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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, what's the best way to showcase my passion in my college essay.

I want to write an essay that really shows my passion for my chosen field. Any tips on how to convey this effectively without sounding too generic?

It's essential to start with introspection when writing an essay about your passion. Think about specific moments, experiences, or projects that demonstrate your enthusiasm for your chosen field. The more specific you can be, the less generic your essay will appear.

Using a narrative format to share a story about these experiences or how you discovered your passion can also be a compelling approach. Be sure to include personal thoughts, emotions, and insights to make it relatable and genuine.

Show how you've grown and developed your passion over time by including details about your journey, citing any obstacles or challenges you faced and how they shaped your perspective. This insight can help demonstrate your determination and growth in your field.

Last but not least, try to convey your future aspirations and how they align with your passion. Colleges like to see students with a clear vision and understanding of how their interests connect to their long-term goals.

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CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

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Tips for finding your passion.

A club poster.

You hear it often during the college application process: Be passionate.

But what does "passionate" mean?

Passion has to do with much more than applying to college or logging your volunteer hours on the Common App — it requires some tough self-exploration and discovery. While it may feel like you should already be certain of your passions, the truth is that most of your peers are still figuring them out. And that’s okay! You’re not expected to have your whole life figured out before you graduate high school. 

Here are some tips for honing your interests in high school and beyond! 

1. Take your interests to the next level.

Growing up, I was known as the avid cat-lover. I would dress up as a cat every Halloween and (to my parents' chagrin) adopted every stray cat that I found on the street. Sooner than later, my adoration for cats evolved into a care for animals. I convinced my mother to buy me a book on animal emergency room stories at a fair, and that is when I firmly decided that I would be a veterinarian one day. I ended up volunteering at my local animal hospital. It wasn’t a big job or anything: I was just a ten-year-old filing away pet information into folders and feeding the diaper-clad office cat. If I never became obsessed with cats and shadowed a surgery at the animal hospital, I never would have eventually discovered my passion for practicing medicine on humans. So, pursue that interest you have in whatever manner you like. You don’t know where it’ll take you!

Two little girls smiling with a kitten.

My cat Duchess.

The day my sister and I found Duchess, one of my cats! Nalda Pizarro

2. Don’t neglect your “dislikes.”

If you can’t find something you’re interested in pursuing, try focusing on something you don’t like. People tend to know more easily what they don’t like than what they do. For me, that is math. (Especially Calculus.) As a STEM concentrator, I found that you (sadly) can’t avoid math entirely. So I applied to a summer camp where I had to take Calculus and Physics classes the summer before my senior year of high school, and that was the best decision of my life! I ended up meeting the best people in the world, and now I’m taking a class where I use math to understand Biology, my favorite subject. 

Don’t like Physics? Talk to someone who does. Or, try reading Calculating the Cosmos by Ian Stewart. Still don't like it? That’s fine — I don’t consider myself a math junkie either, but I learned to appreciate what math can do. I urge you to look more deeply into the things you don’t like, and try to find treasure in them. 

A card and book.

This is the book my math teacher at the summer camp gifted me!

3. Ignore the haters.

There are going to be people that will aim to dampen your passions. They may think that the path to an acceptance letter is formulaic: a numbered list filled with a set amount of certain activities.

But you are not a resume, you are a human being.

I know firsthand how intimidating it can be to enter a field dominated by people who don’t look like you. And when certain people aggravate those differences instead of celebrating them, you can certainly feel like your passion is unattainable. What helps me in situations like these is to think of how small I am. (Weird, right?) I think of our galaxy, the billions of years that our universe has existed, and how our lives are so infinitesimally small in the grand scope of things. If our lives are so small and unique to us, why not use the time to do what you want? Your passion is yours alone — don’t forget that!

In conclusion...

