Apr 18 2008
7 Questions To Finding Your True Passion
According to a recent survey, about 75% of the population do not know what their true passion is. Clearly, almost everyone seems to not be doing what they were meant to do. This is an eye-opener because doing what we really love is absolutely necessary if we want to be fully happy. Perhaps this is why there is so much unhappiness going on in our society, people just aren’t doing what they are here on Earth for. Finding your true passion isn’t as simple as it may seem. For some, yes it does come naturally, but most of the time, you have to ask yourself some questions to pinpoint exactly what you were born to do. Here are my 7 questions that can guide you to finding your ultimate passion:
What puts a smile on your face?
Is there a particular event, a particular topic that makes your whole face just lighten up? Whatever it is that makes you smile, and makes you happy whenever you encounter it, this is a sign of something you are passionate about. I truly believe that happiness and passion walk hand in hand. Both require each other. So following what makes you truly happy is a wonderful way to figuring out what you were put on Earth for. Think about something that you do or that perhaps you used to do that brings total peace to you when you do it. Peace is happiness, and happiness is passion.
What do you find easy?
Usually, what we find easy for us to do, will be related to what we are passionate about. It’s very hard to hate something that is very easy for us! For example, let’s say you are naturally good at playing the piano, you will find the activity easy, and this ease makes it much more fun for you. Fun leads to happiness and happiness is synonymous with passion 
So assess everything that you do, whatever it is that you find really easy and fun, this may very well be your passion. And don’t think that anything is off limits or silly. Some people have taken their passion for skateboarding, drawing, or collecting to full fledged careers. Remember this, you can make a career out of anything you are passionate about.
What sparks your creativity?
One of my passions growing up was hockey. It’s not too surprising, being Canadian and all 
But I remember playing for hours and hours, and always coming up with different plays, and different methods to score goals. I was always full of creativity when playing hockey. Later in life, I developed similar creativity in business. Think about something in your life where you seem to always expand its horizon, always coming up with new, fun, and exciting ideas relating to that subject. Whatever makes you creative, is probably something that you are very passionate about.
What would you do for free?
In this society, we are ruled by the almighty dollar. That’s the way the system works, and that’s the game we have to play. The problem is, this leads many people to seek making money first, instead of what makes them happy. I have read countless number of stories about stock brokers and doctors for example, leaving their high paying positions to follow what they really love. There is a reason for that. I truly believe that if you follow what you are passionate about without thinking about if it will make you rich or not, you will end up being successful. Doing what you have a passion for brings out your best, and this leads to greatness. Greatness breezes to success. Do you think that the most successful people in the world got to where they are because they wanted to get rich? Absolutely not, they did what they were so passionate about, and their immense success was just a byproduct of their dedication. So think about something that you would just love to do, even if you were not getting paid. Think about something that you look forward to do, something that you wish you could do all the time.
What do you like to talk about?
The topics of conversation we have can definitely tell what we are interested in, and this is a good way to find out what we really enjoy in life. Most of the time, we aren’t totally aware of this. This is why, a very good way to figure this out properly, is to ask your friends. Ask them what they believe you like to talk about the most. Ask them what topic makes your eyes brighten up, and changes your entire behavior. I can guarantee you that some of their answers will be surprising to you. Some of these things weren’t that clear to you, but your friends can see the reaction on your face that you can’t see yourself. Try it out, it’s a very insightful exercise, and one that can direct you closer to figuring out your passion.
What makes you unafraid of failure?
When we do what we are passionate about, we have total confidence in our abilities. This makes us not worry about failing, because in our mind, how can we fail when we do what we love? Doing what you love is a success in and of itself, so failure is like an impossibility. Think of something that you just do or want to do, no matter what. Something that you do not have second thoughts about. Think about something that you feel you must do and that failure is not even a concern of yours, because the mere act of doing it is like the journey and the destination all wrapped up in one. This may very well be your true passion.
What would you regret not having tried?
We all have these dreams, and somehow, life pushes us in another direction, and next thing we know, we are far from those dreams we used to have. If you were at the end of your life, what would you regret not having pursued? What would you have liked to do, that you didn’t get a chance to? Think about what that might be. Whatever it is that you may experience regret now or later on for not having tried, this is a good chance to be your true passion. There is nothing worse than arriving at the end of the journey and having regret. This is why finding your passion, and following it is so important. Live your life so that you do not have regrets.
This article was featured in The Sixth Edition of the Carnival of Improving Life
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Great post! Your questions are a great way to explore finding your passion! Thanks for the great thoughts!
Hi Mike. Thank you much! I’m glad you like the post. Clearly, doing what we are passionate about is very important, yet something that we either overlook, or that we don’t know how to approach properly. Hopefully these questions can help navigate in the right direction to figure out what we are really want out of life
I enjoyed this post, although have been having challenges with the “What would you do for free?” part. I already am following my passion for free, yet with a wife and son it is more difficult (or perhaps just my perception of difficulty?) to make the transition to leave my job and follow my heart.
