Uncovering Your Passion: A Journey to Where You Are Meant to Be

Discovering My Passions

I remember waking up one morning, and I was completely exhausted. Not from physical exertion, but I was mentally drained. I was sick of dragging myself to a job that I hated. I was sick of following all the rules, sick of feeling obligated. I was fucking sick of everything.

I had experienced highs and lows at work, enjoyed a brief stint as a stay-at-home mom, and raised two amazing children. As the kids started becoming independent teenagers, I began envisioning the rest of my life after they moved out, and I sank into a depression. My children had been my whole life, my sole focus. Sure, I had accomplished some things over the years, like completing an associate's degree in business, but I did not feel fulfilled on a personal level. My identity as a parent was solid, but I realized that I needed to find something for myself.

I think some people refer to times such as these as a mid-life crisis. For me, it was a new beginning. It was a slow start, which I am still building upon today. What did come quickly were memories of my youth and the journals I wrote in. I pulled them from storage and pored over the words, feeling excitement build. Some of the entries were mundane or embarrassing, but some were good! I found myself reading my own words with the enjoyment that I felt when discovering a great new author.

That's when I knew.

I wanted to write.

So I started to write and have not stopped. I have also discovered a passion for creating and designing, which has led to an Etsy shop and print-on-demand products. I also returned to school and completed a bachelor's degree in communications. Another dream fulfilled.

What Drives You? You Can Make It Happen!

I think it is important for us all to tap into our talents and desires. For some, it may be obvious; others may need to do some soul-searching. I find myself feeling frustrated when I hear people say that they do not have a talent or they are not good at anything. I am a firm believer that we all have a gift. I think life gets in the way, and people forget to tap into that side of themselves. I am also realistic and understand that not everyone has equal amounts of time or resources to spend on this self-discovery.

I encourage others to carve out time for themselves, even if it is 10 minutes daily. Start to think, start to dream, and most importantly, start to believe that you can make it happen. With my passion for writing, it often starts with a small idea. As with most things in life, the timing is usually off. When I get a great idea, I am rarely at my laptop or in a position to stop what I am doing and write. Even so, I now take time to make a note so I don't forget later. If I am in a meeting at work, I will jot a note to remember my idea. If I wake up in the middle of the night, I will grab my phone and quickly type a message. I have even written on napkins in restaurants. It's all about making the time in a busy day to recognize my thoughts.

As you start to think of your own passions, I encourage you to do the following:

• Reflect on past experiences - the good and the bad, because value can be drawn from unknown places.

• Explore new activities - Think of something you have always wanted to do but haven't had the time or the guts to try it.

• Create a passion journal - Write, doodle, cut and paste, buy some silly stickers, write love notes and cuss words, capture whatever pours out of you.

• Look to others for inspiration - It could be your relative, your friend, or even a random person on a street corner. Don't rule out anybody.

• Set goals for personal growth - Believe it can happen and set little milestones.

• Overcome obstacles - Find the time by using your lunch break or your time in the carpool lane, wake up earlier or say no to attending an event that you aren't interested in anyway.

• Celebrate small wins - Celebrate you! Congratulate yourself, reward yourself, and know that it's okay to do so.

Keep It Going

Figure it out. Stop making excuses. Remove things from your life that do not bring anything positive. Surround yourself with like-minded people. Keep grinding.