Discover Your Passion Project and Enrich Your Life
Written by Life & Business Coach on April 5, 2020
There must be some reason why celebrities, teachers, business coaches, and Pinterest boards are talking about passion projects. It’s a subject that appeals to anyone who wants to lead a meaningful life.
Before you dismiss the idea because you lack the time or money to squeeze anything more into your days, consider a couple of inspiring examples. Anthony Trollope wrote those novels you see on PBS while he was working at the post office. Ralph Lauren was an average clothing store salesman who started his fashion empire with only $50,000.
You can do it too. See how a pet project can enrich your life, and learn how to put your good ideas into action.
Benefits of Having a Passion Project
1. Develop your confidence. Challenging activities stretch your skills. As you develop your strengths, you reinforce your belief in yourself and your abilities.
2. Manage stress. Taking on challenges also dispels anxiety. You focus on making progress instead of dwelling on obstacles. You transform downtime into a productive break that renews your enthusiasm for your future.
3. Contribute to society. Share your passion project with the world. You may invent a way to make saltwater drinkable or just make someone smile with the cartoons you draw.
4. Feel fulfilled. Most of all, pursuing your passions allows you to experience more satisfaction and contentment. You spend your time on priorities that matter to you instead of just checking items off your to-do list. Following your dreams may require taking risks, but the rewards are worth it.
How to Find Your Passion Project
1. List your interests. Think about the things you love. What activities do you perform for their own sake without thinking about external obligations or rewards? When do you become so immersed that you lose track of time?
2. Remember your childhood. If you need inspiration, picture your favorite childhood memories. If you still know your lines from a high school play, maybe you’d like to take acting classes.
3. Watch for unmet needs. If you want to turn your passions into a career, match them to something others are looking for. You could be the only dog sitter in your neighborhood who can also groom pets in their own homes.
4. Talk it over. Ask friends, family, and coworkers for input. They may notice your flair for cooking or computer programming.
How to Carve Out Time for Your Passion Project
5. Turn off the TV. Many adults switch on the TV or surf the internet as a distraction from the strains of modern life. See how many hours you can free up by cutting back on screen time.
6. Keep a log. If you need more ways to restructure your schedule, start out by tracking where your time is going. Focus on tasks that you can drop or delegate to others. Strategize how to do your errands or housework more efficiently.
7. Live healthy. You are limited to 24 hours in a day, but you can increase your energy levels during that time. Make sleep a priority. Eat nourishing, whole foods. Exercise regularly and move around while you make phone calls or cook dinner.
8. Share support. Passion projects are ambitious ventures so we need to help each other out. Let your family, friends, and colleagues know what you’re up to. You can encourage each other and provide constructive feedback. Maybe you can even exchange financial support or barter your time and services.
Bring more purpose and joy into your life by devoting yourself to a passion project. Build a legacy you can be proud of, starting today.
