Personal Passion: Your ‘Why’ Will Get You Astronomical Success.

Why Your Personal Passion Matters More Than Anything Else

Personal passion. What drives you to get out of bed every morning? If your answer is money, let me stop you right there. There’s no such thing as easy money, no magical shortcut to overnight success. But here’s the real secret: when you truly understand your why – your personal passion – the journey becomes not only manageable but meaningful.

The Harsh Truth About “Easy Money”

The internet is awash with promises of quick wins, low-effort side hustles, and schemes claiming you’ll be rich with just a laptop and a Wi-Fi connection. Sounds tempting, right? Here’s the catch: the lower the barrier to entry, the fiercer the competition. The reality is that success in any field requires dedication, effort, and yes, a fair amount of elbow grease.

So, how do you beat the odds? By leveraging the one thing your competition can’t copy: your personal passion.

Finding Your ‘Why’: The First (and Hardest) Step

Let’s start with this: finding your ‘why’ isn’t always easy. In fact, it’s often the hardest part of any endeavor. But once you nail it down and discover your personal passion, it acts like a compass, guiding you through the inevitable challenges and setbacks. When you’re fueled by genuine passion, you’ll find it easier to:

• Create products that genuinely resonate with your audience.
• Stay motivated even when success feels out of reach.
• Invest time into becoming an expert in your field.

Take this step seriously. Your ‘why’ is the foundation for everything else.

How to Find Your ‘Why’: A Practical Guide

If you’re struggling to pinpoint your ‘why,’ don’t worry – you’re not alone. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you uncover it:

1. Reflect on Your Joys: Think back to moments when you felt happiest or most fulfilled. What were you doing? Who were you with? These moments often hold clues to your deeper passions.
2. Identify Core Values: Write down the principles and values you hold most dear. Do you value creativity, connection, independence, or helping others?
3. Explore Childhood Interests: Sometimes, the passions we’ve set aside as adults hold the key to our ‘why.’ Think about what excited you as a child or teenager.
4. Ask the Hard Questions: What makes you angry? What problems in the world do you wish you could solve? Your frustrations can point to causes that matter most to you.
5. Experiment and Reflect: Try new activities or revisit old hobbies. Journaling can help you process these experiences and identify patterns.
6. Get Feedback: Ask trusted friends, family, or colleagues what they think you’re naturally good at or passionate about. Sometimes, others can see what we overlook.

The Feeling of ‘Why’: How to Know When You’ve Found It

How do you know when you’ve found your ‘why’? The answer lies in how it makes you feel. When you discover your ‘why,’ it often brings a sense of clarity and purpose that cuts through the noise of everyday life. Here are some key feelings that indicate you’re on the right track:

1. Excitement and Energy: You feel genuinely excited to work on your goals, even when the tasks are challenging or mundane. Your ‘why’ fuels your energy, making hard work feel worthwhile.
2. Alignment: Your actions feel in sync with your values and aspirations. There’s a deep sense of “this is what I’m meant to do.”
3. Fulfillment: Achievements tied to your ‘why’ bring you a sense of satisfaction beyond external rewards like money or recognition.
4. Resilience: When setbacks happen, you bounce back more easily because you’re driven by something bigger than immediate success.
5. Focus: Distractions seem less tempting because you’re laser-focused on what truly matters.

If you’re not experiencing these feelings yet, don’t be discouraged. Finding your ‘why’ is a process, and sometimes it takes time to fully recognize it.

What If You Never Find Your ‘Why’?

Not everyone goes through life fully uncovering their ‘why.’ or consciously identifying their personal passion. For some, it remains buried under daily obligations and distractions. But here’s the silver lining: even if you haven’t found it yet, your ‘why’ is always within reach. You just need to create the right conditions to uncover it.

Clues That You Might Have Found It:

1. Time Flies: When you’re doing something tied to your ‘why,’ you often lose track of time.
2. Flow State: You feel deeply immersed and energized, even during challenging tasks.
3. Persistent Thoughts: You can’t stop thinking about it – in a good way. It occupies your mind even when you’re not working on it.
4. Emotional Connection: It evokes strong emotions – joy, excitement, or even tears of fulfillment.
5. Meaningful Impact: You feel like your actions matter and are making a difference.

When these clues appear, don’t hesitate. Pounce on the opportunity and explore it further. Take notes, experiment, and reflect on how it aligns with your values.

The Role of Journaling and Optimal Conditions

Journaling is one of the most powerful tools for discovering your ‘why.’ Writing down your thoughts, feelings, and experiences allows you to process them more deeply and identify recurring patterns. Here’s how to use journaling effectively:

• Daily Reflections: Spend 5–10 minutes each day writing about what brought you joy, frustration, or excitement.
• Prompted Journaling: Use questions like, “What made me feel alive today?” or “What would I do if money weren’t an issue?”
• Review and Analyze: Look back on your entries regularly to spot trends or moments of clarity. Or areas where you’ve noticed a personal passion about something.

