Summary
- What is passion?
- IKIGAI model
- How to find passion?
- How to turn your passion into your career?
Many of us are lost in our careers. At times, we find our careers monetarily rewarding but we still are unhappy? Why do you think this happens? The main reason for this is the lack of passion in your career. So, what is passion and how can you find passion in your career?
What is Passion?
Passion, in simple terms, can be described as love or admiration for something. In this case it is the love to do something like an activity or job. Passion can be described as a feeling. It is an emotion that is associated with adoration for a particular action.
When you are able to combine passion and your career, you have reached the pinnacle of success. It is important to find passion in your career in order to live a content and fulfilling life.
However, this is rare to find because most of us just run behind high paying jobs that might give us momentary joy but in the long run can prove to be monotonous and tedious.
Therefore, finding passion in your career is one of the most important goals in one’s life. The main question here is how to find your passion for a career? The answer is not simple.
Many do not realize they have a passion or knack for certain things until it’s too late. Why let that happen to you? It is best to find your passion early on and make the best use of your passion. There can be nothing better than making a career out of your passion.
IKIGAI Model – Reason or Purpose of Life
Finding your passion and making a career out of it can best be explained through the Japanese IKIGAI model. IKIGAI refers to “reason or purpose of life.”
According to this model, one must find out the reason to live and the purpose of life. Finding out these will allow you to develop your passions. When you try to answer the questions about life and the reason you are meant to be in this life, it will draw you to the answers of passion, hobbies, fulfillment and contentment.
IKIGAI is basically the pursuit of happiness. In your pursuit of happiness, you must follow your passion and your dreams, while at the same time ensuring that you can live of your passion without harming the rights of anyone else.
Now that you know what passion is, the next step is to try and find your passion and then turn your passion into a career. You might think that you do not have a strong enough passion that can drive an entire career. However, that is not true. Each of us are born with a passion for something.
It could be an insignificant passion that you may think cannot give rise to a career. The first thing is to remove this thought from your head and be grateful that you are born in a time and place that has the internet. The internet can fuel your passion and take your career to great heights.
Also Check: Amazing Tips to Find Your Hidden Talent
How to Find Your Passion?
So, to start with, it is important to first find your passion. After you find your passion, you can mould it into your career. To find your passion, you must ask yourself certain important questions that can help you discover your passion or passions
- What do you like to do in your free time?
- How much time do you spend in a day on something you like to do?
- How do you feel when you do something you like?
To answer the above questions, let’s take a simple example of an avid trekker
What do you like to do in your free time? You like to travel and walk through thick forests and discover nature as it is. You like the smell of fresh air on a mountain top.
How much time do you spend on something you like to do? In your busy schedule, you try to find the time at least once in a month to travel or trek to a nearby nature spot. You spend at least 12 hours in a month traveling to your favourite spots.
How do you feel when you do something you like? You feel ecstatic when you are on your journey. You feel liberated and happy.
So, looking at all these answers, it is evident that you love to trek and travel. You have found your passion. If given a chance, you would become a full time trekker and traveller. If only it wasn’t for this 9 to 5 job that you have to do because you need the money or remuneration to survive.
What if we tell you that it is possible to make a career out of trekking and make a hefty amount of money, enough for you to live and enjoy life? Yes, it is possible. It is possible to find your passion career.
Let’s Find out How to turn your Passion into a Career
“Don’t pick a job with great vacation time. Pick a job that doesn’t need escaping from.”
1. Money is not everything
Although money plays an important role in our lives, it is not the end all of everything. We can be happy with a few necessary items. We need not be content even with the most expensive item in our possession.
This is because there was no passion in the means. So always remember, that there are some things money can’t buy. One of these things is contentment and fulfillment. These can only be fulfilled if you follow your passion and dreams.
2. Career switch
It is difficult to make the career switch because of many factors that could be affected by your decision. One of the main factors is your family. If you are the bread winner of your family, making a career switch can be a very difficult task.
However, one must always note that it is better to be happy in your career than burn out early on in life. How does a burnout happen? A burn out happens when you are not happy with what you are pursuing.
Earning a lot of money while burning out your life is simply not worth it. Your family will rather have a happy and content person at home than a tired and unsatisfied family member. Choose a job that you love and you do not have to work a day in your life.
3. Careers can be made with almost anything nowadays
We are in the age of the internet. The world has become a smaller place with the internet connecting all of us. Nowadays, you can make a career out of anything.
Taking the above example where you are an avid trekker, it is possible to leave your 9 to 5 job and become a full time trekking guide for a travel company. So here, you have answered the question: how to turn your passion into a career?
4. Speak to your mentor
Another way of how to find your passion for a career is to speak to your mentors, superiors and guides. Speaking to someone who is older with more life’s experience can give you an insight into what life holds for you in the future.
5. Read about success stories
Success stories of successful people around you is the best way of how to turn your passion into a career. When you look at successful people around, you must realize that success did not come to them easily.
They have worked hard to reach their position today. The first thing you must notice is that they have not burned out. Which means they are passionate at what they do. They love their job. So did they follow their passion? It’s time to read about the success stories of eminent personalities and find out what ignited their passions.
TED x is another way of how to find your passion for a career. You can log onto the TED x website or watch videos on the internet. These videos showcase ideas worth sharing.
They are success stories of people who have fought all obstacles to emerge successful entrepreneurs, sportsmen or professionals. The stories on TED x are encouraging and motivating.
Conclusion
Finding a passion for your career is not an overnight activity. It might take you years to find a career that you are passionate about. However, believe it or not, once you find your passion for a career, you are set for life. As the saying goes “Do what you love and success will follow. Passion is the fuel for a successful career.”
Also check: Importance of Being Resourceful
