Your 30s bring a lot of new jazz and bling into your life, but there’s a lot of baggage of your 20s that comes with it. The dawn of your 20s marks the end of your carefree attitude in many aspects of your life.
Finding your passion is a pursuit that knows no age limits. Contrary to the popular opinion that passion should be discovered in one’s youth, your 30s can be an excellent time to explore and uncover what truly ignites your soul.
So, let’s uncover the secrets of how to find your passion in your 30s!
The pressure and implications of not knowing your passion
The phrase “follow your passion” has just become a cliché in today’s world. Everywhere you look, particularly on social media, people post about their journey towards their goals using all the cool hashtags.
It can make you feel like your life has no purpose if you don’t know your passion and that you should be doing something different than what you have been doing in your 20s.
This rat race takes a toll on your overall well-being. While it is essential to have a driving force that gets you going, making your entire life revolve around it is wrong and should never be encouraged.
Baby steps toward rediscovering your passion should be the approach if you want long-term fulfilling results.
Finding Fulfillment in your 30s: Going Beyond 9-5 Jobs and Money
You will find a great majority of people around the world who are bored with their 9-5 jobs and want to try something new and different.
Some are enough to take risks by quitting their jobs to pursue their passion without fearing the consequences.
Finding your passion doesn’t come easy for most people, whether trying to start a new business, switching up your career, or being stuck in a job you don’t enjoy.
However, you must have observed that people nowadays view passion as a means of earning money and see their 9-5 job holding them back from fulfilling their passion.
While this mindset has some truth, your job profile is not the only factor limiting you from pursuing your passion.
Passion goes beyond the race for cool hashtags and trying to be more successful than others. It’s about finding inner happiness and being at peace with yourself, your life balance, and your relationships.
It holds more value than just making money or leading a desirable life.
Passion is a source of finding peace in Turbulent Times
Passion translates into something more meaningful than making more money or leading a lavish lifestyle.
If you think your passion should make you more money than you currently earn, ask yourself, will it remain your passion forever? What if you get bored a few years down the line and want to pursue another passion?
Passion is not about money; it’s more related to your inner peace. It’s about doing something that allows you to be yourself, even when the world is crashing down around you (like the current economic situation worldwide).
Something that keeps you motivated even in the darkest of times. Something that you want to do happily at any given moment.
Some people are lucky enough to find the passion and work balance to pay their bills, but that’s only sometimes the case.
What about those who work in community centers or NGOs that don’t give them recognition or a lot of money? Can you say that they’re not passionate enough?
Self-reflection is the key to unlocking your true calling
If you’re sure that finding your passion is not about making more money but more about adding purpose to your life, look within yourself and self-evaluate.
Ask yourself:
what can you keep doing for the rest of your life and not get bored?
What are the things that make you happy even if you don’t earn much social recognition or money?
Will it give you inner peace?
Is it something you’ve always wanted to do since childhood, or did you recently discover something and want to pursue it?
It doesn’t matter if you’re not good at it. You can improve your skills if you are determined to pursue them for your entire life. Don’t let anything or anyone hold you back.
Be honest with yourself and face your fears because pursuing your passion is about you, not others.
However, saying don’t let your fears dictate you is a cliché, and it’s not exactly a walk in the park to overcome your fears.
It requires deep introspection, but take some time every day to think about it. Who knows, you might find your passion or realize that your current path is the one you always wanted to be on, but you were just lost for a while.
Sometimes, your passion is within you, waiting to be discovered. You don’t have to make or create a passion for yourself.
However, there’s nothing wrong with creating a passion that keeps your motivational drives going forward.
Checklist for discovering your passion
You’ll know that you’ve found your passion when:
- You can no longer distinguish between your work and interests.
- You feel enthusiastic and engaged in what you’re doing.
- You wake up before your alarm and enjoy being awake for your work more than sleeping.
- You work hard and lose track of time.
- You feel proud and satisfied by even the most minor progress.
- You think about your passion as soon as you wake up and before going to sleep.
- You don’t give up easily and strive through any roadblocks.