Let me end on this: You’re not going to solve the mystery of your passion in just four years of high school, or even four years of college. What you can do is never stop trying to find it. You do that by joining that club you’ve been itching to be in, trying out that sport that you’ve never played, or baking that mug cake you saw on TikTok — anything that satisfies your curiosity and makes you happy. Go and be passionate!

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My sister and I hiking. It was so hot that day! Nalda Pizarro

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What's Your Passion?

Research shows that tapping into your life passions can lead to happiness..

Posted June 12, 2017 | Reviewed by Abigail Fagan

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Ever since I was a little girl, my parents told me that when I grew up, I should do what I love and love what I do. Making a lot of money was not a huge criterion for choosing a career or profession.

For some reason, my mother assumed I would be a biology major in college, because she thought I would follow in the footsteps of my grandmother, who’d always wanted to be a physician. However, due to the interference of World War I, my grandmother was unable to fulfill that life passion.

Biology was not one of my strongest subjects, but I made it through my college studies and ended up becoming a registered nurse. I was in this profession for a few years, but all the while I made time to write. Ever since my mother bought me my first box of stationery, followed by my first journal, I knew that writing was an endeavor I loved. I always felt good when I was writing, and that’s how I figured out my life passion.

Passion may be defined as an inclination or desire to do something one likes to do or thinks is important to do. In one of his studies, Professor Robert J. Vallerand (2008) presented a concept he termed the dualistic model of passion. He identified two different types of passion, each having different outcomes—harmonious passion is when people do something because they love it in a controllable and manageable way; obsession passion is when people have an uncontrollable urge to become involved in an activity, and the outcome might not be as favorable.

Psychologists often ask the question: How do people conclude that their lives are worth living? Figuring out our passion is one way to do so, and having a harmonious passion is another way. When my students ask me how they can determine where their passions lie, I often ask them to look back into their childhoods to identify what brought them joy. Many know the answer without much reflection; in many cases, their life’s work is similar to their childhood passion. My next suggestion is to write an essay about what they would rather be doing. This provides great insight into what might bring them the most joy and fulfillment.

We are all in search of happiness , which is so often tied to life passion and doing what we were meant to do. Our passion is what we want to do naturally, not what sounds good or what others want us to do. Passion is the fuel that drives us to get out of bed in the morning; it moves us toward our goals . Sometimes, finding our passion simply has to do with listening to our inner voice and ignoring the noise around us telling us what we should do. It’s also about surrounding ourselves with people who have similar interests, and passions we admire. If we prefer being alone, sometimes it’s best to distance ourselves from others so we can hear our inner voice clearly.

Spanish poet and theater director Federico Garciá Lorca (1998) used the word duende, or life force, to signify a deep passion. Creativity and inspiration pull us toward duende. For the writer, the best art keeps the fire and ecstasy alive within. Lorca says that when the duende comes, it is followed by radical change, a sort of religious enthusiasm. Lorca believes that all the arts—especially music, dance, and poetry—are in touch with duende, basically because they need to be expressed and then interpreted.

In her book Exuberance: The Passion for Life, Kay Redfield Jamison claims that we’ve formulated many words for sadness and sorrow, but few words for having a passion for life. Exuberance, which goes hand in hand with a passion for life, is what compels us to go where we might not normally go. Exuberance brings us to a place where our imagination exists far from common, quieter places. Exuberance is what we feel when we’ve discovered our life passion.

Jamison writes about how John Muir and Teddy Roosevelt were exuberant men who knew early on that their life passion was to preserve nature. She said this about Muir: “He understood nature, felt nature, and then illuminated her to those who did not” (p 17). A huge part of finding one’s passion is sharing that passion with others—as Muir did through his art—in a most contagious manner.

Here are some tips for finding your life passion:

  • Think about when you felt or feel happiest.
  • Think about an activity you love doing.
  • Think or write about your values.
  • Think about what drives your decisions.
  • Do a self-assessment and identify your strengths.
  • Think about your current job and ask yourself, “Do I truly have a passion for it?”
  • Think about subjects you love talking about.
  • Think about what you’ve always dreamed of doing.

