The Prerequisite to Discovering Your Passion
Why?
Because prerequisites are those boring, introductory, foundational courses that one must take before they can get to the real thing. The real thing being the meat and bones of what they really desire to know and do.
Still, they are necessary because without a firm foundation anything one builds is doomed to fall.
Why am I even bothering with all of this gibberish you say? And what does it have to do with passion?
Well…
I have observed recently, that there is always a lot of talk about finding one’s passion. But nowadays, in a slow economy, dead end jobs with low pay that make us hate Mondays, and the drudgery and the rat race that seems to never end, I think that a lot of us are totally oblivious to what our passion would be mainly because we don’t know what passion feels like anymore.
Now, before we go any further, I already know that most would argue me on that point with great fervor armed with their testimony of having felt passion. Still, the truth of the matter is, when most of us think of passion we think of romance, sex, and love.
We do not think of work.
So…
I decided to look up the word “passion” to find out what Merriam-Webster had to say. According to the source it is defined as….
“A strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something”
Ironically enough, the above definition was the very first one under the word “passion”. As you can see, it mentions nothing about romance, sex, and love. Instead, the definition contains key words such as “strong feeling”, “enthusiasm”, and “excitement”.
Think of something that you would consider a job or a task where the above definition for the word “passion” might be applicable in describing how YOU feel about completing that job or task. It doesn’t matter how simple, crazy, or difficult it may be.
Now, while you may not be able to answer this question right off hand, (no doubt it may take some contemplation, soul searching, and self-discovery) it is a question to ponder as you set out to find what drives you, excites you, and provides with you a strong sense of purpose.
And so, I will pose the question once more…
“What task in life drives you and gives you a strong feeling of enthusiasm and excitement?”
When you find your answer, you will have completed the prerequisite to discovering your passion!
May God guide you on your journey of discovery!
A. L. Hearn