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The first time I left the country I was 16. I went to Spain and was overwhelmed with a sense of ‘this is it.’ I had always wanted to travel abroad, but my parents were more content with the comforts of home. So when I finally got the chance to go with my Spanish class, I embraced it. It was the best decision of my life.

That trip taught me that my greatest passion in life is traveling. I love to explore, I love to experience awe in nature, art and architecture. I love understanding how different people around the world live, and how no matter how different we may seem, we all share some very basic human truths. I live to travel. 

I’m fortunate that I discovered this early in life. I used that to make the biggest decisions in my life: where to go to school, what type of career to build, how to raise my family, where to live, etc. This is what is called a ‘passion-driven life.’ I let my passions guide the way I live my life.

It sounds ideal doesn’t it? But there are a lot of myths out there about passions that I’d like to clear up. My hope is that by doing so, you’ll be one step closer to discovering your own, and living your own passion-driven life. Let’s begin, shall we…

Your passion doesn’t have to be your paid work

I’m sure you’ve heard the advice to “follow your passions.” Most people assume that means you should turn your passion into your career. Be careful. This only works in a tiny percentage of us. 

You’ll be most successful in your career if you choose to focus on something you’re both good at and enjoy. But for most of us, that can be MANY things. 

Also, your paid work serves an additional purpose: it provides necessary resources for you and your family. In addition to your salary, this can be things like health insurance, paid time off, retirement savings, an easy commute, the ability to work from anywhere in the world, an opportunity to meet some of your best friends, etc.

You should consider ALL of these things when you decide on a career. Your passion will only satisfy one of those criteria: something you enjoy. And the reality is, that most of us eventually learn to despise our work…because it’s something we HAVE to do. 

When your passion is your career, you might find you resent it after a while. This is why traveling is not part of my work. What I love about traveling is the freedom from responsibility that it provides. If I HAVE to travel for work, I’m less likely to find that kind of joy in pursuit. It will just become work. I don’t want that to happen. I protect my passion by keeping it separate from my work.

Instead, I’ve created a career for myself that is flexible, that allows me to take a lot of time off to explore, to travel, on my own. This suits my needs much better.

Your passions will change over time

Think back to what you loved to do as a kid, as a teenager, when you were single. Chances are, your passions have changed over time. I used to love playing house, but I definitely don’t love housework now. At one point I was passionate about photography, calligraphy, and then painting. I don’t do any of those things now. Instead I fulfill my passion for creating with graphic design and branding for my business. 

You’ll find that with different seasons of life, your passions will ebb and flow and change and adapt. You may always love music, which you learned from those early piano lessons, but then discovered singing is more your thing, and then ultimately learned that producing music is your greatest passion. That’s a good thing. Embrace that and experiment with trying and testing new and different passions. 

Keep track of what you’ve been passionate about in the past, and keep a note somewhere of all the things that interest you that you want to try one day. When you have the time, or the time is right, try something new and be mindful of how it makes you feel. Follow the passions that light you up, that motivate you, that turn on your inner light.

Your passions are signals of your true path in life

When you discover something that you’re truly passionate about, you can feel it. That feeling is the universe communicating with you to ‘keep going!.’ You are on your path. This is what you should be doing. I heard this voice when I went to Spain and it shook me to my core. Have you ever heard yours?

Those are very important signs and they help us learn more about ourselves and what matters most, ultimately helping to illuminate our unique path in life. When you bring awareness to a passion you’ve always had or discover a new one, give yourself time to reflect on what it is about that passion that brings you so much joy. Keep asking ‘why’ until you get to the heart of what is driving you. 

What I love about traveling is the ability to explore. This awareness led me to some of my favorite hobbies: hiking, camping, visiting museums, reading books. I have two young kids, so global travel isn’t always an option for me right now. But I can connect to the part of me that needs travel through these more accessible means. 

Never stop learning

The path to self awareness, and ultimately to discovering your true purpose in life is an endless journey. Till the day you die, you’ll keep adding to your puzzle. Every step you take that gets you closer to your truth, is a step toward a better life.

If you’re curious about how you can learn more about yourself and what matters most, please enjoy this free 7-day trial of the online course, Find Your Way.

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Kim Soko Schaefer is the founder of Ways & Meaning, a website dedicated to helping mindful entrepreneurs, thinkers and creators find more meaning and joy in their work and life. Kim is also a mother, a strategist, a global traveler and a lover of tater tots.

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