Warning: This isn’t going to be easy. It will require a lot of reflection and soul-searching. You may get to points where you feel uncomfortable, upset or overwhelmed. You’ll need a lot of courage and a lot of commitment. But what you’ll get is clarity and direction. When you have clarity of your passion and purpose you have a reason to jump out of bed in the morning, excited about what the day holds.
Now get comfy, this takes some time but the pay-off while serve you a lifetime.
The first few steps are self discovery questions because really, the answer lies within you, no one else. Let’s get started!
1. Get Clear
Before you delve into this process you must clear your mind and still your spirit. Take a few minutes meditate before you follow these steps. Clear your heart and mind of day-to-day stresses, fears and confusions.
2. What are you good at?
Identify your gifts, talents and abilities. Think back on your life and answer the following questions:
- What some things that you have displayed a natural ability to do or gift at? Maybe writing, talking to people (public or one-on-one)
- What are some things people have always said you’re so good at?
- What do you excel at above the “average” person?
- What are your strengths?
- What interest’s hobbies do you have that sets me apart?
- What gifts do you have to share that others will rave about?
- When you go into a book store, what section do you gravitate toward? Why?
- If money were NO object, what would you definitely be doing right now? Why?
Take at least 30 minutes, go through each question and write the answers down. Don’t try to think it through or keep it in your head, write it down. As you go through, analyze every area of your life for hints. Be sure to answer the “why” as well. Sometimes the answer actually lies in the “why”.
3. What gets your mojo going?
What excites you? What gives you butterflies and brings you joy? Not just now but in the past and in all areas of your life, work and play. Ask yourself:
- What would make me want to just out of bed with excitement in the mornings
- What did I dream of becoming when I was younger?
- If money were no object, what would I want to do with my days?
- What are you doing when you completely lose all sense of time?
- What do you get excited learning about?
- What would you PAY to be able to do?
- What do you get excited talking about? Is there that thing that you just get so passionate talking about and your friends and family start running for cover when you get on that roll?
It could be something you haven’t done in a while and the moment you think of it right now you’ll get butterflies in your stomach. Take at least 15 to do this exercise. Remember, write it down.
4. What are the breadcrumbs?
Throughout our lives there are breadcrumbs, clues being left that are trying to guide us toward our purpose. But life and all of its happenings distract us. Not today. Take a few minutes. And think back, what are those nudges you’ve received in your spirit? It’s usually the thing that you’re afraid of. I say this because, like Jonah, we tend to run from our purpose.
- Maybe it’s something you did so well (and you never thought you could do it at all) that it overwhelmed you and you just avoided doing it again (fear)?
- Maybe its clues in the way of opportunities that keep coming your way but you keep pushing it aside because you don’t have confidence you can do it (fear)?
What are the breadcrumbs? What are you afraid of, why?
5. Read between the lines
Look at the list you have. The things you’re gifted with, the things you’re good at (abilities) and the things that you enjoy. Is there a theme or a way to incorporate them into one idea? For example, maybe your gift is writing, you’re good at computers and you enjoy travel. Sounds like a potential travel writer. Analyze this a bit.
6. Uproot your fears
Is it fear of failure or fear of success? I think within all of us, it’s a combination of both.
To banish your fear you need to first face it, acknowledge it. Don’t call it anything else, don’t make excuses or talk circles around it, you’re afraid, and it’s OK. Acknowledge it so we can uproot it. Now, analyze the fear. Is it really rational? Are you going to die if you do this thing? Really ask yourself, “What’s the worst that could happen if I take this business opportunity and put my gifts, talents and abilities to work?” Is any potential damage irreparable? Probably not. Fear used correctly (to save you from a burning building) is great. Fear used incorrectly (to not act on opportunities) is blocking you from living life to the fullest.
Consider this quote by Marianne Williamson in A Return To Love (available in Products and Resources:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Yes, “who are you not to be?”! Feel the fear and DO IT ANYWAY!
7. Reach out to others
Once you’ve created the list of gifts talents and abilities and things that excite you, theme them together. So essentially, look at everything there and cluster the ones that are the same and just may be expressed differently.
Pick the one that really excites you the most, now, start digging. Read up on it, talk to people who’ve been successful in the field. Participate in the blogs, forums and really get a feel for it. You may start to feel a bit of fear at this point, read the quote from Marianne Williamson above and keep pressing. As your researching, make a list of things you need to learn, need to improve on, skills you want to acquire etc. Go into this full force for a week.
8. Check in. Readjust as required
How do you feel? As you were researching the item, where you excited? Did learning more about this item and talking to people doing it give you joy and butterflies? Are you excited to share this new info and all of the details with our loved ones? If yes, press on! Go to step 10.
9. Rinse and Repeat
If the first list item proves to not be the path, go to the next item on your list. Remember that FOCUS means Follow On Course Until Successful. The goal here is to uncover your passion so you can walk in your purpose. So leaving item one behind is not failure, its readjusting the plan and pressing toward the mark (finding you passion/purpose)
10. Acknowledge and embrace the “ah hah” moments
Once you start this process you will find over the coming days you may have epiphanies or “ah, hah” moments. They come suddenly, and your passion may be revealed through momentous events or moments of quiet awareness as you contemplate changes that never seemed possible. Embrace it and act on it immediately. Grab a pen and paper and let the thoughts flow out. If you don’t it never comes back to you as clearly again.
How to make a living doing it.
Through time and patience.
Turning your passion into a business can look a variety of ways. You can become a consultant, do freelance work, create and online business and sell an ebook, start a blog or a forum. I’ve always said, there are a million ways to make a million dollars, you just have to look at what’s worked and be creative. If you’re interested in starting up a money making blog or some online business based on your passion read Ten Steps to Putting Your Passion into Money Making Action. I’ll warn you again. It isn’t going to be easy but WELL worth it.
Live on PURPOSE!
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