Four Ways to Find Your Passion

Taking myself on a self-discovery trip helped reveal what I loved doing.

Shortly after retiring from the Army, I experienced an unexpected paradigm shift. My loosely crafted post-Army life plan of "just traveling" had been abruptly thwarted. However, I still wanted to "just travel." I used a skill I learned from the Army – how to quickly shift the mindset so it aligns with the “new plan.” Plans often change at the speed of light in the Army. This learned skill was a requirement, not an option. As we grow as leaders, it is expected we assume more responsibilities. Learning how to develop and implement an alternate course of action quickly, is necessary for mission accomplishment. 

Having the time, to reflect and brainstorm on an alternate plan, was welcomed gift. I explored opportunities that allowed me to look at my situation from a different perspective. I used my time wisely. Reframing my thinking and choosing a positive attitude while dealing with this curveball helped me have an impactful personal growth experience. Not only did I discover what I really loved doing, I also found a way to claim it, and develop a business plan. My self-discovery journey revealed an alternate plan of action which now enables me to live my passion.

These four strategies helped me the most during my self-discovery journey:

1) Learning What Actions Trigger Positive Emotions

One day, I spent some time doing a mental review of my military career. Something prompted me to look at my performance evaluations, awards, and other acknowledgements.

I began to pay attention to how I felt as I read the achievements. When it referenced what I did for myself - a high physical fitness score, being selected as the Soldier or NCO Month/Quarter, or earning an academic certificate or degree, etc., I didn’t really feel anything.

On the other hand, when I read something about me motivating, developing, or improving others - "Her actions resulted in the Soldier being removed from the Army Weight Control Program," "She devised a plan to help improve her Soldiers' Army Physical Fitness Test score," "Sergeant Smith successfully prepared her Soldier to appear before the promotion board," etc., it caught my attention and I felt a sense of pride. This same feeling surfaced when reading about a team I led who achieved or exceeded the organization’s goal. It also sparked a feeling of satisfaction.

When I did this "assessment," I wasn’t focused on intentionally finding out what I loved. I was just reflecting. This self-discovery revealed I preferred a servant leadership style more than I thought I did.

Identifying past events that triggers a "feel good" emotion, is a great way to begin uncovering what may lead you to finding your passion.

2) Choosing Core Values that Define Self

Your values should serve as your life compass. Values are guides that keep you on track so you can focus on what matters to you.

While serving in the military, I did my best to live the Army Values and honor the Creed of the Non-Commissioned Officer. I would ask my Soldiers, daily, what behaviors they displayed that were in alignment with an Army Value. My reason was to have them think twice before committing an act that could change the trajectory of their career. Once I began doing this, my negative event-oriented counseling rate was significantly reduced, and I was able to focus on helping them accomplish the mission.

Those values are still fixed in my mind. Your core values help create a picture of who you are. Once I retired from the military, I experienced a brief identity crisis. I was no longer a Soldier reporting for duty. Therefore, I needed to create a new set of core values for my personal life.

I started "value" exploring. I looked inward and began evaluating my thoughts, behaviors, decision-making and interactions with others. This helped me find what was important to me. I then used that information to select the values that defined me.

Taking the time to create a set of values helped me tremendously. I was able to establish my new identity as Tanya Smith. Not Sergeant First Class Tanya Smith, just Tanya Smith.

The internet offers countless tools to assist with identifying, defining, and creating your guiding principles so you can become a better version of yourself.

Establishing your values will help you develop a sense of self and live the satisfying life you are seeking.

3) Creating a Vision Board to Identify Likes and Interests

I remember creating vision boards in the past. However, I never saw the value in them and looked at my designs as just "art projects." I would tuck them away and forgot about them.

One day, I came across a video. Oprah and Steve Harvey were having a dialogue about vision boards. I never saw these inspirational collages as a tool to help me focus on achieving my goals. I listened intently about how vision boards helped them manifest the lives they both desired. Afterwards, I began reading countless articles and viewing YouTube videos on vision boards. The "why" for vision boards became clearer. So, I decided to create a new one. When I finished, I pulled out my other vision boards. The one I just completed had nearly mirrored the previous ones I designed. The difference this time was I knew "why" I wanted these things to manifest in my life.

The vision board activity was a great tool for helping me design and visualize my desired future life. It also identified possible challenges, made me reflect on my limiting beliefs, and prompted me to think of ways on how I could grow myself.

Find your interests and learn YOUR WHY. Learning what is important in your life helps you concentrate on your goals, keeps distractions at a distance, and brings you closer to living your desired life.

4) Getting Out of Comfort Zone and Trying New Things

I rarely shy away from trying something new in a category I am familiar with exploring. Unfortunately, when I want to have an experience outside my comfort zone, my mind quickly releases every limiting belief. It then exaggerates the probability of things going wrong. These thoughts shut down any opportunity for me to experience anything exciting and mind-expanding.

When I decided to retire from the Army, something inside me wanted to finally learn how to swim. For decades, my fear deprived me of participating in any water sports activities. I never researched what caused this fear of water. After sharing my fear level with the swim instructor, he allowed me to move forward at my own pace. The day I swam without any assistance was the most liberating and emotional experience I could ever recall having. I was now at a point where I felt I could face and conquer those fears that hindered me from trying new things. Well, at least that’s what I told myself.

During my self-discovery journey, I had an opportunity to drive a RV from Las Vegas to Seattle - alone. I had been wanting to do a RV trip for the longest. It was even on several vision boards I created, including the one I designed after discovering my "why." I was pumped up and excited about this RV experience. After paying the hefty non-refundable deposit, without warning, my negative thinking patterns appeared. Before I realized what happened, my mind invaded the "perfect vision" I created for this adventure, captured it, and replaced it with every imaginary drama scene possible.

Thankfully my friend quickly jumped in and helped lower my anxiety level so I could rationalize my thinking. I was reminded of how long I had deprived myself of water sports and the decades of fun I missed. I reflected about my awesome snorkeling experience. It happened a few months after learning to swim, because I chose to overcome my fear. Refusing to give my negative thoughts permission to forfeit my deposit, I was able to have the best solo road trip I have ever taken!

I have recognized several benefits from allowing myself to expand my comfort zone- the value of the evaluating lessons learned; opportunities to meet, network, and connect with people globally; developing new interests and insights; and most importantly becoming more courageous in accepting opportunities and challenges.

Committing yourself to trying new things expands your ability to become more creative. It also helps you with discovering who you are and who you want to become. These new things do not have to be large scale, like an adventure trip, for you to experience the benefits. Expose yourself to an unfamiliar genre of music, literature, film or even video game. Listen to a radio station that differs from your preference. Experiment with a different cooking method -baking, roasting, boiling, etc.. It can be as simple as brushing your teeth with your non dominant hand.

The biggest learning curve on this journey was how I developed a foundational sense of self. My positive attitude now controls the pen. Those limiting beliefs no longer have the ability to write bogus stories which kept me from living the life I desired to experience. Giving myself opportunities to increase my level of courage will serve as the fuel I need to keep moving through life’s challenges and uncertainty. I know personal growth and development is a lifelong journey. I now feel better equipped to travel on the road that lies ahead.

What has helped you find your passion? Share your experience in the comments section. I'd love to read your story. Your story may help inspire other readers. I know it could serve as an added resource for me use to help others on their growth journey.