You’ve probably heard it a hundred times: “Do something you’re passionate about.” Right? It’s a common word of advice, and a good one if you have an existing passion. But if you don’t, then you may often hear, “Find your passion.” And that’s also a helpful tip. However, you’re better off realizing now that you can create passion for anything with the right mindset. So why not start pursuing passion rather than trying to find it?

You have to start somewhere.

In order to develop passion for an activity, you have to get involved. Don’t just dip your toes into whatever it is, dive right in! Surround yourself with that activity and learn as much about it as you can. Speak to other newbies like yourself, but also put your ear in the direction of the folks who have been successful in the same endeavors. Read, write, listen, talk, and observe. Fully find yourself immersed in the world of whatever it is you want to be passionate about. After you’ve been in that realm for a while, soaking up everything you can, it’s time to get obsessed.

Let the obsession begin.

Now we’re not encouraging you to start a shrine for whatever you’re passionate about, but it wouldn’t hurt to create a vision board! Creating passion requires you to contemplate the activity constantly. Think middle school love, doodling hearts in a notebook, and listening to love songs over and over … that level of obsession. For you this could look a little different.  

Developing your passion might look more like the following: 

• Thinking of self-improvement methods for personal and professional development 
• Writing notes-to-self about how to increase your productivity 
• Listening to audio files and audio books that revolve around the topic you’re passionate about 

Once you’re on this course, start finding ways to make your passion project a major part of your life!

Practice passion permanence.

Now that you’ve invested a lot of time, energy, and thought into creating this passion, it’s time to make it a permanent part of your life. We don’t mean to make it your whole world, but it should become a significant part of your habits and routines. If you’re a jack of all trades, maybe it’s time to let a few of those interests step aside and make room for this one that you’re passionate about. You don’t have to get rid of your other hobbies entirely, but you may have to downsize them and make room for this new passion to grow. 

Start solidifying a vision for how this passion project will progress over time. Set goals for yourself. Then, take steps to accomplish those goals and set yourself up for success. For instance, if your goal is to meet 10 new people by the end of the month, set a reasonable goal of meeting introducing yourself to three people a week. If that is too easy, increase your goal or change. If you want more of a challenge, aim to create 10 new professional relationships by the end of the month. That will take a bit more effort than just meeting new folks.  Action is how you determine what works and what doesn’t. You can’t pursue passion without trying to come at it from different angles and an open mind. 

To make your passion a larger part of your life, begin surrounding yourself with people who share that same passion. This list features some great tips for increasing your professional connections. As your network grows, you can build relationships with trustworthy people who will help you stay accountable.

Don’t burn out.

Often times, when you’re pursuing passions or building them up from square one, it’s exhausting. If you’re trying something out that you weren’t initially passionate about, it takes a lot of energy and effort to find that passion. But it’s somewhere in there, whether it’s the human connection, the impact you’re having, the quality products you’re endorsing, the places you get to visit, or all of the above.  

Whatever it is you enjoy about the passion you’re pursuing, it’s crucial not to lose that interest and get burnt out. So, just like with any form of exhaustion, it’s okay to take a break! Step back for a bit, reevaluate your path and ensure that your goals still align with your vision, then jump back in. If you’re afraid you’ll lose momentum by stepping back, then just take a half step back. Slow down a little bit. It’s possible that you jumped in at a pace that wasn’t maintainable. Once you find a pace that you can stay at consistently, then continue moving forward.

Do what makes you happy.

No matter your passion, it’s crucial that you always come back to what makes you happy. When you’re on the journey to discover or create your passion, it’s easy to get lost and forget about the things that you truly enjoy. Take note of those activities and check in with yourself to see if you’re doing what makes you happy. Because if you’re not happy, then it’s hard to pursue any sort of passion.

If you’re looking for another way to build upon your passion or fortify it, consider learning how to increase your curiosity. When you question the how and why of what makes you passionate, you’ll find it easier to understand!