know in the comments!
—————————————————————————————————————————
Not an official Happster yet? Join us here: http://tinyurl.com/imahappster
happsters.com 
So true, my Dad said “Find what you love, do it well and often!”
Yes exactly!
I’ve been playing classical violin since I was 7 and continue to be active in my musical community here, but I’ve recently become even more determined to practice and pursue my musical passion!
That’s awesome! Keep it up!
Running makes me happy. So does interacting with new and interesting people. I have recently gotten into acting and I am finding a lot of happiness in that. Wisdom makes me happy and lately I have tapped into a seemingly bottomless supply of it. But I think that this bottomless supply of wisdom is somehow linked to my personal happiness. Nothing makes me happier then helping others find true happiness. In those cases I feel like I get residual happiness; Every time I meet someone I have been able to help I see the happiness that they are filling their world with and I realize that I am a part of that. That makes me happy.
Your blog makes me happy. The fact that there is someone else out there promoting happiness is EPIC!
Keep up the great work!
I am now happy writing, taking photographs doing what I like and expressing my feelings
My master’s thesis was on the psychology of passions, where researchers have found that when people spend time on their passions, it leads to increased psychological and physical health. Look up Robert J Vallerand to find their work.
I am passionate about all thing historical: an ruin, an old book, an old building, am old custom etc. These things just make my heart leapt.
Often when people say they don’t know what their passion is, they are expecting it to just hit them (violins playing, stars exploding e.t,c). More often, people don’t find their passion, they make their passion. They explore an interest, put lots of energy into it and it becomes their passion. Success is less about inspiration than perspiration. If you are waiting for lightning to strike, you may wait a long long time.
I love this post. I have been searching for this for over a year now. As I grow up, it becomes harder and harder.
My passion is assisting people who have various disabilities. I first read a Time magazine article about people with Autism when I was ten and became interested from there. I find that I am “my best self” when I assist people with various disabilities because I feel so calm and patient. If I ignore this career path, I know I’ll regret it!
I totally agree! a person who can’t pursue his/her passion, lives a worthless life.
Still searching…I think I find it, and it falls flat. Not giving up. There is a big difference between excitement and passion. Passion lasts through all emotional states, excitement fades.
Good point!
well said happsters. some people are just blessed to know their passion at an early age, but not for many. including me.
I spent thirty years in the corporate world as a computer programmer, then project leader. At 22, I loved it. I used to say, I get paid to solve puzzles. At 42, it was getting old. At 52, I was a dinosaur being outrun by younger people (who still had the passion). I went back to school and changed careers, became a mental health counselor (and how I chose that is another story).
It’s been a bumpy ride. I had to let go of a steady paycheck and a big corporation “safety net.” Some days, I say “why did I do this – change careers 10 ten away from retirement. Dumb!”
Changing careers changed me. I have been a writer since I was 17 — but now I write with passion, everyday, everyday. While I was in the corporate world getting a paycheck, my brain and my heart were locked into a way of thinking. Changing careers freed them up to be creative. Writing is my passion; my new career is my freedom.
Finding your passion may involve risk and sacrifice.
PS to ya’ll Happsters – check out my recent post at http://www.almondhead.wordpress.com – you inspired it!!
What an inspiring story. Thanks so much for sharing!
Reblogged this on Perspectives of a Student Teacher and commented:
They truly do say once you love something everything will fall into place… well I fully support this theory. My passion has been many things over the years and yet only now, can i truly say that I have found my true passion within teaching. I have more ideas than ever before and my interest and motivation has sky rocketed! When on placement or volunteering I feel happy, relaxed and pushed out of my comfort zone. When I am not on placement I feel almost lost without my passion of teaching children and find myself grasping onto any aspect that may help me with my future career just so I can get back to my nirvana, my passion.