Jamison, K. R. (2005). Exuberance: the passion for life. New York: Vintage Books.

Lorca, F. G. (1998). In search of duende. New York: New Directions.

Vallerand, R. J. (2008). “On the psychology of passion: in search of what makes people’s lives most worth living. Canadian Psychology. 49 (1). pp. 1–13.

Diana Raab Ph.D.

Diana Raab, MFA, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, educator, and survivor. She’s written nine books of nonfiction and poetry, including the recent Writing for Bliss and Writing for Bliss: A Companion Journal.

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Essay on My Passion

Students are often asked to write an essay on My Passion in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on My Passion

Introduction.

My passion is painting. It’s a unique form of self-expression that allows me to create my own world on canvas.

Why Painting?

I love painting because it provides a platform for my imagination. With every stroke of my brush, I can bring my thoughts to life.

Impact on Me

Painting is therapeutic for me. It helps me to relax, reduces my stress, and gives me a sense of accomplishment when I finish a piece.

In conclusion, painting is my passion. It’s more than a hobby, it’s a part of who I am.

250 Words Essay on My Passion

Passion is often the driving force behind success and happiness. It ignites the fire within us to push past boundaries and strive for excellence. My passion is not just a hobby or a pastime, but an integral part of who I am: a fervent love for technology and its potential to transform the world.

The Genesis of My Passion

Growing up in the digital era, I was always fascinated by the endless possibilities technology offered. This fascination soon turned into a passion when I wrote my first line of code. The sense of accomplishment I felt was unparalleled, sparking a desire to delve deeper into the realm of technology.

The Impact of My Passion

My passion for technology has shaped my life and career choices. It led me to pursue a degree in Computer Science, where I have been able to explore different facets of technology, from coding to artificial intelligence. This passion has also allowed me to contribute to society by developing solutions for real-world problems.

The Future of My Passion

Looking ahead, I see my passion for technology continuing to grow and evolve. I aim to use it as a tool to drive innovation and positive change, leveraging its potential to solve complex global issues. My passion is more than just a personal interest; it is a commitment to using technology to create a better future.

In conclusion, passion is a powerful motivator that can lead us to achieve great things. For me, technology is not just a field of study or a career, but a passion that fuels my curiosity, creativity, and desire to make a difference. It is a journey of continuous learning, growth, and innovation, and I am excited to see where it will take me next.

500 Words Essay on My Passion

Introduction: the awakening of passion.

Passion, a profound, intense emotion, is the invisible force that drives us to commit ourselves to particular activities, ideas, or fields. It is the spark that ignites the flame of our deepest interests. My passion, which I discovered during my early teenage years, is for technology and computer science.

Unveiling the World of Technology

My fascination with technology began when I received my first computer. I was awestruck by this machine’s ability to execute complex tasks at a lightning-fast speed. As I delved deeper into the world of technology, I realized that it was not just about the hardware or the software but about the potential to create, innovate, and transform the world. This realization was a turning point in my life; it was the moment when my interest in technology transformed into a passion.

The Journey of Learning

I embarked on a journey to learn more about the intricacies of computer science. I started with basic programming languages and gradually moved to complex ones. With each line of code I wrote, I felt a sense of accomplishment and a growing desire to learn more. The more I learned, the more I realized that computer science is not just about coding; it’s a way of thinking and problem-solving. It’s about developing algorithms to make life easier and more efficient.

Challenges: The Fuel to My Passion

The journey was not always smooth. There were times when I felt overwhelmed by the complexity of the problems I was trying to solve. However, these challenges only fueled my passion. Each obstacle was an opportunity to learn something new, to push my boundaries, and to come up with innovative solutions. These challenges taught me resilience, patience, and the importance of a growth mindset.

