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5 steps to help you figure out your passion
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Clear out the distractions
One reason you may not know your passion: you haven’t given yourself the time and space to pursue it.
Reflect on how you’re using your time, and whether or not you want to be distracted by these temptations.
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Think of a passion as like an internship
Most internships serve as a trial run for a job — while you’re acquiring skills and knowledge, you’re also trying to see if you want to commit.
Just like an internship, a passion is something you learn by doing. It takes experience; it takes trial and error.
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Be patient
During the learning period, you’ll need to tap into the other aspect of grit: persistence.
Make sure you give yourself a real chance before you move on to another activity.
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Remember the bigger picture
Every passion has its share of less exciting moments. For playing the viola, it may be practicing scales for the umpteenth time. For baking, it could be washing up.
The secret to not letting them derail you is to see how every way you engage with your passion — no matter how small or dull — is a step toward something bigger.
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Avoid burnout
It is possible to go overboard while pursuing a passion. Ask yourself if you’re really burning out on your passion or if you just need more sleep.
When you’re exhausted, you should use your energy to help another person. It can boost your confidence and give you the sense that progress is possible.
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SIMILAR ARTICLES & IDEAS:
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Don't follow your passion
The problem with following your passion
- It ignores the market. Unless you have a trust fund waiting for you, you’ll have to feed yourself and others.
- It will turn a passion into a job.
Learn from Startups
- Identify real needs in the market that are currently not being well met.
- Assess your strengths: Whatever is easy for you that most others have a harder time with, that’s a worthy option.
- Match up these two in a constantly iterative process: This process takes many years if not decades.
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Steps For Building a New Habit
- Start by building your identity.
- Focus on small behaviors, not life-changing transformations.
- Develop a routine that gets you going regardless of how motivated you feel.
Defining Mental Toughness
Whatever it is, be clear about what you’re going after and tie it to concrete actions. You can’t think your way to becoming mentally tough, you prove it to yourself by doing something in real life.
Mental Toughness And Small Wins
Mental toughness needs to be worked to grow and develop. If you haven’t pushed yourself in thousands of small ways, you’ll wilt when things get difficult.
Extreme situations test our courage, perseverance, and mental toughness, but so do everyday circumstances. Challenge yourself whenever you can, consistently do what you know you’re supposed to and don’t let your brain’s laziness control you.
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When lifelong dreams crumble
All of us have hopes and dreams for the future that become part of our identity. But then reality gets in the way. Your passion may fade, or the obstacles to realising the dream ma...
Come to terms with your decision
As you let go of your dream, you may fear you're making a mistake.
- There's no calculus for knowing when to give up. If pursuing your dream comes at great personal cost to your relationships and other goals in life (which is different from a 'harmonious passion'), that would suggest it was wise to give it up.
- Success is not all or nothing. You may not have fulfilled your dream, but you likely learned much along the way, giving you a chance to redirect your energy and passions in new ways.
Goal adjustment capacity
Psychologists see goal adjustment capacity as a beneficial form of 'self-regulation' or 'self-management.'
It contains two parts:
- The ability to disengage from fruitless goals
- The ability to know when and how to change to new, more productive goals.
Those who are flexible and adaptable are generally happier, perform better. They often get promoted. If you are thinking of giving up your dream, it suggests you have a healthy willingness to adjust and adapt.