Being a parent is amazing and rewarding and all of that.
But it can also drain away your identity. Suddenly, being a mom who’s knee-deep in dirty diapers or chauffeuring your kids from one activity to the next becomes your personality. And you can’t remember the last time you were passionate about anything other than which brand of diaper cream is the best.
It’s not that the kids aren’t worth it. Of course you’ll give them whatever they need and do whatever you can to help them grow.
But You Also Shouldn’t Forget About Yourself
And that’s not easy. How do you separate yourself from the parenting?
And how do you get back to you? To your passions? To making YOUR life as fulfilling as you make your kids’ lives?
It helps to start exploring, identifying or rediscovering your passion in life.
Wait, are you completely stuck on what your passions are? Then stick around. Because I have some ways to discover your passion up next!
The Lottery Win Strategy
I definitely didn’t create this idea, but it was something I thought of one day while taking a walk. It’s fun to imagine what you would do if you won a huge, life-changing amount of money, right?
So make that fantasy productive.
Imagine you won so much in the lottery that you never have to worry about working or paying your bills again. Then think about your life:
- What would you do?
- Where would you live?
- Who would be around you?
- How would you fill your days?
- Would you start a business? If so, what would it be?
The problem is that money can limit what we think is possible. I don’t have enough extra money to pay for a fancy website to start my business. I can’t afford to go back to college to get the degree I need to make a career change. We can’t pay the bills without my income so I can’t quit the job I hate.
So the financial limitations keep you from acting or even fully realizing your goals and passions. Let yourself imagine without the financial restrictions. Then, figure out what steps you can take now to get closer to that dream life.
Where Does Your Mind Go?
I know as a parent your mind is often filled with the millions of things you have to do. I’m not talking about that noise.
What I’m talking about is where your mind wanders when you have quiet moments. What do you think about before you drift off to sleep? What do you fantasize about when you need an escape from reality?
What’s the one thought or dream that you can’t let go of?
This will likely lead you to your passion or the type of life you want to lead. From there, figure out how you can make that thought a real part of your life.
Looking for a Sign
Have you ever asked the universe for a sign? Like, I really want to do X or I think I might want to pursue Y, but I just need a sign that it’s the right thing to do.
You wanting a sign is a sign.
Let me say that again: YOU WANTING A SIGN IS A SIGN.
It means you know what you really want to do, but you want someone to validate that.
You don’t need validation. Listen to those times when you want a sign. You probably already know what you want.
“Universe, give me a sign if I should start a side hustle so I can eventually quit my job.”
Sounds like it’s time to make time for your side hustle now because that’s clearly what you want to do.
Stop waiting for the sign. Stop waiting for the validation. Take action toward the thing you want to do now.
What Catches Your Attention?
Modern life means you’re constantly bombarded with content. Instagram Reels. TikToks. Posts on Facebook.
Pay attention to the things that draw your attention. If you’re on TikTok, what shows up consistently on your FYP page? Same on Instagram. The algorithm serves up more of what you like, so things can help you hone in on what you’re passionate about.
Whose life seems like a dream? Which influencers are living the life you want? What do they do? What do they talk about?
Look at what catches your attention as a way to discover your passion in life.
Revisit Younger You
Close your eyes and picture yourself as a 5-year-old. Think about how carefree you were. It was so easy to pick a favorite toy or claim someone as your best friend. What things did you love back then?
Fast-forward to you at 10. Then the teen years. College years/early 20s. The time before you become a parent.
What did you love at those stages? What got you excited? What were you good at? What were your dreams? What would that version of you expect that you’re doing right now in life?
It’s easy to lose the “old you” when you become a mom. Discovering yourself now can start by revisiting yourself back then.
Change Your Scenery
Days as a parent can seem like the same thing over and over. You fall into routines that help you survive, especially when your kids are young and need a lot of support.
Staying in that same environment doesn’t do much to spark your creativity.
Schedule time to get out of the house and change your scenery. Go for a walk at a nearby lake. Drive to a nearby town. Take a weekend girls’ trip. Even something as simple as taking a different exercise class than you’re used to or altering your normal walking route can be just enough of a shake-up.
The idea is to change things up. Excite your senses. Experience something new.
It fires up your brain, inspires you and gives you new things to consider.
Take Notes
I think of the best ideas at the most inconvenient times. While I’m driving. In the shower. Just before I fall asleep.
Since I always have my phone handy, I use the notes app to jot down ideas when I get them. (Not while I’m driving though! I wait until I’m safely parked.)
Get in the habit of writing down things that excite you and ideas you have. Then, you can go back and explore those ideas later.
What Are You Good At?
Think about the things that you can talk about nonstop. The things you help people with. The things people ask you for help with.
These could be the basis for your passion. These are the things that get you excited and that you know a lot about. You don’t have to be a professional at something to have enough knowledge to pursue it.
Testing Out Your Passions
While you’re out there discovering yourself and uncovering your passions, you’ll likely come up with several different things you think you like. It’s not always your one true passion hitting you over the head with everything aligning perfectly.
So test out what you’re considering as you go through the ways to discover your passion. Here are some ways to do that:
- Jump right in: If your passion is travel blogging, start writing posts. If you discover a love of painting, start creating. Just try it out even if you’re not fully ready to commit.
- Research: Not sure what’s involved in something you’re considering? Dig deeper with research.
- Ask around: Get to know people who are doing the things you want to do. Ask them questions. Find out the behind-the-scenes stuff that you might not recognize.
- Volunteer: Test out the waters with a volunteer opportunity. It’s a low-commitment way to try out something new before you invest a lot in it.
Most importantly, just make a plan. Make a plan to try new things. Test out the things you think might be your passions.
And don’t ever stop discovering yourself. Finding your passion isn’t a linear journey with a definite end point. Don’t stop uncovering your passions and trying new things.
Leave a Reply