Lately, I’ve been working daytime at one job, then after my wife and son go to sleep following my passion. This seems to be working for now, since I can then make ‘the switch’ to following my passion full-time once I’m confident that my family will be provided for.
Hi Chris, I know what you mean. You are following a logical approach, and that is very good. You have responsibilities and you can’t compromise them by leaving everything to follow your passion.
I did the same thing, until what I was passionate about became sustainable on its own so that I could follow it full time. Just be patient and never lose sight that you are still doing what you like nonetheless and that all this will be worth it in the end
Funny, in my experience once you start doing what you like for living…. you stop liking that, it becomes boring a source of stress instead of join. YMMV
[…] Premji presents 7 Questions To Finding Your True Passion posted at BlogMotivation.com, saying, “Insightful article about how to figure out what you […]
This is a really great article! I think that following your passion and living what you love are truly the best gifts that you can give to yourself.
I suggest you check out these two books:
A New Earth, Awakening to your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle
The Passion Test by Janet Bray Attwood and Chris Attwood
I liked this very much. I’m in college and sometimes it’s hard to know if what I’m feeling is right, so it’s nice to find articles like this that help affirm my belief in my own decisions :]
In addition to “what would you do for free?” I think it’s important to expand this to “and what would you do for $X?” - everyone has a “price”, and knowing where your limit lies helps in setting boundaries for self-worth.
Anita
This post was amazing! This is what I tell all my friends and family about finding their passion. I have found mine (Baking) and I absolutely cannot live without doing it anymore. I have even gone so far as to start my own small business of a home kitchen bakery. It is so exciting and fulfilling. All in all, awesome post…I really enjoyed it.
Great post. It’s so important to key into individual passions because they are what motivate us and are the root of our unique purposes on Earth. Simple, thought-provoking questions to help uncover what we are all meant to be doing…
[…] Premji presents 7 Questions To Finding Your True Passion posted at […]
[…] 7 Questions to Finding Your True Passion by Frederic Premji […]
Really like the “What do you like to talk about?” and “What makes you unafraid of failure?” questions — I’ve seen quite a few articles on finding your passion, living your purpose, etc and those actually gave me a different angle to think about.
Thanks!
Ali
Interesting that you mention - “what makes us unafraid of failure” simply because I’ve found with my clients and my own experiences that we often avoid living in alignment with our passions because we are “afraid” of failing at them.
So, even if we know our passion and strength is music (as an example), we will often still pursue a life of traditional schooling and end up in other jobs mainly because we fear that this amazing passion will be deflated if we choose to live our life in its pursuit.
This is often the case for artists - musicians, writers, painters - who are so afraid to have this incredible passion impacted by negative experiences when we put ourselves out there that they choose to keep their passion as a hobby or give it up altogether.
Curious to know your thoughts on resistance toward living in life with our passions when we already know what they are?
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
It’s possible that such behavior is the result of the fear of failure, or even at a deeper level, the fear of success.
What i meant by being unafraid of failure is having that little feeling within your gut that tells you that “this is what I should be doing”…you know that is your destiny when that gut feeling is so strong. Now of course, without taking action, this all becomes a huge waste, so that is why it is important to follow what we are passionate about.
Now, we can have many passions in life, but I truly believe that the one passion that surpasses all others will make us unafraid of failure, because the mere act of following through with it is success in itself. I can speak from experience as I left a cushy job many years ago to follow what I loved doing, and kept going even if I found myself in huge debts, without any guarantee that I would make something out of it. I just knew I had to follow that path, and it ended up paying off a few years later.
Yes at times, it can be scary, and you can have doubts, but the key is to pay attention to that gut feeling, because it is usually right. Knowing that it leads somewhere, even if the road can be bumpy, is enough to keep going at it.
Very good question though!
Frederic
Hi Zane,
I’m really happy for you that you are living your dream! That’s awesome
Good idea too to spread the word and help our close family & friends follow their dreams as well….I do the same with people around me. I know SO MANY people that have high paying jobs and they are miserable. I always try to show them that in life, doing what you love should come first…the rest will fall into place afterwards.
Keep up your great work!
Frederic
I find that doing what I absolutely love to do for a living is stressful, but I wouldn’t trade it for any job in the world. Unless I got paid ten times more for pushing a button. Then I’d have more time to do what I love.
Even if what you do for a living isn’t your passion, you still should enjoy what you do, or you’re wasting your life away!!
Your post reminds me of something that someone once told me: if there is something you really want in the world, all the universe will come together to help you acheive it. Something like that. Maybe it’s about generating positive energy. If you can create positivity within yourself, then it can spread to those around you.
Thanks for an uplifting post.
Hi Gee,
yeah, I believe that. I think that when you follow your passion, everything aligns itself in the Universe so that you become successful at it. I mean, to me, merely following your passion is success in itself.
Glad the post could inspire you
cheers
Frederic
[…] Premji presents 7 Questions To Finding Your True Passion posted at BlogMotivation.com, saying, "Insightful article about how to figure out what you are […]
[…] Premji presents 7 Questions To Finding Your True Passion posted at BlogMotivation.com, saying, "Insightful article about how to figure out what you are […]