In the comments of the When Real Life Friends Don’t Get It” post, Sara Healy of A Sharing Connection said, “…I love blogging. I love every bit of it…”

I echo Sara’s sentiments.

I can truthfully say, blogging is more than a hobby, it’s a passion of mine.

But it hasn’t always been that way. In fact, I spent many years trying to figure out what I wanted to do when I “grow up”.

Although I do love the work I currently do (office administration), I felt I needed more. Something that would really make my heart sing. Something I would never tire of. Something that didn’t feel like a job. Like so many others, I wanted to say “I found my passion.”

For me, “blogging” became the answer.

My eyes are open to the fact many bloggers are also searching for their passion.

As I read the blogs of others, I know “something” is inspiring them to write about their specific topics. When I read their comments, I can see how they are more passionate about some topics, and less about others. If they are posting just to post, or commenting just to comment, it’s obvious, but when they are writing about that which drives them, their passion shines through.

With some bloggers, it’s obvious they love to write. Whereas others find joy in opening their readers eyes to a cause, sharing life lessons and/or leaving this world a better place.

When we look at why we blog, what we blog about, and which posts of others stir something within us, we may find ourselves closer to identifying our passion.

Today’s Lesson

Borrowing part of a post I wrote on my Observation Mountain blog titled, How To Find Your Passion and Make Money, I list 15 questions we can ask ourselves which will hopefully bring us closer to fulfilling that dream.

Let’s get started:

1) If money was not a worry, what could you see yourself doing? What would you do for free?

2) What do you do (hobbies or other), where you get lost in the project and time seems to “fly by”?.

3) As a child, what did you enjoy doing? Do you still enjoy that “activity”, but in a more grown up sort of way?

4) What are your strengths? Are you organized? Are you a care giver? Are you creative? Are you social? Other?

5) What do others say you are good at? If you’re not sure, ask your family and friends.

6) What don’t you like to do? Oftentimes, admitting what you don’t like to do, reveals more of what you like to do.

7) Do you feel passionate about something, but are too embarrassed to admit it to loved ones? Why?

8.) If you were to follow your passion, would others in your life “be left behind”? Do they have to be? Or is there a way of including them?

9) Are you making excuses for not following your passion because you might actually succeed? Are you afraid of success? Why?

10) If you know what you are passionate about, can you find a way to begin that journey, plus do what you’re doing now? i.e. go to school part time? Follow your passion “after hours”….?

11) If you admitted you wanted to follow your passion, and others laughed at you, or were negative, how would you react? Do you feel strongly enough about your passion to defend yourself? Do you really care what others think? Remember, many great inventors and big named business people were scoffed at.

12) What “gets to you”? Do you hate waste? Do you hate seeing children becoming obese by unhealthy eating habits? Do you hate paying good money for an inferior product? What “puts you on your soap box”?

13) Do you see something and KNOW you “have a better way”? Could you invent something?

14) If you were on your death bed today, would you have regrets because you did not follow your “dream”?

If you answered “yes” to #14,

15) What’s stopping you?

After you have taken time to write out the answers, step away from it. Wait for a few days or weeks and review your answers. Have they changed? Do you need to elaborate on any of your answers?

As you look at what you have written, you may soon see a common “theme” emerging.

Is this your passion?

You may realize you are a creative person who could make a product in your own home and sell it to local boutiques, small shops or online. Maybe, you are a stay at home mom who loves children and enjoys being a care giver. Setting up a day care may be right for you. Or maybe as a kid, you used to love to play with toy hammers and saws. Would you like to be a general contractor and build or remodel homes? Or make furniture?

If you have an idea for an invention, with some hard work and research, you could see it materialize.

The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

Today’s Assignment

Are you doing what you’re passionate about?

If not, what’s your biggest obstacle?

Is blogging helping you get closer to your goals?

Raise you hand and share where you are on the path to your dream.

.

P.S. For your convenience, I’ve installed the “Sexy Bookmarks” plugin (see below). One of the options I’ve activated is named “Print Friendly” (top row – second from right). For this assignment you may want to print this post and take your time answering the list of 15 questions.

For myself, #6 has been very beneficial. When I wrote down what I didn’t enjoy doing or preferred not to do for a living, it helped bring me closer to doing what I love.