This week, we continue exploring the Meaning Pathway of the PERMAH model by diving into how pursuing and engaging in your passions can help you create more meaning in your life.
What are passions?
Passions are hobbies, causes, beliefs, or anything that truly fills up your cup when you’re in the midst of experiencing it.
Engaging in your passions should bring up feelings of excitement, joy, focus, and flow. Pursuing your passions should give you a deep sense of self-satisfaction and fulfillment, so it’s no wonder that experiencing these feelings regularly contributes to your overall wellbeing and attitude towards life.
When we’re passionate about something, such as our career, we’re more likely to be sustained by our passion for it during tough and stressful times. Whereas, if you don’t enjoy your job or find meaning in it, tough times are more likely to put you at risk of burnout.
How do you figure out what your passions are?
Passion can’t be found in your head; it can only be found by looking within and into your heart. In order to find your passion, you need to experience it.
You may suspect what your passions are, but you’ll only be able to truly pinpoint them once you experience them; you need to see if they light up your fire…
It’s common to talk ourselves out of experiencing what we believe our passion may be. We get caught up listening to the chatter in our head – you’re not good enough, too old, too young, not trained, or it’s too late…
But you know what? It’s never too late to start something new!
Let me share a real-life example
For years, I thought about teaching. I would sit in classes thinking it would be fun to teach adults. I would daydream about delivering the content and how I would engage the class. Then, halfway through my career, I was asked, “What would you be doing if not your current job?” Without hesitation or putting any thought into it, I answered, “I would be a college professor.”
I listened to that chatter in my head and didn’t pursue it. Until one day, I was drawn to an all-women’s university. I visited the campus often, taking in the environment and feeling the excitement in my body just being there. I started looking for part-time faculty positions I could teach, and within a couple of weeks, I was interviewing and got the job.
It was the highlight of my career!
I left every class with a spring in my step and filled with energy and excitement. My evaluations were off the charts with positive scores and comments. I had found my passion!
Reflect on your passions
What did you love to do as a child? Do you still experience it now? Do you still love it? I loved to color when I was young; I started adult coloring a few years ago, and not only do I enjoy it, but it became a way for me to release stress and meditate.
Is there anything you do now in your adult life that lights you up? Do you experience flow, where you lose track of time, and you are excited to engage in it?
What have you always dreamed of doing or pursuing? Write down some things you believe may be a passion for you. Then, put a plan together to experience it more often and see how it makes you feel!
Keep going, keep growing…
Related posts:
How To Start Living Your Life More Meaningfully
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