When You Have No Idea What You Want
Let’s be real—if finding your passion was as simple as people make it sound, we wouldn’t have millions of people scrolling through job boards at 2 AM, wondering if “professional dog cuddler” is a viable career option. (Spoiler: it is, but the pay is in tail wags and drool.)
If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve tried to “follow your passion,” only to realize you have no idea what that even means. Or maybe your current passion is lying in bed, questioning your existence while binge-watching shows you don’t even like. No judgment—existential crises are basically a rite of passage.
But let’s dig in. Here’s how to uncover your passion, even if right now the only thing you feel passionate about is hitting the snooze button.
Step 1: Accept That Passion Isn’t a Magical Lightning Bolt
There’s a common myth that passion is supposed to strike you like some divine revelation. One day, you’re eating a sandwich, and BAM—you suddenly realize you were born to be a world-renowned alpaca farmer. (If that’s happened to you, congrats, you’re one of the lucky ones.)
For the rest of us, passion isn’t something we find—it’s something we build. It’s like dating. You don’t just look at someone and instantly know you’ll love them forever (unless they’re holding pizza, in which case, fair). You invest time, explore different interests, and figure out what excites you.
Step 2: Look at What You’re Already Doing (When No One’s Watching)
What do you do when you’re supposed to be “working” but somehow find yourself 15 tabs deep into a weird niche interest? Maybe you research conspiracy theories about how pigeons are government spies. Maybe you doodle random sketches instead of responding to emails. Maybe you rant on Reddit about why pineapple on pizza is a crime against humanity.
Those things might not be your passion, but they’re clues. They tell you what naturally pulls your attention. Follow that thread—there’s something there.
Step 3: Try Stuff (Even If You Suck at It)
The fastest way to find your passion? Do things. Try a new hobby, take a random class, or start a side project. Worst-case scenario, you fail spectacularly and have a funny story to tell. Best-case scenario, you stumble onto something that makes you feel alive.
If you wait until you “feel passionate” before you start, you’ll be waiting forever. Passion is often built through competence—the more you do something, the more you enjoy it. (Except for taxes. You’ll never enjoy that. Sorry.)
Step 4: Follow the “Excitement, Not Just Skill” Rule
Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean you should base your entire life around it. I mean, some people are great at faking smiles in Zoom meetings, but that doesn’t mean they should pursue a career in customer service.
Instead of asking, “What am I good at?” try asking, “What makes me lose track of time?” Even if you’re not great at it yet, that’s a sign you should explore it further.
Step 5: Stop Waiting for Permission
A lot of people don’t pursue their passions because they’re waiting for validation. “What if people think it’s stupid?” Well, what if they do? The world is full of people who love things that make absolutely no sense—somebody out there has a deep, burning passion for competitive cheese rolling.
You don’t need anyone’s approval to start exploring what excites you. If people judge you, let them. They’ll be too busy doom-scrolling their own unfulfilled lives to notice for long.
Final Thoughts: Passion is Overrated (But Meaning Isn’t)
Here’s the truth: you don’t need one single, all-consuming passion to have a meaningful life. Some people are lucky enough to have that, but for most of us, life is more about curiosity than certainty.
So stop obsessing over “finding your passion” and start following your interests. Try things. Make mistakes. Get weird. Passion isn’t found—it’s created. And if all else fails, you can always fall back on being a professional dog cuddler.
At least the benefits are great.