It’s easy to read a motivational book or article or blog and feel really motivated. It’s not always easy, however, to turn that motivation into any sort of productivity and here’s one reason why.
Getting the drive and the motivation to get things done is only half the battle. The other half, and I daresay the more important half, is finding out what it is that you want to do. You have to know what it is that drives you.
Picture this scenario: you read some books telling you to produce art, you are inspired and get pumped up to do it, you sit at your computer rearing to go, and then you realize you don’t know what kind of art you want to produce. You don’t know what message you want to deliver. If your next step is to go on to internet for inspiration, you are already lost.
Finding your push is not easy. Not at all. It is something you cannot do without giving it considerable thought, but there’s one other thing, it’s something that can change.
So how do you find it? There’s no right way, but here are a few tips that might help. First, remember that game where you ask “where do you see yourself in five years?” What if we play that but with a new spin. Instead we’ll ask “what are you so interested in now that you know you’ll still be interested in it five years from now?” Write these down. If you can’t think of anything then consider those things that you are interested in now that have the potential to grow into something you’ll love even more in the future.
If you really can’t think of anything, consider things that you are good at. Be honest. Try asking someone who knows you well what they think you are good at. Try asking five people. Write these things down. Writing them is important. Now consider ways you can practice these things in a way you will enjoy and maybe in a way that will eventually be profitable if that is a goal. Doing something you’re good at is motivation unto itself.
Pick one or two of these things and go for it! But don’t throw away that list! If something doesn’t work out or you change your mind about it, pick something else from that list. Keep the list updated too. If you discover new passions add them to the list. Take your time.
Finally, consider writing a list of things you would like to one day accomplish. Write down everything, large or small. Why not get started on one of those things right now. What’s stopping you? Probably nothing, really.
See also this article about how to stop being boring by finding your purpose.
And this post by minimalist blogger Sam Spurlin about finding his own passion.
