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Ever think that what you do for a living is something you slipped into almost accidentally?Have you felt, particularly now during these uncertain times, that you wish you could hit the “reset” button on your life, start over, and become an entirely different you by becoming an entirely new, different something?Becoming a whole new you is not as difficult as it may seem. Many people have shed their former selves and gone on to more satisfying, rewarding lives by discovering their inner passion and turning it into their livelihoods.There isn’t a secret to this, but there is a process, and it takes time and dedication to pursue and realize these goals.Here are some suggestions on how you can take what you love – what you are passionate about – and turn it into more than just an income generator.It turns your whole life upside down in the very best possible way and becomes a wonderful raison d’etre or reason for living.Once you’re on the path to discovering your inner passion and realize how rewarding it can be, you’ll wonder why on earth you didn’t start the process sooner. Read on to find out how!
1- Ask Yourself What You Love To Do
Let’s say you work all day in an office as a financial adviser or an executive assistant. Although the work is steady and has provided you with a good income, a reliable one that has allowed you to save, take holidays and so forth, it doesn’t satisfy you.It rewards you for the work you do, but it does not satisfy you – there is a big difference. Satisfaction comes from a job well done, of course, but we’re talking about the kind of satisfaction you get deep down in your soul when you do something you love.Let’s use as an example, playing music; many people who work all day find themselves uplifted and joyous when they take guitar or piano lessons.Learning music (or another language, or another of many other different art forms) takes passion and dedication, but can it become your livelihood?Absolutely! We don’t mean you should quit your day job in the hope of becoming the next Beyonce, but you can decide to make it your life by becoming good at and then becoming a teacher yourself. Hence, the process goes from discovering the passion, learning it, excelling at it, and then using it to change how you live and what you do.Our example of music is just that – an example – your inner passion could be something else entirely. Maybe you’ve always wanted to be a carpenter.Becoming one – a good one – might enable you to make furniture and sell it online. The world is full of possibilities, and the first step of discovering your inner passion is learning what you love and what you would love to do if you were told you could choose anything at all as your profession.
2- Do a Whole Lot Of Research
Being on the outside means it easy to view a passion with rose-coloured glasses, so it’s vital that you learn all you can about it. Don’t just look something up on Google and leave it at that.Please make an effort to read thoroughly about your passion by buying books and, more importantly, talking to people who already do it.Sticking with our example of making music your new focus – talk to someone already fully engaged in that world, perhaps as a teacher or player. Seldom does it happen that, if you express a keen and genuine interest in the work someone does that they turn down your request for information and guidance – just the opposite.Most people are pleased when someone recognizes the value and worth of their pursuit, and they are happy to share the knowledge and insights they’ve gained.They can offer the unvarnished truth about the difficulties, too, which are an important part of the research you’re doing. Hearing upbeat stories about your long time passion is not enough; hearing stories that convey the hardships are just as important.If you still want to pursue your passion when all the facts are at your disposal, you can be certain you’ll be able to handle them when they crop up in real life.
3- Imagine All the Benefits of Pursuing Your Passion
When people follow their dreams and do what they love, many wonderful intangibles flow their way.Less stress, better sleep, a more positive attitude and healthier relationships are just a few of these invisible benefits you’ll feel and notice once you start on a new, truer path.This is particularly true of folks who kind of “fell into” what they do for a living and just haven’t had the time or the courage to pursue their true passions.Ask yourself how many people you know who have retired but still keep their hand in by working at the same job for free – probably no one! That’s a good barometer of how committed and dedicated you are to your current work – would you do it for zero pay? If you hesitate even a little answering that, your true passion is probably in another area entirely.
4- Try it First Part-Time or As a Volunteer
Let’s say you have a passion for working with children but somehow got sidetracked into the retail sector your whole working life.Before you take a plunge that has financial and emotional consequences, try volunteering with an organization that works with kids, like Big Sisters or Girl Guides. Or offer to help out in a school classroom two days a week, if you can spare the time.The point is that you dip your toe, so to speak while working on the details about how you can take the big plunge!
5- Expand Your World to Include Your Passion, Even if it’s Only Online For Now
Let’s say you’ve always wanted to be a teacher, but you don’t know any. It may be tricky right now to establish new friendships while the world is dealing with COVID-19, but nothing is stopping you from finding a whole new virtual world of friends and contacts online.Lots of social media platforms have groups dedicated to particular professions and pastimes, so get hunting!Before you know it, you’ll be linked up to lots of people who want to do, are doing or did do what you’re passionate about. And those resources are invaluable.
Last but not least
Discovering your inner passion and changing your life is not easy – it takes dedication and determination.You may be greeted by skepticism and resistance when you announce your intentions to change your life and head out on a whole new path. Changes this big, this profound have a way of scaring those who view you through one lens, perhaps as a banker rather than a baker.But don’t be deterred. Don’t be discouraged. Remember, no one ever gets to their death bed wishing they had done less; everyone wishes they’d shown more courage, listened to their inner voice and followed their hearts.Your passions are what make you, you – they satisfy and reward you in ways that pursuing something solely for money never can.Whether your goal is making a passion into your full-time profession or you simply want to start trying new things on a part-time basis, it’s never too late to begin.George Bernard Shaw did not have his first play produced until he was in his 60s, but he stuck with his passion, never giving in to the temptation to try something, anything easier. And neither should you!Life is too short and far too precious to be wasted wondering why you ignored that little voice in your head, telling you that a satisfying life is one lived being true to your passions!
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