Think You Don’t Have A ‘Passion’? Listen To This…

Episode #87

Here are the key points. To listen to the full episode, click on the play button above!

One thing I hear a lot is ‘ But Nichola I don’t have a passion’! And I just don’t believe them! We all have passions but a lot of the time they are buried. Or they are things that are not immediately recognisable as passions. Yes, some people have a tangible passion that we can easily understand but we are all very different as people and your passion could be really obscure.

Passion is a way of describing the thing you are passionate about. If something is a passion, it means that it has inspired the emotion or feeling of passion within you. You feel the passion and the energy it inspires when triggered by something. Your passion inside is released in response to certain activities and behaviours. And that trigger, that activity is your 'Passion'. So when I say some people do need to go and find their passion, I mean they need to find whatever it is that inspires that feeling of joy, fulfilment, energy and motivation that passion is.

So instead of asking yourself “what’s my passion”, ask instead “what in life inspires passion in me? What is my trigger?”

There are a few ways you can find your passion trigger, but the number one way is quite simple and very enjoyable and that’s to indulge in ….hobbies. Old hobbies or new hobbies, it doesn’t matter, you need to do things you enjoy already and explore things you have only dreamed about doing to see what could be the passion trigger for you.

MAKE TIME FOR IT

Before you start exploring hobby options you need to make time for them The simple truth is if you can't find time for a hobby, you won't have the time for a side hustle or for starting your own business to escape the 9 to 5 grind. No matter how much you long to do it.

Yes, I know when you are busy with life and work a hobby seems like a luxury, not something you can allow yourself to do. If you have any hobbies, you just fit them in when you can, and certainly don't prioritise them. Giving yourself the time and space for a hobby can feel indulgent but why shouldn’t you give yourself that time and space for yourself, to enjoy yourself and find that elusive passion trigger? As L’Oreal says, you are worth it and deserve it. Even if it’s just one hour out of your week.

EXPLORE POSSIBILITIES

The important thing about using hobbies to unlock your passion from inside you is to try lots of things. Even if you don’t think you will be good at it. The important thing is not to censor yourself or think there is no way I’m going to be passionate about that!

A good way to start is to think about what you enjoyed as a child. Remember those carefree days when life was all about having fun and exploring the world? What did you love to do? Did you enjoy drawing, or building sandcastles at the beach, or playing video games? Sometimes the things we loved as children can give us clues about what could take up again as a hobby. Or maybe you had things your friends did that you weren’t allowed to do or were not brave of confident enough to try.
Then be adventurous. Go crazy, try things that are out of your comfort zone or a bit wacky. It’s not all about playing a sport, doing something arty or physical. You need to throw out the rule book and preconceptions about what a hobby is. And what you think you should be doing and go for what you really want to.
Think about what you have seen others do and have been envious of. You’re envious because you secretly want to be doing the same, so if they can do it so can you!

If you do have a hobby or hobbies already, well that’s great. But maybe it’s time to double down on them. Or maybe you switch things up and see what other things that may be secret desires you can give a try, or long-forgotten loves that you could bring back to life and revisit.

KEEP TRACK OF HOW YOU FEEL

Now for each hobby you try, you need to keep track of it. Like an experiment.

Explore it. Enjoy it. Keep track in a journal about how it makes you feel.

Grow your expertise in it. Build your knowledge.

Then assess if you feel any real passion for that hobby, or is it simply something you enjoy? Remember to give it the time you need to fully immerse yourself in it. It doesn’t matter if you’re good at it at the start or not. This is about experimenting to find those things that trigger that feeling of passion, not about the skills you have. You can look at that later.

IT’S A WIN-WIN

Exploring your hobbies and giving time for them is a really fun way to find the thing that triggers the feeling of passion within you that could just be something that could become a business.

But, even if you don’t find what inspires passion in you through exploring hobbies there is no downside! Because having a hobby has a host of other fantastic benefits. They aren't just a fun pastime – they're an essential part of your well-being and can have a positive impact on your mental and physical health.

They can help to reduce stress by providing an escape from the daily grind giving you a chance to recharge your batteries. They can also enhance your creativity. By doing new things or diving deeper into existing hobbies, you can inspire new ideas and ways of thinking.

Finally, when you're doing something that you enjoy, you're more likely to feel a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, which gives you confidence and improves your self-belief.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS…

There is no downside to exploring and indulging in hobbies. The time is well invested whatever the outcome because there are so many other benefits.

So play around, have fun and don’t force anything. You will know when a hobby you try is a real passion and when it’s just a passing phase. So go and find what your passion trigger is and do yourself some good along the way.

Before you go...remember to book your free clarity call with me asap and kick-start your 9 to 5 escape plan. Click the link and we can be on a call within days. www.nicholaohara.com/book-a-call .

>>FREE COURSE<< If you're feeling stuck and uncertain about what to do next in your working life, be sure to check out my free course "How to Decide Your Next Move." I guide you through the simple steps you need to take to get crystal clear on what you will do next in life, beyond the 9 to 5.