But how do I find my passion?   I have heard this question at least a hundred times.  Everyone has heard statements that indicate that you should do what your heart dictates and the money will follow.  So how do you know what your heart dictates? 

It is ok if you don’t know your passion.  You might have had family pressures, obligations, or duties that prohibited your ability to pursue your dreams.  You might have been pursuing your dreams but were told to “grow up”.  By knowing your passions, you are better aware of who you are.  You passion is what makes you happy. 

            Don’t waste your time or money with personality tests or interest inventories.  Yes, they can help but you can hold the answers.  All you need to do is ask yourself a few questions and give yourself the time to answer.  

            Consider why you selected your present occupation.  Did you ‘just fall' into it or were you genteelly pushed into by family/friends.  Why did they think this would be a good fit for you?  Did you like the job?  If so why or why not?  What do you like about it now?

            What courses did you like in school?  What clubs did you join?  Where you active in them?  What appealed to you about them?

 What do you like to read?  What are your hobbies?  What do you when you are not working?  What do you do with your friends?  What are their passions? What do you watch on TV?

If money were no object what would you do?  Where would you go?  Who would be with you?  How would you live?

What charities do you support and why?

You shouldn’t expect to have all of the answers to these questions.  Take your time and reflect on them.  You may want to ask people that know you very well for their opinion.  If you are having difficulties recalling information from your childhood try thumbing through diaries, yearbooks and family albums for clues. 

Still not sure, then say to yourself “I would never do____________.”   Now list the 5 reasons way you wouldn’t do X.  This is not your passion but it is a clue as to who you are and your motivations.  Another tactic is to consider the things that people do for fun that really annoy you.  List the 5 reasons that you find that activity irritating.  Those things might not be your passion but you have a really strong emotional response to them.  The clue to your passion is in the reason for that reaction.

Keep asking yourself questions like these and you will soon have answer