“If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.”

– Marc Anthony

Maybe you grew up in a home where you watched your parents dutifully put in their shifts at work day in and day out. They worked Monday through Friday from 7am to 4pm, just so they could enjoy the weekend off and a week off down south each summer.

 

Or perhaps you went off to college and studied pre-law or business or biology, and now you feel trapped in a job you don’t love. You’d like to change course, but what if you make the wrong choice? What else are you even qualified to do? And what about all those student loans?

 

Here’s another dilemma for those who feel as if they’re “working for the weekend” and not pursuing their passions: How can you even know what you want to be when you grow up?

 

Sound familiar?

 

The truth is, there are millions of people out there who head off to work each and every day, wishing they were going someplace else, and hoping one day to find the thing that really inspires them. If that’s you, then rest assured, you are not alone.

 

But know this, too:

 

There is still time to discover your passion and start doing the work you love.

 

Step One: Get A Change of Scenery

We’re going to begin with a little brainstorming, but first we need to set the scene.

 

Set aside an hour or so of uninterrupted time. Head out to the park or a coffee shop, and take along your favorite notebook and pens. Find a quiet corner, and just let your mind wander. Do a little daydreaming.

 

Imagine that money is not a concern. You have enough to manage your day-to-day needs, with some left over for fun. You have the freedom to do anything you like with your days.

 

In your notebook, make a list of all the things you would do with your time if you could spend it any way you liked.

 

Would you shop?

Would you paint glorious watercolors?

Would you go back to college and earn a degree in a different subject?

Travel the world?

Rescue animals?

Work with abused women?

Plant a garden?

 

If you get stuck, think about what you do on weekends and holidays. Most everyone looks forward to relaxing and enjoying their favorite activities after the workweek is done. What are the activities you most enjoy?

 

The purpose of this exercise is not to make a realistic list of business opportunities, but rather to make a list of possibilities, so don’t censor yourself. Write down whatever pops into your head without considering if you can make money with it, whether or not you’ll love it forever, or even if you have the skills or talent for it.

 

That is, after all, what brainstorming is all about. Unfiltered ideas. We’ll sort them out later.

 

Step Two: Create Sacred Time & Space for Reflection

Journaling should be fun and inspiring, not dry and boring. It’s not a college essay, but rather a tool to help you discover your deeper truth.

 

Maybe you already do this, but I want to challenge you for the next 30 days to keep a daily, purposeful journal. Here’s how that works.

 

First, set aside time each day for journaling. This can be first thing in the morning (great for planning), last thing before you go to bed (perfect for gratitude), or even right after lunch. It doesn’t matter so much what time, but that you make an unbreakable appointment with yourself, and that you commit to doing the work—even when it feels hard or uncomfortable.

 

Having a special spot for journaling is another great way to make it special. Perhaps you have a empty bedroom that gets great sunlight in the morning or a window that overlooks the creek in your backyard. Maybe it’s a special chair with a beautiful throw that makes you comfortable enough to get creative. Or maybe it’s sitting in your car in the garage right after you get home in the evening. Wherever you journal, make sure it’s someplace quiet and comfortable so you can have a few peaceful moments to let your thoughts flow.

 

Next, rather than just random thoughts and events, try answering specific questions each day. This type of journaling helps you maintain focus, and will allow you to look back later and know exactly what works, what doesn’t, and where you might want to focus your energy.

 

Some questions to ask each day include:

 

1.   What was the best thing that happened to me today?
2.   How did I make someone else’s day better?
3.   How could today have been better?
4.   What’s the one big thing I want to get done today?
5.   What’s one thing I did today just for me?
6.   Who made me smile today?
7.   What has been my biggest achievement this week?
8.   Fast forward to next year. What has changed about your life or your business?

 

You don’t have to answer each and every question every day, and there may be others you’d like to add to your list. Have fun with it, and use your journal as a source of inspiration and reflection. Look forward to what you hope to achieve, and backwards at how far you’ve come.

 

Taking note of recurring themes in your journal is a powerful way to discover your true passion. If the best thing that happens to you every day is that you served a beautiful dinner to your family, then it’s clear that being a mom and a great cook is one of your passions.

 

On the other hand, if your day could have been better if you didn’t have to struggle with your accounting software, clearly bookkeeping is not something you want to pursue.

 

Another thing to include in your journal is gratitude. Every day, you’re surrounded with reasons to be grateful. It didn’t rain until after your son’s last baseball game of the season. You remembered at the last minute to take your new sweater out of the dryer and avoided disaster. That cold you felt coming on yesterday passed you by after all.

