Question: What’s your passion?

I have come to believe that everyone has multiple passions – we focus on different ones at different times, and sometimes it is focused on one of those 5 life zones (work, wellbeing, relationships, financial freedom, hobbies) – but sometimes it might seem random. 

What’s your passion in life?

When someone asks the question “what’s your passion?” I find myself going kind of blank or just thinking of the things I spend the most time doing. So here are some questions (the articles are linked, and I have combined the list into one) to help you figure it out. No matter your answer, it’s interesting to think about. There is no right or wrong, so try to pay attention to the first thing that comes to mind. If you find a pattern in there, great! You’ll want to pay extra attention to those. 

Some of these questions might be appropriate to talk through with others you are close to – they might have some good insights. 

can you have too many passions?

There is no need to limit your passions in life – having multiple passions can be energizing and exciting. In my experience, we often cycle through different passions in different times in life. You can be passionate about music or cooking or being a parent or decorating your house or traveling or… so many things! Exploring new things throughout your life is also known to help with neuroplasticity and longevity.

Passion does not mean perfection! It does not have to be something you love all the time, or something that you love everything about. There may be things that you don’t like, or conflict within your passion. And everyday life sometimes gets in the way!

Another concept that applies (especially if you are looking for a professional passion) is the Japanese concept of ikigai. It asks some of these same questions – it defines passion as the intersection of what you love and what you are good at. 

• 13 Questions To Discover Your Passion – Happily Ever Adventures
• 14 Questions to Ask Yourself to Figure Out Your Passion – Forbes
• Ikigai – calm.com
• The Passion Principle – Harvard Business Review
• Values

questions to ask yourself to find passions, interests, & Purpose

1. What did you spend hours doing when you were a child? What were your favorite games?
2. What does your perfect day consist of?
3. What makes you the most jealous when you see other people doing it?
4. If you had 4 hours a day to do something just for you, what would it be? {No to-do lists allowed}
5. When do you feel the most energized? After what type of activities, in what type of environments?
6. If you could get paid to do absolutely anything, what would it be?
7. During what types of activities do you lose track of time?
8. What do you like to read about? What types of shows do you like to watch?
9. What comes easily to you? What comes naturally?
10.  What did you want to be when you grew up?
11. What do you people always mention are your strengths? What do people most often come to you for advice about?
12. What was the last project you worked on that you went above and beyond? Felt proud of your work?
13. What have you always wanted to do, but have never had the time/money/or other resources to do it?
14. If you won the lottery today and didn’t need to work for the rest of your life, how would you spend your days? What is the one thing you would love to do or play at, that could occupy and absorb you for hours at a time? 
15. When did I feel the most free? What were you like during that time? What did you focus on in your life, what did you tend to notice most (in terms of your senses)? 
16. What do I daydream about?
17. What did I do on my last vacation? 
18. What brings me joy? 
19. What do I believe is my unique purpose in the world? 
20. If you are older and looking back over your life, what would you like to say that you’ve accomplished? What legacy do you want to live and leave? 
21. What am I interested in learning more about right now? What have I wanted to learn about?
22. What does passion mean to me? What does it mean to be passionate about something? What would you be experiencing differently? 

Have fun with the questions – these are meant to spark ideas, so don’t stress out about it. Things we’re passionate about sometimes generate other strong emotions – that’s kind of what we’re going for!