Finding your passion-What they never told me?

Are you someone that jumps out of the bed every morning at 5am doing that one thing that you were meant to do? Good for you, my friend!

For those of you that are wondering why they can’t wake up for 5 am for anything? You are not alone!

For a good 30 years of my life, I was that person. Meeting my sleep goals and waiting for my passion to happen to me. Just like waiting for the love of my life to knock on my door with a diamond ring. If you don’t like this analogy, you can stop reading now. Because I am going to use this again a couple of times.

Most part of my life, I was half amazed and half jealous of my friends that pursued their passion. How did they know what they liked? How did they get so good at it? Why am I not passionate about anything in life?

I probably accepted that and moved on until my friend took me on that hike. My life changed. Looking back, I realize I had it so wrong all this while. Here is what they never told me?

1) It is okay to not be talented or a gifted

Very few, literally very few amongst us are born with a natural talent. They pick up that paintbrush and magic happens. They sing and it stirs the souls.

I was conditioned to believe that’s what real passion looks like. If I don’t have that (aka nada on magic), I am doomed. I will probably die- passionately posting my timesheets in a corporate job.

What they should have told me?

Passion is not necessarily something you are good at, it could be anything that brings you joy, fills your soul and makes you look down at the watch and say — where did the last 2 hours go?

No, Netflix doesn’t count :-D

2) Finding your is not a Eureka Moment

Finding a passion is NEVER a Eureka moment. Most stories I have heard about finding passion go something like this-

“ I tried Painting for the first time, then I did it again and again and again because it was so fun. And one fine day, someone used the word Artist to introduce me, and I went Woooah, when did that happen!”

What they should have told me?

The key is trial and error — try something new and be completely okay being terrible at that. Being good at something is not the goal here, feeling good is!

3) It is overly romanticized

Quite like love at first sight (I warned you about that analogy coming back)! Anyone who has been in a relationship will know how much work there is to keep that love. I say and I quote-

“I love mountaineering, but the first 4 hours of uphill slog is pure suffering.

All that ‘You will not work a day’ if you make your passion your work- I am Laughing out loud. Talk to any entrepreneur that’s following their passion. Here is real chat with my sister:

“I love fitness, I love coaching. But I hate all the admin work that comes with it”

What they should have told me?

Finding your passion is just the beginning. Be prepared to give it your time, energy and effort. It will be pain in the neck sometimes but the high will always be worth the pain!

4) One passion for life doesn’t exist

Finding your ONE passion is overrated, just like finding the Love of your life! (Did it again). Sometimes breakups happen. Sometimes polyamory happens. Both here are real stories:

“I did Theatre for 3 years and one fine day just like that one day, I grew out of it.”

“ I love Tennis as much as I love painting, I cannot pick a favorite”

What they should have told me?

Anything that gets your blood racing is probably worth doing.

And that brings me to the end of my Ted Talk :-D

If you nodded your head more than once during your read, share this post with people that could use some help busting myths. Who knows one day they might jump out of the bed at 5 am for one thing that they were meant to do!