 

By noting the small (and large) things you’re grateful for, it will help keep your attitude positive, and when you’re happy, you’re more open to discovering your life’s passions. One last point about journaling—embrace your creative side. Many people love to journal on a computer. It’s fast and with you everywhere. But it also tends to be cold and impersonal.

 

Instead of using a bland old Word or text document for your daily journaling, consider creating a pretty paper journal instead. Buy pens in different colors, and fill your journal with not just words, but pictures and doodles and anything else that makes you happy. Collect fun stickers to add to your pages, use sticky notes for important points, and even tuck a photo or two into your updates to remind you of what you’ve achieved.

 

Remember, your journal is for your eyes only, and you’ll be more likely to use it if it’s as colorful and unique as you are.

 

Step Three: Discover What Others Think to Help Find Your Superpower

When it comes to finding your true purpose and passion, what others think might seem like the last thing you should consider. But the truth is, what others think of when they think of you can offer valuable insight into your unique genius. And once you find that, your passion won’t be far behind.

 

So think about the questions your friends and family and even Facebook acquaintances ask of you. Do they come to you for assistance with their family finances? Writing a resume? Organizing the kitchen?

 

Are you a sounding board for dating troubles? Called upon for career advice? Consulted when the family dog won’t quit barking?

 

Whatever it is your friends and family rely on you for, they don’t do it out of loyalty or because they don’t want you to feel left out. They do it because they value your input and opinion. They know that you have not only a natural talent, but a passion for what you do.

 

Not sure what others think? Ask them. Some things you might want to ask are:

 

Do they remember a time when you did something that changed someone else’s life for the better?

 

Who have they seen you make a positive impact? How?

 

What’s one of their favorite memories of you?

 

Ask your children what is the most important lesson they learned from you?

 

But don’t just ask them what they think you’re good at. Ask them what your superpower is. Everyone has one, and when you discover yours, you’ll very often find it’s closely related to your passion.

 

Superpowers can be anything. Maybe you’re a good connector of people, with a knack for matching complementary businesses. Perhaps you’re amazing at creating healthy meals even confirmed junk-food addicts love. Maybe you’re simply a great listener who’s able to help a friend through a crisis.

 

Ask your friends, family and colleagues what they feel your superpower is. The answer might just point you to your passion.

 

Step Four: Create a List of Future Projects

Productivity gurus call this a “someday” list. It’s the projects and plans you want to do, but not right now. Much like your new experiences list, this is a living document where you’ll record every new project that crosses your mind. Some will be good. Most will not. But that’s okay. The point is to not close your mind to the possibilities.

 

Warning: Ask many business coaches the secret to a better business, and they’ll tell you it’s focus. To be distracted by other opportunities or ideas is to dilute the power of your core business.

 

While this can be true in many cases, it can also cause the purpose-seeking entrepreneur to freeze in her tracks, unwilling to move in any direction for fear of choosing the wrong one. Much like the college grad who feels trapped in a job she hates, simply because that’s what she knows, you’ll only end up hating your business and wishing for a day job again.

 

I suggest in the earliest stages of deciding which business you want to build, instead of wearing blinders to keep you laser focused every moment, you should take some time to explore other possibilities. Look for complementary ideas that are a natural match for one another.

 

Start a list of things you’d like to experience. As you make your list, remember this will be a living document that you continue to add to as new ideas come to you. It’s also the document you’ll refer to as new opportunities present themselves.

 

But don’t just list things. Make a plan and do them. Add at least one new experience to your calendar every month, then do what it takes to fulfill that obligation with yourself. You might just discover a favorite new hobby, or meet your new business partner in that yoga class. But at the very least, you’ll be refilling your own well.

 

Step Five: Evaluate Your Findings

One at a time, the various steps in this post will help you find those moments of true joy, where your mind and your spirit soar, and you’re able to feel as if you’re truly reaching for your life’s purpose.

 

But when looked at as a whole, you’ll begin to see themes emerge that will point the way to what you really want to do with your life.

 

Look back over your brainstorming session, your journal, the answers from your loved ones, and future projects list and your superpower list, and ask yourself:

 

What recurring theme pops up time and time again? (Examples of themes might be technology, children, crafts, animals, or fitness).

 

What superpowers do I have related to that theme?

 

What is my favorite activity related to that theme?

 

How can I spend my days doing more of that, and less of the stuff I’m not so fond of?

 

Remember, finding your true passion doesn’t always happen in an instant. It can take time and requires a commitment to living a life of curiosity and joy for your passion to begin to reveal itself. Following the steps above will help you along the way!