Impact and Future Aspirations

My passion for technology has not only shaped my academic choices but also my career aspirations. I aspire to use my knowledge and skills in technology to create innovative solutions that can address some of the world’s most pressing problems. I want to use technology as a tool to bridge gaps, create opportunities, and make the world a better place.

Conclusion: The Power of Passion

Passion is more than just a strong interest or hobby; it’s a commitment to pursue something with all your heart and mind. It is the driving force that pushes you to go beyond your comfort zone and explore new horizons. My passion for technology has shaped my life in countless ways, and it continues to inspire me to learn, innovate, and create. It is a reminder that when we pursue what we love, we not only find joy and fulfillment, but we also have the potential to make a significant impact.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

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Why Following Your Passions Is Good for You (and How to Get Started)

Whether you plan to turn your hobby into a career, or just use it as a release valve for the stresses in your life, here’s how to find time for a little self-care.

find your passion essay

By Lizz Schumer

Before Andrew Rea started his popular “ Binging With Babish ” YouTube channel, he could barely get out of bed. Today, he credits the show, which inspires its three million subscribers to make their favorite “as seen on TV” dishes, with saving his life .

In 2015, six months before starting the channel, Mr. Rea, a former visual effects supervisor, was overcome with depression. But by combining his passions for food and filmmaking, as well as seeking professional help, he rediscovered how using those passions could lead to a rewarding career.

“Even if it hadn’t become my career and completely changed my life, the late nights spent tinkering after work would’ve been worth it,” Mr. Rea said. “I was cooking again, I was filming again, I was happy again.”

Whether you’re looking to cultivate a hobby as a professional steppingstone, or just to feel more fulfilled, extracurricular activities carry measurable benefits. And even if you don’t have a passion that really stokes your flames, there’s hope for you, too.

Pursuing your passion makes you feel good

Mr. Rea’s experience isn’t atypical . A 2015 study published in The Annals of Behavioral Medicine found that pursuing your passion both lowers stress and contributes to greater happiness over all. Researchers found that participants who engaged in hobbies were 34 percent less stressed and 18 percent less sad during the activities, as well as for some time after.

Laura Vanderkam , a productivity expert, advocates finding time for yourself as a means to greater happiness over all. “Life just feels better when you have things in your hours that you want to do,” Ms. Vanderkam said. “There’s moments where time almost has no meaning because we’re so happy about what we’re doing. The more time you can spend in that zone, the better life feels.”

Finding the time to get into the zone

We’re all busy. Whether we’re juggling demanding careers, family life or both, most of us feel as if we can’t cram anything more into our schedules. But Ms. Vanderkam wants to dispel that idea. “When you say you don’t have time, what you’re really saying is, it’s not a priority,” she said. While there are definitely moments in which we legitimately don’t have time to spare, most of us can find a little time if we know how to look.

To figure out where extra time lives in your schedule, she recommends thinking of time in weeks, rather than days. A week “is really the cycle of life as people actually live it,” she said. Each week is made up of 168 hours. If you work 40 hours and sleep eight hours each night, that still leaves 72 hours . “Maybe you can carve out a few hours of really fun, cool stuff per week. That will make the other 165 hours that are in a week feel a lot more doable,” she explained.

To do that, Ms. Vanderkam recommends tracking a week of your life. Write down everything you do in half-hour blocks or use these apps recommended by Wirecutter , the New York Times company that reviews products. You may be able to find some wiggle room, especially in those couple of hours before bed most of us spend hitting “next” on the TV queue.

Hack your free time

Once you find those free hours, it’s all about using them effectively and motivating yourself. Going to bed an hour earlier a couple of nights a week might allow you to get up an hour sooner and use that time. If you have children, consider trading “free days” with a friend or neighbor, switching off kid duty for a few hours on the weekends. It may feel like you’re trading your precious “free” time for another item on your to-do list, but a pet project you’re passionate about is probably better than Netflix, and one that’ll leave you feeling more energized and rewarded.

