subject: Considering A Career Change-finding Your Passion [print this page] One of the greatest strengths you can have when it comes to your career is the love you have for the work you do. Learning to "follow your bliss" should be a critical component of managing your career. Some people know from an early age what kind of work will make them happy. For others, nailing down the self-knowledge that leads to career fulfillment comes from a process of exploring interests, skills, personality, learning style, and values.
When it comes to deciding which career field is right for you, it's important to know where your passion lies. To gain a better understanding of the things you are passionate about, you need to take a look at your personal interests, hobbies, and talents, not only at present, but also from your past. It is possible that something you once received a lot a joy from doing in the past when you were a kid is the one thing that you should be doing now.
The following are some exercises that can help you rediscover where your true passions lie.
Exercise 1: Write down each and every thing you enjoyed doing or were interested in when you were a kid. The following are questions to help get you started.
* Did you read a lot when you were a kid or enjoy writing your own stories?
* Did you have a love for animals and enjoy caring for them?
* What games did you like to play?
* Did you like to pretend to be something or someone else?
* What types of places did you like to visit or explore?
* Did you collect anything?
* Did you like staring up at the night sky in search for stars and planets?
* What subjects were you best at in school?
* Was there a particular sport you enjoyed playing?
Look at each and every aspect of your childhood from grade school to high school. Nothing is too silly or farfetched.
Exercise 2: Write down each and every thing you enjoy doing or are interested in when it comes to your life right now. The following are questions to help get you started.
* What are your hobbies?
* Do you do volunteer work? If yes, what do you do and why?
* Do you read a lot?
* What parts of your current job do you enjoy the most?
* Do you love being around and caring for children?
* Do you like teaching people new things?
* What kinds of magazines do you like to read?
* Do you enjoy creating budgets and balancing your checkbook?
* Do you have a love for animals?
Again, look at each and every aspect of your present life. Don't be tempted to censor your answers. Nothing is too silly or farfetched.
Once you have worked through each of the exercises above, you should have a better understanding of the things that are most important to you in your life, as well as the things that bring you great joy. It is somewhere in these things that your passion lies and could very well lead you to a career you can love and be passionate about.
