HOW TO RECOGNIZE A PASSION

I’m nearly 27 years young. That means I have gone 27 years thinking I lack a ‘passion’ in life. Thankfully, I was wrong. I just didn’t know how to recognize it. 

More so, I didn’t think my passions were justified to be categorized as such. “Everyone loves to travel” “I’m not that talented to consider writing a passion” “Lawyers hate their lives, surely I would too”. I created fabricated rules for what constituted as a passion. However, I came to realize it’s a whole lot simpler than that.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines ‘passion’ {in this sense} to be an:

a) intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction

b) a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept

But that’s almost too broad. I mean, I have a strong desire to wear sweatpants to work, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a passion of mine.

And then I moved to Korea. And I just felt it. An all too familiar feeling, and what I can only now assume to be passion.

After eliminating my preconceived ideas of what a passion should look like {or be defined as}, I decided to rely rather, on what it feels like. I can now confidently say, my number one passion in life is traveling. And as far as passions go, it’s a very real one.

Alongside traveling, I include writing, photography, philosophy, and law as true passions of mine.

Here are some simple signs that can assist you in recognizing your passion:

You would do it for free

This one is pretty straight forward. What do you like to do when you get home from work? That you work on late into the night or wake up for in the early hours of the morning? If money was not an issue, what would you spend your time doing?

My own example of this is blogging. I do not get paid to blog. I do not seek out collaborations, nor do I reach out to brands. I may at some point in the future, but as of now, I simply love creating content for this space. Blogging {and now vlogging} takes up a lot of my time. Hours are spent taking photos, then editing those photos, drafting articles, doing research, and scheduling social media posts. Regardless, writing and photography are passions of mine. If I never get paid for doing it, it will not alter the efforts I put into making it my own.

It’s challenging

This point is important. Let’s take my sweatpants example. I have a “strong liking or desire” to wear sweatpants. I would also wear sweatpants for free. So by definition and to continue after my first point, shouldn’t wearing sweatpants be a passion of mine? Simply put, no. Because wearing sweatpants is not challenging. A passion must make you feel accomplished upon doing it. I have never once struggled to put on sweatpants. In fact, the feels I get are the complete opposite. It’s one of the easiest things I do in my daily life, and definitely the most comfortable.

One of my passions in life that continues to challenge me however, is law. Writing and photography come with their own challenges as I attempt to improve my abilities in both categories {finding the right light, coding, correcting my grammar, the editing process as a whole, etc.} But studying law is an entirely different beast. It’s like learning a new language. I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Legal Studies. Since watching Legally Blonde, I have always wanted to go to law school and become the next Elle Woods. Luckily, as it turns out, I have a legitimate passion for the law.

I would read case law for free, I listen to podcasts about the law, and have worked as a paralegal in different legal environments. Law is challenging and it constantly engages my brain. When I participated in a mock court case, I excelled and felt a rush as I prepared to argue my side. There are aspects of law that intimidate me, which only makes me want to learn more.

You can’t stop thinking about it

But like, actually. There are few things {and people} that I think about every single day of my life. If you can’t stop thinking about it, there is probably a reason for it. This is true for passions. The easiest example I can share with you is my passion for travel. Again, it ticks all the boxes {I would do it for free and it can be beyond challenging}, and it’s the category that crosses my mind the most in my daily life.

I am constantly planning, budgeting, researching, booking, and daydreaming about travel. I have secretly read travel blogs at my desk in every office job {sorry to all my previous employers}. I have notebooks filled with stories, ideas, recommendations, and inspiration. I have a five year travel plan and hope visit all seven continents in my lifetime. My mind is regularly picnicking under the Eiffel Tower, hiking in New Zealand. sipping tea in London, climbing temples in Belize, wine tasting in Italy, sun bathing in Mexico, or imagining my next adventures here in Asia.

There is nothing I think about more than travel.

But even with these tips, how do you really know?

For me, the world in perfect harmony. I’ve placed the final puzzle piece into the puzzle. I took my first gulp of refreshing, ice-cold water after waking up with a hangover. It’s relief. It’s comfort. It just makes sense. That’s the best way I can describe it.

Your passions may also be confirmed in different forms. After a few weeks in Korea, friends and family are commenting on the fact that I look happier, satisfied, alive. All emotions you should feel when following your passion.

I’m not here to preach about following your passion; what you choose to do with your passion is up to you. Some people work hard and are talented enough to make a living out of their passion. Others incorporate their passion into their daily lives as a hobby. I will say, whatever you choose to do with it, make sure it becomes a priority in your life.

Anything that makes you feel passionate, is something worth pursuing.

Over to you: Do you have a passion? Were you able to recognize it? If so, what helped you?