“When you did activities as a kid, they were often built in — there was an adult forcing you to go,” Ms. Vanderkam added. “As an adult, you’re fully responsible for that. Many people find it easier to let go of promises they make to themselves.”

Whereas Mr. Rea has millions of subscribers waiting for him to drop a new video, most of us don’t have anyone relying on us to write those pages, paint that picture, or get into downward dog. Sometimes we all need a little external motivation.

“Turn your passion into an obligation,” Ms. Vanderkam advised. “If you want to take up woodworking, take a class. If you’ve paid for it, you’re more likely to show up.”

Set expectations to pre-empt procrastination

If you’re prone to procrastination, start small and specific. Maybe you want to hone your cooking skills, but take one look at the cupboard and end up ordering in. Procrastination often happens when we get overwhelmed and stall before we even start. “Taking very small steps is key,” Ms. Vanderkam said. “If you take small steps repeatedly, they really do add up.”

Knowing your road map is also essential, especially if you want to turn your passion into a career. Make a mental picture of where you want to be in five years, then work backward. “People often overestimate what they can do in the short term and underestimate what they can do in the long run,” Ms. Vanderkam explained. “Say, I’m going to do just three things today. That’s 15 things per workweek; that’s 750 things in a year. If you do 750 important things in a year, that’s a pretty good year.”

No passions? Cultivate skills instead

While hobbies both enrich our lives and can turn into rewarding careers, those of us who don’t have a particular obsession aren’t hopelessly out of luck. Instead, cultivate skills that will give you a leg up in your field. We all carry a “toolbox” to work in the form of specific abilities that make us better at our jobs. Some experts say leveling up on some of these will improve your job satisfaction more than initial enthusiasm ever will.

Cal Newport , a Georgetown professor and the author of “So Good They Can’t Ignore You,” says the idea that you will find success in your career if you just follow your heart is a false assumption. First, that advice assumes people have a passion to follow in the first place, which isn’t necessarily true. And there’s no real evidence that feeling, on its own, leads to fulfillment.

Instead, Dr. Newport recommends cultivating skills within your current framework. “As you get better at things that are very valuable, you acquire more career capital,” he said. “It is this career capital that you can then turn around and invest into your career, to get things that makes it a deeper source of meaning, passion, or satisfaction.”

Just like pursuing hobbies, this takes personal initiative. “It is not enough to just learn about something; it’s also not enough just to do something a lot,” Dr. Newport said. “You actually have to deliberately practice the skill, which means you have to stretch yourself beyond where you’re comfortable, if you’re going to actually improve.” He recommends thinking about these skills as a professional musician thinks about hers, and pursue more and more challenges accordingly.

Working on yourself makes you the best possible you

Whether you engage in a hobby for its own sake or as a career driver, self-improvement is a win-win.

“If you open yourself to new experiences by gradually stepping outside your comfort zone, you can find the things that truly make you happy,” Mr. Rea explained. “And whether those things become hobbies or your life’s work, pursuing your passions can give you a renewed sense of meaning and accomplishment.”

We can all use a little more of that, regardless of where we find it.

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What is Your True Calling in Life? How to Find Your Passion

Some of the most important questions that you ever ask yourself on your journey through life are, “Why am I here?” “What do I really, really want in life?” “Where am I going?” “If I achieve all my goals, what would it look like?”

The most successful people are invariably those who spend the most time thinking about who they are and where they are going. They then constantly evaluate and re-evaluate their progress in light of who they are and what they really want.

To have a fulfilling life, you must find your passion . Today, I want to show you how special you are, identify some things that may keep you from finding your passion , and give you 10 steps to find your true calling and more fulfilling life.

You Can Do Amazing Things

The starting point of great success is for you to realize that you are truly extraordinary!

There has never been anyone in the entire universe just like you. You have remarkable abilities, skills, aptitudes, insights, and ideas that make you different in important ways from all other people who have ever lived.

