“A Passion Project is a good Idea.” My mentor once told me, when she learned I have been contemplating to doing something that might not give me profit, but will give me so much more. More than I can imagine. a PURPOSE perhaps.
I have always been asking these questions and I never really came around facing and actually finding answers to :
How should we view things on what we are passionate about? Should it run our life? Should it be something that makes us happy and productive or just something that drives our adrenaline?
KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A UNIQUE PASSION
We were all created differently and because of this, we have different interests.
These interests bring us to different places, community, people and so many possibilities.
This is simply because in the process, we find people of the same level and mindset. And when we do, we get to stimulate our growth and we become multiple. Yes, we multiply that way, not just by bearing a child.
By nature, we are driven to share and to spread the gift we are. It is the reason why we exist. And this is why we were all born unique, this is true even if we have the same interests.
The moment when we execute, we leave our own mark in our work. Whenever we do something, we affect other lives and that is where the value of seeking your passion becomes seriously rewarding. The epitome of your existence is to become a source of a reason to live. To encourage and cultivate purpose. And it all started with what drives you – PASSION AND PURPOSE.
This is why a project based on passion is always a great idea.
HOW TO EVEN START A PASSION PROJECT
TO START, that is the focus here. The passion is already there, and pursuing it will just about to make a big difference.
As a multi-passionate, I gather a lot of ideas but I just keep it to myself, because I’m afraid to show people how I am interested in so many things. I’m afraid to be judged as a person who is indecisive of my choices and my future. Because I actually get that a LOT, so I was always taken aback whenever I encounter persons challenging my expertise on one subject or interest. It can be hard being a butterfly in this sense. You don’t get a lot of support.
The thing is, when you are a multi-passionate person all of the things you do is your PASSION. Creativity is overflowing all the time, but time cannot seem to keep up with this flow. No one will get this. But it’s okay. You are not supposed to be the same. This is how interesting humans can be.
If you are still contemplating how to even start something based on what you are so interested in, and you feel so overwhelmed because you cannot define which of your interests you’re going to focus on, then maybe this 5 steps can help:
STEPS to CREATING YOUR PASSION PROJECT
First – Find your interest. or at least one to start with.
Examine yourself what makes you excited to think, to talk, and move.
For instance, you are currently interested in creating music and you cannot do anything without it.
Write down everything you have encountered about it. Include the artists, the background of that genre and the latest happenings. From there, you will be able to understand what is it about music made you want to start pursuing a passion project. start ASKING YOURSELF, WHY WOULD I DO THIS?
While thinking, WRITE. Just keep writing until you can’t think of anything and then take a few minutes of break.
After the break, read what you’ve written. You will be amazed on seeing yourself with fresh eyes.
Second – HIGHLIGHT the significant things you’ve learned from the first step. Make a trimmed down list until you came up with the most compelling list for you.
Try to focus on that single most interesting stuff about music for you. If you like singing then focus on delivering the song.
Third – START DOING – Here’s a bonus tip: You don’t just do, Document it too. Create a quality content from the things you have learned about your interest. Document how you started doing it, do not wait until you’ve already deeply submerged into your research. This way you can measure your progress.
IF it’s Music and you are more into singing, best to focus on that for a start. Suggest you practice ON cam, daily. Eventually, you will notice your improvement. And when you go back to your recordings, you will know their is a difference between then and now.
You can go an extra mile with your videos, by explaining on record why you chose the song. May it be because of the artist, or the lyrics there’s no limit to it. It will be awkward at the get go, but that is just you being scared and unsure, it will pass and it will improve. You got this!
Fourth – COMMIT TO IT. Creating a habit focused on one subject for a period of time, helps.
This will create momentum and mastery that it will get easier as time goes. Simply because doing something religiously, gives the brain some muscle memory. Anything we do with our body can act like a switch that stimulates our brain, making it remember every cause and effect it gives. In time, we automatically do things for that activity, and as our mind gradually learn from failures or mistakes we make improvements. And based on the reward of its trials and errors, you will develop confidence.
With confidence as your new guide, things are easier and fulfilling. All this becomes the blueprint with your unique mark on your chosen skill. This by now can become your passion, something you’d love to do all the time.
Fifth – PROMOTE. This can be tricky depending on your personality. In my years of talking to people about what they want to do in life, I find that this is the major block.
I think 80% of those who started pursuing their passion project couldn’t put it out there. Since they started as interested into invested, some can be insecure in sharing what they know, feeling that what they have learned are still inadequate for another person’s consumption.
But to those who risked, the act of promoting or showing it off is more rewarding.
They also get feedbacks helping them see things only an audience will see. In time, putting it out in the open will not just put the cherry on top, it also provides an avenue for growth and expansion.
That’s it! FIVE STEPS to START YOUR PASSION PROJECT. Repeat these steps and eventually, all the things related to your actions will grow more valuable not just to you, but to those it has touched.
This is where fate and destiny comes in, and it happens only when you start from the most humble beginning.
WHAT’S NEXT ?
THIS IS YOUR SIGN TO SEARCH YOUR PURPOSE. As you keep on doing something for your passion project, your WHY will intertwine with your actions, JUST REMEMBER to keep following through, don’t stop even if it feels like it is pointless. Hang in there. Don’t you turn your back on it, not until fruition.
Remember that your worst foe would be, YOURSELF.
YOU will be the first to talk yourself out of it. Your head will create so many lies that will discourage you to go on. We do that because of our innate fight or plight response to survive.
And because this is most highly possible, safeguard yourself from the negative self-talk with these:
ENGAGE – as you promote, this is going to be inevitable. People will reach out to you, and you are not to dismiss them, or you can also invite them to reach out to you so you will be able to understand your audience more and in turn will help you improve your craft more.
LEARN ENDLESSLY – this is true, even if you did not intend to learn, you will discover a thing or two from just merely opening your mind to possibilities and intentionally listening to your audience, even from negative comments.
With that, keep in mind that you have the ability to turn anything useful, believe in it, and direct yourself to keep going even if the odds are up against you.
Remind yourself: NOTHING GROWS AND BLOOMS OVERNIGHT. Yep, that is the reality we all deal with, and we often forget that when we become so used to accomplishing things our way or process, we can become impatient on our result. This is where the recording or documentations you made for your project become pretty handy. When things go tough, and it will, just watch it again, while reading your elimination list. That will bring you back to your senses.
Lastly, ONE EXTRA STEP TO REMIND YOURSELF WHY YOU ARE DOING THIS :
Make a poster, big enough and easy to read, put in it: I am working on my progress and my job is to keep it going until I see the results I desire. I will not give up until it grows and blooms enough to share to others. Put this poster up where you can easily see as soon as you open your eyes in the morning, sort of your vision board. YES, THIS WORKS!
Declare that you are going to get all of the things you envisioned. If you add these passion induced potion to your 5 steps – you will never go wrong!
There you have it! Remember this: Keep doing what you love and you will never feel like you have been working at all.
My passion project? I paint and I intend to showcase it one day in an art gallery. Check my thoughts about my dream and plans for my passion project here: An Art Gallery for me.
And for seeking your purpose, this book has helped me understand why we are here for. Do find time to read The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. For me, connecting your purpose and passion makes you a powerhouse on connectivity. But that is my another topic for another day.
All the best to your passion project! Start now while you are still on fire!
