Rediscovering My Passion: Embracing the Journey Within

"Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you." - Oprah Winfrey

For the past three years, I've been navigating the tumultuous waters of what I suspect is a form of a mid-life crisis. Having got to the ripe old age of 44, I feel the need to figure out what makes me come alive. From immersing myself in various hobbies to exploring an array of career paths, and engaging in countless soul-searching conversations, I have started to leave no stone unturned in my pursuit of understanding what makes me happy and crucially feeling fulfilled in my life.

What I quickly realised as I was contemplating this the other day is that our true passions are not external treasures waiting to be discovered but rather internal treasures waiting to be remembered. It’s incredible how much our upbringing can impact on our psychology and crucially how we conceptualise fulfilment and happiness. In my case, I was raised largely by my grandparents who guided me with firm principles to do the right thing, to try to help others and to pursue our ambitions no matter how bold they may be. I can’t say I was fascinated by business at a young age, my family certainly had little interest in it, but I think I became interested by business and especially entrepreneurship when I was 16 – 18, the time in the UK when we do our A-Levels and when we start getting asked ‘what is it you want to do as a career?’

For me personally, I always struggled with the answer to that question, I guess that’s partly why I moved from one career to another. However, a few years ago, whilst being a lawyer living in dusty Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, I discovered that delving into the intricacies of business and especially entrepreneurship got me, frankly, quite excited!

In recent years, I’ve started to focus more on entrepreneurship as both an academic and personal focus. My love of this comes from my own views and my passion in trying to help others. If we can build a more entrepreneurial and innovative society I believe (well I hope anyway!) that many of the problems and issues that we face in society will be overcome. I see my role, even a small one, in helping others strive towards this as being part of a valuable contribution that I can make.

For those who grapple with the frustration of uncovering their passion despite relentless efforts, I propose a straightforward yet potent remedy: pause, reflect, and recollect. Take a moment to revisit the diverse array of experiences, interests, and tendencies that have shaped your path thus far. Pose simple inquiries to yourself: What has propelled you to this point? What activities bring you joy? What ignites your happiness? What pursuits evoke genuine passion, sparking a radiant smile when engaged in?

By engaging in this process, you may unearth concealed connections and rekindle passions that patiently await remembrance. Place trust in the inherent wisdom of your genuine self and embrace the voyage of self-discovery with bravery and inquisitiveness.