You have the capacity within you, right now, to accomplish more than you have ever dreamed of in the past. You are engineered and designed as a “success organism,” endlessly attracted to doing more and more of the things that will bring you more and more of the success and happiness that you want.

Clarity Leads to a More Fulfilling Life

The one common characteristic of the most successful men and women is clarity. They are absolutely clear about what they stand for and believe in and where they are going.

And you must achieve this clarity as well.

What is your “heart’s desire?” It is defined as the one thing that you and you alone were put on this earth to do. It is that something special that you are uniquely suited to do in an excellent fashion.

Your job throughout your life is to discover your heart’s passions. It is only then that you will be truly happy, completely successful, and totally fulfilled. What is yours?

What Keeps You From Finding Your Passion?

Many things keep human beings from finding their true passions in life. One of the most significant is day-to-day life. Life’s responsibilities and our routines can leave us with little free time to explore the things we are passionate about.

Procrastination can also keep you from taking action. You may think “someday” I’ll pursue what I really want to do in life. But someday can only come when you set goals and make a plan.

You might also let negative thoughts keep you from exploring new opportunities. For example, you might not believe you have a special skill set or the ability to make new and exciting things happen. But this simply isn’t true. A positive, open mind can be the key to unlocking your future.

Staying in your comfort zone also deters you from finding your passion. While it can be scary to venture into uncharted waters, discovering what you are passionate about will bring you a more fulfilling life. The key to success is to focus our conscious mind on things we desire not things we fear.

A limiting mindset can convince you that finding your passion is not important. It may seem like living day to day life, working a job, and having a few hobbies is enough. However, this can leave you feeling stuck and less than passionate about life.

You might also feel like you’re being selfish to pursue your passions when others like family and friends need your time and care. Being your best self, however, will help you give more to the people you care about.

How to Find Your Passion

You were put on this earth to do something wonderful with your life. Your job is to find out what that wonderful thing is and then to throw your whole heart into doing it extremely well.

Your life may have a single purpose, like that of Mother Theresa of Calcutta who devoted her life to helping the poor. Or, your life may have multiple, sequential purposes, one after the other as you evolve and grow and develop into a higher and better person.

Whatever your life purposes are, it is passion that leads to a fulfilling life.

Discover how to find your passion and lead the most fulfilling life possible with the following 10 steps.

Understand What Being Passionate Looks Like

When you are passionate about something, you are excited to do it, even if it is difficult or doesn’t bring you a lot of money or notoriety. When you find passion, you will know it because:

  • Time seems to fly by and you easily lose track of time when you are doing it.
  • You look forward to doing it, including going to work, and you feel excitement when you think about it.
  • You don’t mind putting in the time or effort it takes to accomplish what you are trying to achieve.
  • It just feels right in both your head and heart, you feel fulfilled, and your well-being is improved.
  • You feel a sense of purpose as you pursue your passion.

When you look back on your day, the high points are likely what you are passionate about.

Identify Your Core Values

The next step to take to find your passion is to recognize what you value most in life. What things matter most to you and do you consider essential to you?

For some, core values may be serving family, having joy, being loyal, or spending time with friends. You may feel it is imperative for you to make a difference in the world or be faithful to your spiritual or religious beliefs.

Having fun and keeping humor or positivity in your life can be a core value. Or you may feel compelled to create through art, writing, dance, inventing, speaking , acting, or other means to feel truly fulfilled.

Additional values include compassion, dependability, love, humility, honesty, kindness, selflessness, integrity, curiosity, fairness, hard work, peace of mind, optimism, stability, and many more.

To help you identify your core values, which will lead you to discover your true passions, ask yourself these questions:

  • What is important to me?
  • Which values will I not compromise?
  • What tangible things do I not want to live without?
  • Who are the most important people in my life?
  • Who do I most admire and why?

