Finders...keepers? - how to find and keep your passions
There is probably not much that can be said with so much certainty as this: everyone has passions*. Some might not have found them yet, some temporary lose them and often all of this seems like a mess. The bad news is, it is never going to be crystal clear. But the good news is: that's exactly the point. You'll never in your life know for sure if you've found all the things you could be passionate about. This is what makes it so interesting, you can be constantly looking and discovering. But for the same reason, it might feel scary too. So how can you find and keep your passions?
*passions as activities we enjoy
Keep looking
The first advice might sound pretty obvious, but we often forget how important it is to put ourselves out there and try out a new sport, join a club, accept an invitation etc. The things that can truly benefit you are all outside your comfort zone. It can be daunting to go for something new but you need to keep trying because not only will you learn a lot, you'll start to see the world from many different angles. Facing your fears is a very liberating experience because every time you try, you win. And every try brings you closer to the things you can be passionate about. Yes, some things might be embarrassing or uncomfortable, but if you work through it you realise that the best things in life are worth fighting for.
Look out for fake passions
As you keep discovering, you'll find your passions. That's great. And sometimes during the journey, you find things that you can't be passionate about. That's normal. The problem is with fake passions that make you feel like you should keep going. However, if you take a hard, honest look at them, you realise that they don't serve you. This can show in many forms, but maybe the most common one is when you enjoy something, but somehow it leaves you feeling sad or empty. It can often be draining, doing something with a 100% but still feeling that you are not good enough. Then you stop enjoying the activity and it just becomes something you have to do. This is when you need to decide whether your attitude to it is negative to begin with or whether it just doesn't bring you fulfillment.
but
Make peace with pain
As much as it would be amazing to have passions that always bring us joy, that is not how it happens in real life. An important part of your journey to finding and keeping passions is acknowledging that sometimes there is pain. Sometimes your passion will let you down, sometimes other people will question and judge you. Sometimes you will wonder if you should keep doing it and sometimes you don't get the results you hope for. But more often than not, true passions will help you and lift you up. Pracising the activities which give you a feeling of excitement and fulfillment (provided it is not illegal or morally wrong) is worth the occasional doubts you will feel.
Leave your comfort zone. Don't let an activity make you feel empty. Accept that sometimes you will be hurt.
Last, but not least, evaluate. Know if it is a genuine issue or your mindset that makes things difficult.
Find you passions and keep holding on to them.
*passions as activities we enjoy
Keep looking
The first advice might sound pretty obvious, but we often forget how important it is to put ourselves out there and try out a new sport, join a club, accept an invitation etc. The things that can truly benefit you are all outside your comfort zone. It can be daunting to go for something new but you need to keep trying because not only will you learn a lot, you'll start to see the world from many different angles. Facing your fears is a very liberating experience because every time you try, you win. And every try brings you closer to the things you can be passionate about. Yes, some things might be embarrassing or uncomfortable, but if you work through it you realise that the best things in life are worth fighting for.
Look out for fake passions
As you keep discovering, you'll find your passions. That's great. And sometimes during the journey, you find things that you can't be passionate about. That's normal. The problem is with fake passions that make you feel like you should keep going. However, if you take a hard, honest look at them, you realise that they don't serve you. This can show in many forms, but maybe the most common one is when you enjoy something, but somehow it leaves you feeling sad or empty. It can often be draining, doing something with a 100% but still feeling that you are not good enough. Then you stop enjoying the activity and it just becomes something you have to do. This is when you need to decide whether your attitude to it is negative to begin with or whether it just doesn't bring you fulfillment.
but
Make peace with pain
As much as it would be amazing to have passions that always bring us joy, that is not how it happens in real life. An important part of your journey to finding and keeping passions is acknowledging that sometimes there is pain. Sometimes your passion will let you down, sometimes other people will question and judge you. Sometimes you will wonder if you should keep doing it and sometimes you don't get the results you hope for. But more often than not, true passions will help you and lift you up. Pracising the activities which give you a feeling of excitement and fulfillment (provided it is not illegal or morally wrong) is worth the occasional doubts you will feel.
Leave your comfort zone. Don't let an activity make you feel empty. Accept that sometimes you will be hurt.
Last, but not least, evaluate. Know if it is a genuine issue or your mindset that makes things difficult.
Find you passions and keep holding on to them.
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