Finding Your True Passion: A Work in Progress

It’s incredibly hard to figure out what your true passion in life is—that one thing you were meant to do but haven’t quite discovered yet. Yes, my use of “meant” is intentional, so you know from the start where I’m coming from. Here I am, over 40 years old, and honestly, I still haven’t nailed down what that one thing is. Sure, I could fill pages with my passions and talents, but what is that one thing that would truly make me come alive and leave a mark?

Google led me to a motivational speaker, hoping it might give me some clarity. But even after listening to him, I didn’t find that sweet spot of inspiration. His points, while intriguing, didn’t fully resonate with me. Let me break it down.

His first point was that when you’re doing what you’re meant to do, you lose track of time—it sucks you in. Well, video games, a good movie, or binge-watching a TV series all do that for me. The second point was that it won’t tire you. Again, gaming fits that description. But his third point—that it will bring you respect—this is where things change. I wouldn’t want anyone knowing I’ve stayed up all night playing video games, so this doesn’t apply to practical adult life. Instead, I find respect in things like analyzing data in Excel, which excites me. I also remember loving to tweak my MATLAB code during my MSc project. My religious routine brings me a sense of satisfaction, and I get excited at the idea of starting a business. But I freeze when it comes to figuring out how to start.

Then there was the fourth point: what you’re made for will free you from the need for monetary compensation. I vehemently disagree with this one. If I’m dedicating my life to something that doesn’t put food on the table, then it’s a waste of time. Whatever I do has to at least cover my basic needs, especially as a head of the family. It might make sense to some, but for me, I can’t get past this. Part of my struggle is that my current job is unfulfilling—both professionally and financially.

His fifth point was that what you’re meant for becomes your identity—what people know you for. In my case, people trust me, even if they haven’t met me in person, and they often come to me to solve problems. My friends and family value my input because they see me as honest. I’m also good at storytelling—my kids won’t go to sleep until I’ve made up a story for them. But none of these qualities have fully become my identity. People still know me based on the context in which we first met.

The sixth point was that you’ll enjoy even the difficult parts of what you’re meant to do. That makes me think of my early talent for fixing computers or gaming consoles—I’d spend hours doing it and feel satisfied afterward. The seventh and final point was that your passion will make you restless, constantly nudging you to pursue it. That’s a tricky one. I dream of starting my own business, maybe a software house that develops games or apps, or even a consultancy firm or an import/export business. But none of these ideas have driven me to follow through to the end.

So, what’s the takeaway? I hope this post resonates with someone. As for me, I’m still trying to figure it out—what am I meant for? What should I pursue? One thing is for sure: I feel like I’m getting closer. Sometimes, you just need to get all the clutter out of your head and take a step back to connect the dots. This is my first blog post, and I hope it helps someone. Until next time, goodbye and good luck.