What Do You Do When You Don't Know How To Pursue Your Passion?

1. 59

   lgbrownposted 12 years ago

   What Do You Do When You Don't Know How To Pursue Your Passion?
   
   November 18, 2008 was the last day I worked for corporate America. Just as  750,000 other Americans were being laid off each month proceeding this November date, I too found myself without a job. However, I thought I would  finally find a career that I love AND get paid to do it. The future looked bright.
   Four years later I still have yet to even find my passion. Who out there is passionate about what they do and is getting paid to do it? What do you do when you don't know where to start in finding that "thing" you love to do and profiting from it? Any suggestions?

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2. 33

   bsarna02posted 12 years ago

   You would look examples of people, who have pursued their passion.
   You will also consider looking spiritual ways to understand, why you are not able to pursue your passion.
   
   Just curious to know have you identified your passion yet. If yes what is it? May be you will like to discuss.
   
   I hope this helps.

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3. 78

   Ms Deeposted 12 years ago

   As a career advisor, myself, I would naturally suggest career counseling. However, I would assume you do not have the $ for that, at this point. The next best thing would be, as a starting point, to look at O*Net Online. Occupation types can be searched according to one's interest areas--areas which are defined at this link: http://www.onetonline.org/find/descript … Interests/
   If you can determine from those definitions which would be your second strongest interest area, that would help, too. Clicking on the hyperlink of your first interest area takes you to where you can then indication your second highest (and even third). This will narrow down a list of general occupation areas. Those hyperlinked occupations often takes you to full page of information about it.
   
   Back at the original page link (above), note the Interests drop down menu for other parameters by which to search. It takes a lot of searching. Hope this is a way to help you get started on it!

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4. 72

   lburmasterposted 12 years ago

   I come up with a plan. You don't have to be paid for every passion. However, a few passions, you can make a decent profit off of. Say you have a passion for teaching or psychology, the first order of business would be getting a degree and volunteering your time to get ahead.

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5. 0

   mirandalabelleposted 12 years ago

   What a wonderful question.
   Firstly, I am very sorry to hear about you losing your job. I know this feeling myself.
   Okay, now, how to pick a career that you love and get paid for. This actually all depends on you.
   'Do you like one thing more than another' should be your first step. Take a piece (or a two) of paper and write down what you like doing. I know that some of us who have spent a lot of time under a thumb (such as being suppressed by corporations, people, etc..) do not exactly know what it is that they like doing. If this is the case for you, as it was for me, experiment. Try painting, drawing, writing. Play with animals. Read a book on any subject. Try your hand at all sorts of things. Odds are, you will love one or many hobbies.
   Personally, I had to write down two pages. When I was done, I wrote down beside it what jobs fall under that particular category. Then, I would try to condense them. For example, if you had Art/Drawing on one line and Playing With Children on another, I would write Art Teacher/Pre-School Instructor between the two.
   My list had animals and writing, art and children. My job is to take care of dogs while running an animal rescue. I let neighborhood kids come volunteer (to build their character) and I love it. As far as the writing goes, I make money off of my published novels and haunt HubPages in my spare time.
   If, say, you decide that your choices of likes can never be a career, I think you should probably keep them as hobbies and get a small part-time job in an area you like to keep the bills at bay. This could be a 20 hour a week thing, and devote the rest of your time to your hobby. You only live once, so enjoy it.
   That being said, nothing is impossible. You can do big things, but first I would start with writing a little list.
   
   Good Luck,
   Miranda

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6. 59

   dudumoduposted 12 years ago

   Just answer the following question and should be on your way :
   
   What is your passion ?
   Is it at all possible for anybody to profit from that passion ?
   Are there people profiting from it already ?
   Why should they share their profit with you ?( presumably because you make yourself indispensable in that process )
   
   Then my advise : Try to create an enterprise using this passion to make money for those who have it. The satisfaction that will result will surprise you.

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7. 97

   watergeekposted 12 years ago

   Train yourself into recognizing joy when you feel it. Look for the best times of your days. Focus on them, write in your journal about them. Get yourself in the enjoyment habit. Then look at all that's possible for you to do each day. Pick whichever one seems the most fun and do it first. Then pick the next most fun thing. Continue this for several days or weeks.
   
   As this focus becomes more of a habit, you'll start to see new fun things showing up. Some of those involve the application of skills you already have and like using, have always wanted to develop, or have been curious about lately. Go for it. Don't think about the money yet. That will come later.
   
   As you find yourself developing or expanding this new, fun skill, you'll also find yourself sharing it. Go for it. Help friends, help non-profits. Join a time bank and share it there. Now you are expanding your skill/s, developing a record of success, finding language to describe this skill, and building enthusiastic testimonials.
   
   Only when that's on its way will it be time to deal with the money aspect . . . but by then somebody has probably already given you a lead to a job or even offered you one themselves. :-D  Congratulations!

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8. 60

   Mellonyyposted 12 years ago

   Yes, I agree igbrown. Do things with passion, or not at all. Keep going !

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9. 69

   TravelAboutposted 12 years ago

   Sometimes life just gets in the way.  We all need money to live so, obviously, you need to find a job you get paid for that you can tolerate.  Even if it's not what you invision yourself doing forever, try to make the best of it and look for the good things and focus on those.  Use your spare time to try and first, find out what you really might like doing, and then start step by step as time permits to work towards that ultimate goal.  Sometimes just knowing that we taking positive steps towards enhancing our own personal situation helps to do the best we can with what we might not like a whole lot right at the moment.

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10. 72

    fitmomposted 12 years ago

    Everything that happens is part of our journey for a reason. Everything leads us to the next thing. At the time, it may not make any sense, but looking back you will most likely understand why those things happened.
    
    I get paid very little for my current jobs. I stay at home with my children, of which there are no typical monetary gains. I'm also a health and wellness consultant and am very passionate about helping others to feel good from the inside-out. Fortunately, it pays me more than just hugs and kisses, although those are much welcomed.
    
    I would think about the job(s) that you would choose to do for fun if money were not an object. Then, think of any jobs that exist or that you could create that align with the ones in your dream job.
    
    Best wishes ~ fitmom

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11. 0

    lisasuniquevoiceposted 12 years ago

    lgbrown,
    
    I wrote a hub that speaks to your situation. If I remember correctly it is under the category of "Time Management."  Check it out. It goes into a great way to discover a passion. Maybe if you choose the right one the motivation will be there. I would go into it more in this space, but the hub says it all.
    
    Good luck,
    Lisa

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