Does this come natural? Are we born to know what it is in life we should do? Are we born with passion? Must we search for what it is that excites us? Or do we simply stumble across something during life that gets us pumped?

Probably a combination of all the above, some will find their calling in life earlier than others however whenever you discover it, it is well worth the search.

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” Mark Twain

For some people it seems that they are just born into their passion. It almost appears as if they effortlessly got it given to them.

I am sure that this not entirely the case yet perhaps doorways are sometimes opened and pathways shown for some sooner in life than others. And perhaps this has something to do with their environment they grew up in and their beliefs and attitudes.

I really believe that we all must search for our passion. When we were kids we lived with much happiness and certainly had great excitement about all the things we did. I speak broadly of most childhoods of course.

If I reflect back I realize that during my younger years there were certainly things that stood out more than others.

These are the things I enjoyed.

I liked to write letters and poetry. I like to build things in the sandpit or make stuff out of wood or cardboard. I seemed to enjoy making craft and selling them at school, at the markets or out front of my parent’s shops.

I loved swimming; it was hot so we used to swim a lot. I loved cooking, always beside my mum learning what to do and then at an early age doing it myself. Cooking is like meditation to me.

I loved to play war games, ride my bike, and go bush walking, camping and watch movies. I simply liked to play and hang out with my mates.

This is at least what I remembered from my childhood. Perhaps these are the things that brought me most joy, those that I was most passionate about.

Over time some of these things stuck and some vanished and every now and then they appeared again only to disappear. Not sure why but I think it has something to do with the way society leads us.

We are taught throughout school that we get an education, the higher the better, we get a job, the higher the better, we start a family, we buy stuff- house, cars, stuff, stuff and more stuff and then at some point retire happy and fulfilled and then die. How dare I mention death!

And it is through these actions we forget our passions and not just forget them we miss out on doors that open along the way. Everyday there are countless opportunities that present themselves but most of us are too blind to see them.

We become bound up in life’s demands we forget about us. We stop chasing our dreams our passions. Life just goes by.

We say yes to the man, the boss, the government, the rules and no to ourselves. This shouldn’t be the way.

Screw all that. Time we do not get back. I hear too many stories of senior executives that make it to the top, they earn shit loads of money but to make up for all that they suffer in health, in family, in time to do the things they enjoy.

Lets do something different. Lets break the rules. Lets find another way and create some more meaning in our lives. Lets bring back our passion.

Ask yourself this question, “What do I enjoy doing?” Write it all down. Then figure out what skills you need to learn to do it and importantly what skills you will need to be self sufficient and sustainable.

With these new skills then how can you add value? What value can you bring to the world for reward? Then go out there and do it. Take some steps each day. Nothing comes free! You must endure some pain for gain. The harder the pain the great the gain!

Once you learn it, you begin to live it, you start to give it and things flow and in return you receive back.

The top 5 regrets of the dying taken from an article I read recently by Sussie Steiner were as follows:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.
3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

Don’t you wait until its too late although I believe even for the elderly its really is never too late.

Get creative; get passionate about those things you love to do, find away to do them and to add value to others.

This may mean finding 5 minutes each day outside your current job but the key is to start and keep going. 5 Minutes a day is 30 hours per year, imagine what 30 minutes a day would allow you to achieve. Eventually you may find all that additional effort will free you in life.

Get out of the mundane cubical job working 9 to 5 only to buy stuff you don’t need, getting depressed sipping on cheap wine watching the new season of Big Brother to make you feel better about your own life!

Take responsibility for you life and get happy!