Rank Your Top Human Needs

Similar to your core values are your needs as a human being. Psychologist Abraham Maslow’s classic definition of basic human needs is ranked in order from fundamental physical needs to higher-order inner fulfillment needs:

1. Physiological needs

Breathing, food, water, shelter, clothing, sleep

2. Safety and security

Health, employment, property, family, social stability

3. Love and belonging

Friendship, family, intimacy, connection

4. Self-esteem

Confidence, achievement, respect from others, need to be unique

5. Self-actualization

Morality, creativity, spontaneity, acceptance, achieving purpose and inner potential

As you read this list, notice the needs that resonate with you. What stands out as essential to your joy? These are the things you are passionate about.

Make Your Bucket List

The next step to finding your passion is to make your bucket list.

Most people dream of things they hope to do before they die. This is their bucket list, those things they look forward to in the future that will make them feel they’ve lived complete lives.

Discover what your bucket list is by asking yourself what you have always wanted to do. If money, risk, time, and responsibilities were not issues, what would you do right now that you feel passionate about?

Find your passion by identifying your “someday” items.

Decide How You Want to Be Remembered

Now, imagine you have lived your life and the people who have known you are talking about you or thinking of you. How do you want them to remember you? What are the most important things you hope they will say about you?

Imagine yourself in your 90s. What do you want your own memories to be? What regrets would you have if you reached the end of your life — whether that is soon or later — but left something undone?

These important questions help you figure out and become more aware of your true passions.

Learn More About the Things You’re Interested In

By looking at the lists you have made so far, you should have a good idea of what your passions are. What are the items you find yourself repeating as you identify your interests, core values, human needs, bucket list, and important memories?

These are your true passions. Now, find out what it would take to do them.

Talk to others who are already doing these things and get their advice. Observe how they lead their lives. Do you research online. Get a mentor to help you. Put your free time to good use by learning more about your passions.

If you feel a new job will help you find more joy, for example, read job descriptions or talk to a career coach to get a better idea of the educational requirements or other experience you will need to make a change.

Discover what you need to do to not only find your passion but follow it and make it happen.

Make a Plan

All great accomplishments begin with a goal, and achieving your goals requires a plan. People with clear, written goals, accomplish far more in a shorter period of time than people without them could ever imagine.

Determine how you will incorporate what you are passionate about into your life. This will likely require some changes to your day to day life, how you spend your free time, and what you focus on.

If spending time with your children, friends, family, or loved ones is your passion, add this to your daily or weekly schedule. Set aside time that is only for them and stick to it. Remind yourself to listen with care and focus when they are talking. Be aware of creating good memories with them.

If you are passionate about writing comic books, a novel, or your autobiography, get the advice you need and plan to spend time on your interests.

If you want to start a business, explore new career paths, find a more fulfilling job, or become a public speaker , write out a plan of how you will do this. If it means transitioning from your current job, do it responsibly.

Take Action

Now it is time to move beyond thinking about how to find your passion and do it.

You will know your passion when you try it and it feels right. When you take action on your passions, you will have a better understanding of what your passions truly are.

Most people who spend time on their true passions find they learn faster because they are excited to understand a specific subject, pursue an interest, learn a new task, or develop a talent.

To take action requires you to get out of your comfort zone, but the effort of pursuing your passion is worth it.

Surround yourself with people with a similar passion. Add it to your schedule. Create momentum by starting now.

Challenges will come any time you strive to make a change or do something important. You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you.

Expect the challenges, welcome them, and persevere through them. As you do, you will begin to notice that the results are worth the efforts.

Anyone who has ever accomplished something great has had to persevere through times of doubt, adversity, setbacks, and even ridicule.

Basketball legend Michael Jordan is an excellent example of persevering through failures to achieve great success. He says, “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

Steve Jobs is another famous example of the power of perseverance. His first Apple computer was a huge failure and had to be recalled. But if he had not persevered beyond that point, he would have amassed a net worth of $25 million by the time he was 25 nor a lifetime net worth of $10.5 billion.

