Passion. Purpose. Meaning in life.
Whatever you call it, one thing is for sure: most of us have been seeking for our deeper purpose at some point in our lives.
And while we here at Careerwellness.co believe that finding meaningful work is a prerequisite for genuine happiness, there are certain false beliefs that can keep you from finding your dream career.
Keep on reading to get a little closer to finding that true spark of yours!
#1 The word "passion" itself
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Okay, guilty as charged! We use this word, too. However, "passion" isn't the best word to use when it comes to discovering your inner drive.
The Cambridge Dictionary defines passion as a very powerful feeling such as love, hate or anger, or an extreme interest for doing something (think: your favourite hobby).
While you can be passionate about things like 70's rock music, art or eating pasta, it doesn't usually apply for work.
The word passion implies that you have to be madly in love with your job, but that's not how life works. Each job comes with it's not-so-groovy aspects.
Let's say you love writing compelling copy that shakes people to the core. That doesn't mean that you're into spell-checking or those quickly approaching deadlines. Despite of this, being a copywriter may still be the perfect career path for you.
Rather than chasing passion, focus on finding meaning in your work. Meaning refers to something of importance or value, which is far more realistic than being insanely passionate about your job.
#2 Unrealistic expectations of work-life
Are we the only ones who think that everything seems so easy nowadays?
The guy next door sold his tech company for a hundred million dollars and Bella-your-BFF earns a living by posting pictures of her brekkie for her Instagram tribe. Not to mention that every other friend seems to be killing it in some hot startup with cool offices and regular offshore retreats.
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To top it off, Millennials are the generation of instant gratification. We want it all and we want it now.
But work is not all fulfilment and Friday beers. Mondays will always be Mondays. There will be tough days when you feel like quitting. You'll encounter obstacles and you will mess the Eff up now and then.
If you're only getting started on your career journey, you will be expected to endure a bunch of mundane tasks. Entry level jobs aren't usually jam-packed with purpose, no matter how much you want to make a difference.
This doesn't mean that work can't be fun. Just remember that there will be tough days and boring tasks, too. Be humble, work hard and be in it for the long haul.
#3 Believing that you have one passion
Do you like pizza? Of course you do!
But would you eat it every day for the rest of your life? Probably not. After all, you have many favourite dishes that you love, right?
The same goes for your other interests in life.
Don't obsess about finding your one, true calling, because you likely have many. This means that several roles could be a great match for you. For instance, if you feel a strong need to help people, there are many ways to fulfil this need. You could:
If you're unsure about what makes you tick, start with your "Why". What do you want to achieve in your career and job? Why do you do what you do?
Your preferences may also change with time. There is no need to label yourself as an accountant or a lawyer or whatever it is that you do. Think bigger than your degree or current role - you're a smart and curious person with many interests!
#4 Trying to find your passion
"How to find your passion" is a popular Google search term and a hot topic among friends who are bored with their current jobs.
However, this expression suggests that your passion is lost somewhere. And that if you just keep looking long enough, you will find the answer.
But your purpose is not locked in a treasure chest somewhere. And you certainly can't just brainstorm your way to your calling, because it does not reveal itself that way.
Why? Because your passion is already everywhere: inside you and all around you.
You are born with certain predispositions that are inherent to you. Even though they may evolve with time, they are always there with you. There is no need to search for them - you just have to dig deeper to see them.
Here's our favourite exercise:
Paying attention to your emotions is an effective way to reveal your inner spark.
Try this: envision your inner purpose as small, invisible sparkles in the air. Whenever you feel an inexplicable sensation of joy and relief, you know that you're getting closer to your purpose.
Ask yourself: when do you feel most alive and happy? Is it when you get to plan a marketing workshop or a kickoff day for your colleagues? Meeting customers? Sitting alone at your desk and pumping those numbers? Interviewing candidates?
In other words: what excites you the most and stresses you out the least?
#5 Waiting for an 'aha' moment
It's not surprising that so many are feeling lost with their lives. After all, our options are pretty much endless and ideally, we'd like to have it all.
Because of this, you may feel stuck and overwhelmed. This may lead to the temptation to procrastinate on taking action.
And because action is scary, it's more comforting to grab a notebook and start drawing mind-maps and pros and cons. The idea is that if you just brainstorm enough, you will finally have a breakthrough.
The problem? You don't have all the time in the world and you can't have it all. The clock is ticking, darling.
In addition, thinking about something and doing it are two very different things. You can think about your dream career as long as you want, but you will never know how it feels until you have tried it.
The solution? Taking action, preferably sooner rather than later.
You will never be 100% sure, no matter how much you brainstorm your purpose. Don't overthink it, just do something. Get your hands dirty, even if it scares you. Time will tell which path is right for you.
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