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Originally Posted by Catlover  I'm struggling to find what I am passionate about and a purpose for the next chapter of my life. My first career choice was music. One day I said to my teacher that if I didn't succeed in music, I would become a psychologist. He told me that if I could think of anything else that I could possibly do in life other than music, that I would never make it in music. And he was right. After several years of frustration and then becoming a mother, I dropped that career goal and started to concentrate on office experience. I've moved up to a solid career in management, but I am aware that it is not what I want to do forever. I like the theories and study of management, but I have not found the same challenge and excitement in the day-to-day work of the positions I've held. I make an excellent income, but money isn't everything.
I've raised my son as a very active parent, and he's now a teen. I coordinated his professional acting career for a couple of years until he decided to quit last year at exactly the same time that my mother passed away after a lengthy illness during which time I managed her care and provided support. Caring for my son and my mother really gave me my sense of purpose, although my mother was very sick and I knew that she would not improve. In hindsight, it was probably not a good decision to get into a situation where the majority of the stuff that was fueling me was dependent upon others and not myself. I'm not naturally a person who gains energy from caring for others--just those that are very close and special to me. I felt a certain passion for the business of acting that was very energizing.
I realized the other day while reading on this site, but I don't remember exactly what, that I felt that everything I have been passionate about or has given me a purpose disappears but the routine of going to work every day and clocking in the hours never does. Therefore, I am more determined than ever to find something I'm passionate about and can make a lasting part of my life. |
May I ask, what are you passionate about this isn't determined by pre-existing conditions thrust upon you? And in that I mean, think of what cause you would like to pick up that is bigger than yourself. Start with the end in mind, and work backwards, in preparing an organization. Let it start with grassroots, and grow into it's own entity.
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Originally Posted by Catlover Going back to the wise counsel of my music teacher, I wonder if it's true that to be successful at something and truly passionate for it, one cannot even conceive of another passion. I still cannot reach clarity about my passion because I have a number of interests that I like similarly. They include Celtic music, multilevel marketing in the skincare/personal health area, yoga, walking and other exercise, public speaking and Toastmasters, as well as personal growth and the acting business. I've always thought that was a good thing--to have a variety of interests--but now I wonder. So, I'm looking for ways to gain some insight on this subject. One thing I thought about doing was to devote one week (in the evenings after work) to activities related to one "passion" and at the end, rate and compare them. Perhaps a clear winner will appear. I was wondering if anyone else had been in my situation and what worked for them to gain clarity. |
As others have mentioned. I'm of the school of thought that multiple interests don't detract from one another. Sometimes ideas and thoughts can co-exist and allow you greater freedom from which to work. It comes down to individual choice.