Develop your interests, pursue your passions, and persevere through your challenges. You have within you right now, everything you need to deal with whatever the world can throw at you.

Bring Passion to Everything You Do

Finally, realize that regardless of where you are in life — whether you are pursuing your passion or going through your normal routine — you can bring passion to the things you do.

This includes your job, career, hobby, and day to day tasks.

Whatever you are doing, do it with excitement. Be present in the moment. Practice mindfulness and choose your attitude.

Passion can be part of your life every day through the conscious choices you make.

How to Find My Passion: Next Steps

Finding your passions is sometimes related to your career, interests, hobbies, and talents, but it also extends beyond these. By going through these steps, you can come closer to identifying your passions.

One of the most important steps to fulfilling your passions is having a plan. To help you get started, I invite you to download my free Personal Development Plan Template to map out your success and achieve the joy you deserve.

And remember, it doesn’t matter where you are coming from. All that matters is where you are going.

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About Brian Tracy — Brian is recognized as the top sales training and personal success authority in the world today. He has authored more than 60 books and has produced more than 500 audio and video learning programs on sales, management, business success and personal development, including worldwide bestseller The Psychology of Achievement. Brian's goal is to help you achieve your personal and business goals faster and easier than you ever imagined. You can follow him on Twitter , Facebook , Pinterest , Linkedin and Youtube .

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Home / Essay Samples / Life / Emotion / Passion

Passion Essay Examples

Tell me about yourself: my passion, character and personal growth.

Hello, my name is John and I'm excited to write a "Tell me about yourself" essay that was given for students as a homework task. To begin, I was born and raised in a small town in the Midwest, but I've since moved around quite...

Why I Like Swimming: Exploring My Passion for the Sport

Swimming is not only a way to stay in shape, but it is also an activity that can be enjoyed by individuals of all ages. As I grew older, my love for swimming only increased. It became a way for me to clear my mind...

The Importance of Following Your Passion

Have you ever felt that your life was shaped by someone’s dream? But what if living somebody’s dream is not that bad after all? That even though you’re ok and glad about whatever decisions were taken those decisions were not yours. Well, I have experienced...

My Passion Towards the Study in the Field of Developmental Psychology

I have always felt a strong desire to understand how individuals are affected by certain disorders and experiences - in particular, how developmental disorders such as autism can affect behaviour, communication and social functioning. Having a brother diagnosed with autism at the age of five,...

My Passion for Painting and Its Role in My Life

Growing up, I was a very basic child. You could learn a lot about me from a quick glance in my closet. You’ll find no clothes, but shelves filled with motorized Lego kits, fantasy books, model rockets and remote control cars. I had the simple...

Analysis of My Level of Grit, Perseverance, and Passion

A basic definition of grit would be “having passion and perseverance for long-term goals.” Passion means to have the ability to have stamina, and sticking with your future day in and day out for years and working really hard in order to turn your future...

Analysis of Maternity Mandates Passing to Gauge the Reaction of the Labor Market

This article written by Jonathan Gruber on American Economic Review determines the incidence of mandated maternity benefits. This paper is interdisciplinary of public, labor and health economics. Until 1970s insurers treated maternity with previous conditions and inabilities. Maternity Mandates were enacted by few states and...

Jane Eyre: the Importance of Balance Between Logic and Emotions

In a few months, my life will be changing completely. I will no longer be surrounded by the same people I’ve grown up with and I will no longer have the same support by my side to give me the push that I need from...

Defining the Relationship Between Passion and Reason

When it comes to life there are things people do because it is their passion, they fall in love with that thing, embrace it and seek to help it grow. There are strong feelings for that thing. On the other hand there is reason. Things...

The Power of Passion and Perseverance

This book was recommended to me by a Fund Manager of a VC fund that I had done due-diligence for, called Grit Lab VC. One of the 2 Fund managers had been working in the VC field for more than 25 years and has worked...

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