Finding your passion is hard work. People spend their entire lives doing so. I must admit, I find it a little annoying at times because people talk about it as if passion is out there hiding under a rock. Look hard enough, and one day, you’ll find it. Who are you kidding?
For many people, that day is never going to come because a lot of people don’t have just one burning desire. Most people just have a lot of interests, and that’s completely fine. There’s nothing wrong with you because you don’t have that ONE passion. In fact, to believe that everybody must pursue their one and only passion is to neglect all the little things we enjoy no matter how big or small. Instead of pursuing your passion, I suggest pursuing micro-passions instead.
Micro-passion – (noun) – Something that you are interested in that may or may not align directly with your ultimate goal in life.
I set up a personal challenge for myself for the year of 2016, and that was to learn a new skill every month. This is what I did:
January = Make videos
February = Learn screen printing
March = Write a book
April = The Japanese art of decluttering and organizing
May = Design an art book
June = Learn to sing
July = Learn to swim properly
August = How to deadlift
September = The discipline and confidence to go my own pace in life
October = Photograph a ballet school
November = How to change car oil
December = Learn gyrotonic
Are any of these things my passion per say? No, but they are definitely things that I am interested in and find a lot of joy doing. By the end of the year, I will have learned 12 new skills. Instead of pursuing just one burning desire, by the end of the year, I will have created for myself a multifaceted passion.
Have you been stuck trying to find your passion? Try doing the little things you enjoy instead, and see where it takes you. And if you’re up for it, join me and let’s tackle a micro-passion each and every month.
by Jason Lam