| I strongly believe that everyone can follow their | | | | sometimes a skill feels so natural to us we assume |
| passion - all they need is a plan.How though do you | | | | everyone has it. Are you really good at making people |
| start formulating that plan if you do not have a good | | | | feel comfortable around you? Have you organized |
| idea of what exactly is your passion. Follow these | | | | your office so that everything is at hand? Also note |
| steps and you will have the first step - identifying your | | | | down areas in which you enjoy learning and could |
| true passion and the opportunities you could pursue | | | | easily acquire new skills in. |
| that will tap into the joy and purpose of living the life | | | | 4. What are your existing conditions? Do you need a |
| you always wished to lead. | | | | certain income level? Do you have any health |
| 1. Follow the fun and joy. Look at what in your life | | | | challenges? Do you have responsibilities in your life that |
| brings you a sense of joy. What does fun mean to | | | | would have to be taken into consideration such as |
| you? Write a list of things and put a start next to the | | | | caring for children or an elderly relative? Do you have |
| top three. Think about your childhood - what did you | | | | a spouse who moves regularly due to the military or a |
| love to do then? What hobbies and past-times do you | | | | job related reasons? Think about everything that |
| have? What did you used to do before life became | | | | shapes your life that will need to be taken into |
| too busy? What gives you that feeling of well-being? | | | | consideration. |
| What puts a smile on your face? What makes you | | | | 5. Take the list you made at the beginning and start |
| laugh? | | | | brainstorming possible opportunities. Go W-I-D-E here. If |
| 2. Which of these activities are also meaningful to | | | | singing is high up on your list do not just zoom in on |
| you? Baking a cake is fun for a lot of people but truly | | | | rock star, think about everything from singing jingles to |
| meaningful to only a few. Meaning is a very personal | | | | karaoke! Let the ideas percolate in your head for a |
| thing and normally there is a resonance with some | | | | few days and every time you think of an opportunity |
| deep part of you. What activities bring you a deep | | | | write it down - even if it's something you would never |
| level of satisfaction? Is there a link between the | | | | actually do as you never know what can spin off from |
| activities that are more significant to you? Try to | | | | one idea. For example you might know you would |
| narrow it down and get as specific as possible. If you | | | | never want to own a restaurant but maybe you would |
| believe that it is part of your purpose to help people, | | | | love to be a restaurant critic or have a website |
| then narrow it down to how you would most like to | | | | devoted to local restaurants. |
| help people. Think about both the ways you enjoy | | | | Look at your 5 separate lists and start looking for |
| helping and those you do not. For instance for me | | | | commonalities and things which fit across the board. |
| nursing would be high on my lists of things I do not | | | | Look for ways that you could start moving towards |
| want to do. Also, as an example, I prefer to help | | | | living your passion. What would be your next step? |
| people with positive things rather than helping them | | | | Research? Learning a new skill? Putting money aside |
| through negative things. | | | | so you can eventually quit your job? What would be |
| 3. What are your present skills and talents? List them | | | | the next step after that? By putting down the next |
| all, everything from being able to put on a duvet cover | | | | few steps, you have formed yourself a plan that will |
| in under 5 minutes to being able to make yourself | | | | continue to expand until you have created the life that |
| understood by someone who does not speak the | | | | you always dreamed of and you will have reached it |
| same language as you. Try to really think outside the | | | | one step at a time. |
| box. Ask people who know you well to help as | | | | |