Finding Your Passion

Digging back into the past and moaning about missed opportunities is of little use. We’ve all got a black book full of them. But if we continue to regret over all those squandered moments, chances are that we will miss even more.

Life always gives us a second chance. It’s called tomorrow. Mistakes are not definitive. It is never too late to make a change.

If there is one lesson, this is it. Whatever happened in the past, bury it there. The good, the bad and the ugly. Done. Dusted. Finito. But now is the opportune moment. Now is the time to take that leap of faith forward.

But in order to make the leap, most of us will need some kind of incentive. Guess what? Inspiration is all around us - in nature, a book title, movies, songs, sermons, or people. Sometimes, it may come as a push or a shove. At other times, a royal kick in the backside does it quite well.

Which brings me to Dead Poets Society.

In the movie, an unorthodox English teacher, John Keating, inspires his students to embrace their individuality and "seize the day." He teaches them the power of poetry and imagination. Drums into them the dangers of conformity. Inspires them to take responsibility, and living lives to the full. It ends on a bittersweet note - a tragic outcome for one of his students and Keating's own dismissal from the school. But the hard lessons learnt will remain with them for life.

Although released in 1989, the movie only made sense 7 years later when I was in my mid 30s. Strange is life. Timing is everything. Seems as if it was destined to happen at that point in my life. My friends were in their 20’s to early 30’s. All of us were at some crossroads in our own lives. Predictably, the movie had a profound impact on us, and reignited the fire of our dreams.

We talked about life, devoured books, engaged in outreach programs, rocked at a Deep Purple concert, and even went for a couple of spiritual retreats together. These moments marked a turning point for us. Each one seized his own day - career, marriage, vocation, or moving in search of greener pastures, driven by passion and taking ownership of our dreams.

Fast forward 30 years, I quit my technical job in the energy sector for an administrative role in a seminary. It was a complete 180° turn - a leap of faith, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity when it arose. Though I didn't have a clue about this new role, taking the leap was the only way to make it happen.

Over the course of the next three and a half years, I plunged into an alien environment. I had to attend finance meetings, oversee plumbing issues and students affairs. Liaised with banks, lawyers, and auditors, negotiated contracts, and managed renovations. In addition, there was law and order, politics, and government agencies to deal with. Helped implement an environmental management program and even had the opportunity to host a foreign dignitary.

Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? All it took was to step outside my comfort zone. These were a new set of skills I’d learnt, stacked on top of what I already knew. To get something new, you have to let go of something else. You cannot have your cake and eat it too.

Do you feel like something is missing in your life, but unsure what it is? Maybe you feel unfulfilled in your career or personal life, or you're just going through the motions without any real purpose. If this sounds familiar, it's time to find your passion.

So what is Passion? And why is it so important? In a nutshell,

1. Passion is the fuel that drives purpose.

2. Passion is the key that unlocks the door to your destiny.

3. Passion is the difference between a job and a career, between a pay check and a purpose.

4. Passion is not a feeling, it's a commitment to excellence.

5. Passion is the fire that ignites your dreams and fuels your determination to make them a reality.

Here Are 5 Steps to Discover Your Passion

Step 1: Dream Big

What are your big dreams?

Grab a pen and paper. Give yourself 1 minute. Quickly and without thinking too much, list all of those dreams you've had from childhood to today. No matter how wild or funny, just write them all down, fast and furious style. Stop when the minute runs out.

Looking at the list - which of those dreams resonates most? Which inspires you the most? Your dream doesn't have to be outrageous. It just needs to be big enough to push you out of your comfort zone. You need to want it.

Example: Starting a successful business

Step 2: Set Goals

The next step is to set goals. Your end goal is what you want to achieve; your dream as in Step 1.

For example:

Developing a business plan, securing funding, building a team, launching your product or service, and achieving a specific revenue target.

Keep it simple.

Step 3: Plan Your Way

Now that you know what you want and need to achieve, it's time to plan what you need to do to get there. Think about what action you need to take, resources you will need and anything or anyone that can provide help and support.

For example:

If your big dream is to travel the world, your plan might include saving money, researching destinations and creating an itinerary, obtaining necessary travel documents such as passports and visas, booking flights and accommodations, and considering travel insurance to protect yourself and your belongings.

Step 4: Take Action

You know what you want, how you can achieve it and the steps to take. It's time to take action. Remember you are driven by your passion. One that fills you with excitement, joy and success.

For example:

If your dream is to run a marathon, create a training plan, join a running club, and hit the pavement. Done, simple.

Step 5: Live Your Best Life

Take action on your goals and watch your life transform! Each day will bring joy and anticipation as you live your passion and purpose.

In all, I spent three and a half years at the seminary. However, the restlessness persisted. I had had enough of a full time 9-5 job. The Covid 19 pandemic taught me that things could not remain the same anymore. So I quit at the end of my contract.

Financially, we were stable, not well off enough for a full retirement but we could survive for a couple of years. More than that, I needed peace of mind over anything else. So I took another leap of faith.

I took a year’s “sabbatical” at the end of which I decided to pursue my deepest passion: writing and publishing. It seemed the opportune time. This newsletter is a stepping stone to building an online business together with my son. We have a few other projects in the pipeline as well.

There is no guarantee of any success, if at all. I can still fall flat on my face. But heck, I only have one life to live. Might as well live it to the full. It's amazing how much my perspective has changed. Quitting one thing is just the start of another. Obviously, the old tank still has some petrol left in it!

If you are really keen to change your circumstances, you need to take a chance on yourself and commit to it. Everything else stems from this. Life's too short to not pursue your passion. Keep striving and thriving!

To conclude, here’s a quick recap:

5 Steps To Find Your Passion:

1. Dream Big

2. Set Goals

3. Plan Your Way

4. Take Action

5. Live Your Best Life

Thank you for reading, I really appreciate it.

Till next time.

Jude