How do you find your passion?
How do you keep it from taking over your life?
Life can be complex but there are definitely tips on how finding your passion can be a straightforward process. The book The Passion Paradox by Steve Magness and Brad Stulberg is a fantastic way to understand the complexities of passion, and how we can (in a healthy way) pursue passion in our lives, careers, and sports!
There are three main aspects that were discussed in the book:
1 - The Dangers of Passion
Everyone wants to find something that they are passionate about. That's in our nature as human beings. But doing so with reckless abandon can have catastrophic consequences on our lives, and burn out the passion that we once had.
2 - Tools for Finding Your Passion
Apparently 78% of people believe that happiness comes from finding a hobby or job that instantly fulfills their passions.
There are a few really good strategies discussed in the book, but one study in particular that made a difference to me was Self-Determination Theory
- Competency - our ability to make progress over time
- Autonomy - acting in harmony with your inner being
- Relatedness - connection with others and enjoying the environment you are in
It take conscious effort over a long period of time to find our passion!
3 - Balance and Self-Awareness
"Have you ever met an interesting person who was well-balanced?"
We need to be intentional with our choices, but not to provide balance, but to allow us to consistently review our selves from a greater perspective to ensure we are going in the direction we truly want to be going.