Beyond journaling, creating the right environment is crucial. To find your ‘why,’ consider these optimal conditions:

1. Time Out: Step away from the daily grind. Take a weekend off or dedicate an hour a day to self-reflection.
2. Space: Find a quiet, comfortable place where you can think without interruptions.
3. Breathing: Practice mindfulness or deep breathing exercises to calm your mind and center your thoughts.
4. Isolation: Sometimes, solitude is the best way to reconnect with yourself. Take a walk in nature or sit quietly with your thoughts.
5. Supportive Surroundings: Surround yourself with people who encourage self-discovery and growth.

Creating these conditions helps you peel back the layers and discover what truly matters to you.

Childhood and the Purity of Passion

As children, we had an innate ability to focus on the things we truly enjoyed. If we didn’t like something, we simply stopped doing it. There was no need to compromise or convince ourselves otherwise. Our choices were pure, driven entirely by curiosity and joy.

But as we grow older, obligation takes hold. Responsibilities blur the lines between what we want to do and what we have to do. Over time, we train ourselves to like things we don’t truly care about, just to make them bearable. This process dulls our connection to our true passions and can make it harder to recognize our ‘why.’

The good news? You can reconnect with that childlike clarity. Reflect on the activities you loved as a child. Did you spend hours drawing, playing outdoors, or solving puzzles? These early passions often hold clues to your deeper ‘why.’ When you strip away external pressures and rediscover what brought you pure joy, you get closer to your true purpose.

Why You Already Have a ‘Why’

Here’s the truth: you already have a ‘why.’ You may not have uncovered it yet, but it’s there, waiting to be discovered. Think of it as a treasure buried deep within you.

The good news? Finding your ‘why’ doesn’t require you to become someone else or adopt a new identity. It’s about peeling back the layers to reveal what’s already inside.

Your ‘why’ might be:

• A passion for teaching and helping others grow.
• A drive to create art, music, or stories that move people.
• A desire to solve problems, whether big or small.

No matter what your ‘why’ is, it’s valid, and it’s yours. Embrace it.

Why Passion Makes the Effort Worth It

Malcolm Gladwell famously popularized the idea that mastery takes 10,000 hours. That’s a lot of time. If you’re not passionate about what you’re doing, those hours will feel like a grind. But if you care deeply about your work? Those 10,000 hours become an opportunity to dive deeper into something you love.

Think about it this way: passion transforms effort into joy. Suddenly, spending hours perfecting your craft feels less like work and more like play. And when you enjoy the process, you’re more likely to put in the time needed to become an expert.

Passion and Product Creation: A Perfect Match

Let’s get practical. How does understanding your ‘why’ make tasks like product creation easier? When you’re deeply invested in a subject, ideas flow naturally. You instinctively understand what your audience wants because it’s something you care about too. Your passion becomes a superpower that helps you:

• Identify gaps in the market.
• Develop products or services that genuinely solve problems.
• Build trust with your audience because your authenticity shines through.

Why ‘Why’ Is Essential for Longevity

Without a clear ‘why,’ even the best business plans will eventually falter. Passion acts like a fuel reserve, keeping you going when external rewards (like money or recognition) are slow to materialize. It’s what separates those who give up from those who succeed in the long term.

Here’s an example: think about a side hustle. If you’re just chasing trends, you’ll burn out quickly. But if your hustle aligns with your passion, it becomes sustainable. Curious about whether side hustles are right for you? Check out our reality check on side hustles.

Passion in Action: Travel as a Case Study

Let’s apply this to travel. If you’re passionate about seeing the world, your ‘why’ might be to experience new cultures or to grow as a person. That deeper motivation can help you prioritize your travel goals, whether it’s exploring hidden destinations or making the most of trips in your 40s and beyond. For inspiration, take a look at our guide to over-40s travel.

The Role of Experts and Mentors

While passion is essential, it’s not enough on its own. To succeed, you need to combine passion with expertise. Find mentors, take courses, and immerse yourself in your field. The more you learn, the more your passion will grow.

For instance, if you’re exploring new technology, you might want to learn about the rise of AI in Britain. Check out our article on AI in Britain for a deep dive.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Even with a clear ‘why,’ challenges will arise. Here are some common pitfalls and tips to navigate them:

• Burnout: Passion doesn’t mean working 24/7. Set boundaries and take breaks.
• Perfectionism: Don’t let the fear of imperfection hold you back. Start small and improve over time.
• Distraction: Stay focused on your goals and avoid chasing shiny objects.

Ready to Find Your ‘Why’?

Discovering your personal passion is the first step toward building a meaningful, successful life. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it. Ready to take the next step? Explore how uncovering your ‘why’ can transform your journey today.

Sources:

1. Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000-Hour Rule: Gladwell.com
2. Understanding Passion and Purpose: Psychology Today
3. The Purpose Paradox Psychology Today: here
4. The Truth About Quick Wins: Harvard Business Review

Further Reading