Good news.
Throw out everything you’ve ever been told about how to find your passion.
Throw out the “identify your passions, understand your values, know your strengths and weaknesses.”
In fact, that is the most bland advice given to most people. Trust me, I used AI to see what they suggested for guidelines on how to find your passion. None of it is worth repeating.
Note — I write my own articles. I just like to sometimes get a little structure, or see what is already out there, and go against the grain when it requires.
Unactionable
To truly understand what are your values, and strengths and weaknesses, you need to go through an incredible amount of self-discovery to get there, usually.
Do that. But also, don’t make that the gatekeeper to finding your purpose.
Instead, just do (sorry, Nike).
Actionable
What is it that you want to do?
We’re going to practice minimalism here in the pursuit of what it is you want to achieve. Get rid of all of the things that are distracting you from your goal. Think of these things as objects in your room that are clutter. Get rid of them. Give your mind no chance but to create space for something new to come in.
Now, do whatever you want.
I can see the eye rolls, and I get it. I rolled my eyes when I first thought of it. But you should try it. Start doing what you want, what appeals to you. Show people what you are doing.
You’ll either get people’s feedback, because everyone loves to give opinions, and you can shape your idea around that to potentially monetize it, or, put it somewhere where people have the chance to interact with it.
But I don’t know what it is I want to do, just that I want to do something.
So, I’m not saying this is the step-by-step guide to finding your purpose. Instead, I’m saying, trick your mind into letting go of the reigns. Isn’t it the paradox that we always find ourselves getting what we need when we stop wanting it?
Stop looking for your purpose. Just do what seems most appealing to you in that moment, observe what that is, and go with it. There will probably be ups and downs, but pay attention to what has staying power. For me, it’s writing. And teaching.
To find our purpose, to some extent it requires a combination of self-reflection, courage, and openness. Some willingness to let go of the idea that we must find our purpose, and instead, do what is in front of us, and seeing how we feel during that experience. Like that of the preparer, instead of anticipating every move and planning accordingly, be the person who doesn’t plan, and see what comes up during the journey. Create.
