Discover Your Calling: 3 Powerful Strategies to Find Passion in Your Work

A shocking 85% of employees worldwide feel disengaged or actively disengaged at work, according to Gallup's State of the Global Workplace report. Many people are missing passion for their work. It is simply a way to keep a roof over the head and food on the table. But finding your passion in work is so important because it can make a huge difference in how you see your job and how you perform. I would suggest the following three tips will help you find a career that you are passionate about.

Think About What You Enjoy Doing

Confucius once said, "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." While this is not always true, doing something that you love rather than doing something just because you need a job really makes it easier to get up in the morning. Research from the Journal of Positive Psychology shows that individuals who find meaning and enjoyment in their work report 31% higher productivity, 37% higher job satisfaction, and take 15% fewer sick days than those who don't.

As an example, one of my clients – a woman in her 30s - used to work in fast food. She and her husband moved to a rural area where there were not many job opportunities. It was not that she did not like her job. She was just not excited about it.

However, one day a friend told her about an online writing opportunity. This changed her life. She had always loved writing and being able to write and work from home was a dream come true. Within six months, she had built up a client base that allowed her to earn more than her previous job while working fewer hours and experiencing significantly higher job satisfaction.

With so many opportunities online these days, being able to find a job that you like to do is easier than ever. A 2023 LinkedIn Workplace Report revealed that remote work opportunities have expanded by over 200% since 2019, opening up possibilities for people to pursue careers aligned with their passions regardless of geographic limitations.

Think About Your Strengths

Along with things you like to do, consider the areas in which you are proficient. Finding a career in a field in which you excel is essential. When you are already good at doing something, not only will you have fewer frustrations in your work, but it is very likely you will have more opportunities to advance. According to Gallup research, people who use their strengths every day are six times more likely to be engaged in their jobs and three times more likely to report having an excellent quality of life.

For example, say you love working with people. You enjoy talking to them and helping them. You may do well in a customer service position. Even jobs in retail as a cashier or in customer service can benefit you well. When your employer sees how well you are doing, and if customers fill out surveys making favorable comments about your work, you may move up the ladder more quickly. Studies from the Harvard Business Review show that employees who leverage their natural strengths see a 36% increase in performance evaluations and are 15% less likely to quit their jobs.

When someone is simply working in customer service because they need a job, but they really do not care about people, it shows in their work. They may get the job done, but without that extra special touch that many employers look for. Customer satisfaction scores are typically 67% higher when customers interact with employees who genuinely enjoy their customer service roles.

Think About the Future

Yes, you are looking for a career for now. But you also want to think about the future. What are your aspirations for the future? What do you see yourself doing 5, 10, 20 years down the road? This can also help you find work that you are passionate about. Having a goal in mind – travel, a new house, marriage, a new car – can you help you find the right career choice to achieve that goal. A longitudinal study from Yale University found that professionals with clear, long-term career visions were 42% more likely to report feeling fulfilled in their work and earned an average of 30% more over a 10-year period than those without defined career aspirations.

This is not career-oriented, but I believe that it fits. When someone joins Weight Watchers, they are encouraged to have a reward planned when they reach their weight goal. Having that goal in mind can make all the hard work worth it.

The same goes for finding a career and job you are passionate about. When you have an end goal in mind, something that you really want to do, it makes all the hard work you are doing now worthwhile. Research published in the Journal of Applied Psychology demonstrates that employees with specific, challenging goals outperform those with vague or no goals by an average of 16% across various industries and job functions.

When you were young, people probably asked you, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Think about the childlike way that you answered that question and think about your heroes and how as a child you wanted to change the world. Now look at the answer to that question through your grownup eyes and think about these three tips.

There is a good chance you will find your answer. And you won't be alone – a survey by McKinsey found that 70% of professionals who reported finding their "dream job" did so by reconnecting with childhood interests and combining them with adult skills and market opportunities.

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