- You can’t imagine doing anything else other than your present career.
- Making money is no longer your primary focus (unless making money is a part of your passion).
Stepping Out of Comfort Zone
Passion can come naturally to some people, while others need to work to create it actively.
But regardless of how it comes about, having passion in your life can be incredibly rewarding and fulfilling.
If you need help figuring out where to start, don’t worry – everyone has specific interests and things they enjoy.
The key is to explore those interests and find what truly fascinates you.
For example, if you love food, why not try learning to cook? Experiment with new recipes and techniques and start a cooking blog or YouTube channel.
Or, if you are an avid reader, why not try writing? Start with short stories or blog posts and work your way up to writing your novel.
Passion has no boundaries when it comes to age or qualification. You can start at any age and with any level of experience.
There are various online learning sources (Domestika, Coursera, Udemy, and Skillshare) where you can learn or upgrade new skills.
How to find your passion in your 30s?
Here are a few simple steps to help you discover and nurture your passion:
- Identify what interests you the most.
- Explore and research your interests to gain a deeper understanding.
- Learn more about your interests through books, videos, or coaching.
- Practice and repeat until you become proficient.
- Find a platform to showcase your talent, whether it be through a blog, YouTube channel, or joining a group or club.
Step 1: Identify Your Interests
What is it that sparks joy and excitement within you? Is it writing, cooking, music, or something else entirely?
Take some time to reflect on your interests and passions.
Consider what activities you enjoy in your free time and what gives you a sense of fulfillment. It could be anything from cooking to painting, writing, singing, or playing sports.
Write down your interests, and be honest about what excites you.
Motivational Success story
Julia Child, a famous American chef, discovered her passion for cooking at 36. Despite not having any formal training in cooking, she pursued her passion and eventually published several cookbooks and hosted her cooking show.
Image credits: Wikipedia
Step 2: Explore and Research
Once you’ve identified your interests, dive deeper into them.
Read books, watch videos, and research online to learn more about your passion.
Connect with others who share your interests through online communities or local groups.
motivational Success story
Vera Wang, a famous fashion designer, started her career as a figure skater before transitioning to fashion design in her late 20s. She worked in the industry and eventually launched her successful fashion line at 40. Today, she is one of the world’s most prominent wedding dress designers.
Image source: Elle
Step 3: Learn more about your interest
You need in-depth analysis and research to turn your passion into a lifelong pursuit.
Read books, watch videos, or take courses to improve your skills and knowledge.
Consider getting a mentor or joining a community of like-minded individuals to learn from others. Consider all its pros and cons before going for it professionally.
Or if you want to pursue your passion as a hobby or a simple mind relaxing means, there is no need to dig deeper into it.
motivational Success story
Stan Lee, the creator of Marvel Comics, didn’t create his first comic book character until he was 39. He continued to create iconic characters and stories until his passing at 95.
Image source: Wikipedia
Step 4: Practice and repeat until you become proficient
Practice is essential for mastering any skill. Dedicate your time daily to practice your craft and improve your skills.
Make mistakes, learn from them, and keep trying until you become proficient.
motivational Success story
Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald’s, started the fast-food chain when he was 52. Despite multiple failures in his earlier career, he persisted and eventually turned McDonald’s into one of the most successful fast-food chains in the world.
Photo: Bachrach/Getty Images
Step 5: Find a platform to showcase your talent
Once you’ve sharpened your skills, it’s time to showcase your talent to the world.
Start a blog or YouTube channel, join a group or club, or volunteer your time to gain experience and build your portfolio.
motivational Success story
Samuel L. Jackson landed his first major film role at 43. Today, he is one of the most successful actors in Hollywood.
Image source: Wikipedia
Also, J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, was a struggling single mother in her 30s before she wrote her first book. She strived through rejection and setbacks to become one of the best-selling authors ever.
Image source: Wikipedia
Discovering and nurturing your passion is a lifelong journey. It requires dedication, focus, determination, and willingness to take risks.
You can achieve great things and find true fulfillment with a persistent mind. So start today and see where your passion takes you.
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