Last update: July 23, 2015
Wisdom is the art of accepting what cannot be changed, of changing what can be changed and, above all, of understanding the difference between the two. - Emperor Marcus Aurelius
"Follow your dreams", "follow your own path", "do what you love". How many times have you heard or read such phrases? They are wonderful ideas, but they mean nothing if you haven't understood your dreams first, haven't found your way, or don't know very well what you really love.
Having the courage to build dreams, chart a path and determine what you love is essential. But most people don't know what their real passion is. And you can't chase a dream if we don't know what it is.
In many articles you will read that to achieve a goal you need discipline, concentration, commitment. But the matter is much simpler. While it hurts to admit it, most people are unsuccessful in life because they don't know what to do.
The solution to having a successful life begins with determining what is the real passion that drives us. But how is it done? You will find the answer below.
1. Imagine your life in 5 years
Regardless of your current situation, imagine that all your dreams come true within 5 years. Grab a pen and paper or turn on your computer and write down everything that comes to your mind imagining that life.
Write about things like: what time do you get up, how much money you make, what your job is like, what kind of people you hang out with, what your house is like, what car you have, what you eat, what life do you have and how do you feel.
We remind you that it is not an exercise on your current life, but on what it would be like if your dreams came true.
2. Read self-help books, underline and apply the most important passages
Reading a good self-help book is a very powerful resource if you are able to adopt and apply the ideas you find written. Just reading won't help you if you don't follow those tips.
And it won't do any good even to buy the book and leave it on the bedside table waiting for something to happen. Sounds ridiculous to you, doesn't it? But don't even imagine how many people buy these books and then just read the cover. If the title inspires you, imagine what you can find inside!
3. Volunteer
Volunteering will allow you to meet interesting, motivated and positive people. Furthermore, it will help you discover aspects of yourself that you may not have known, and to make sense of questions you've never asked yourself before.
4. Start that business you have wanted to do for some time
We all have activities we dreamed of doing, but not all of us have had the courage to try. The reasons can be the most diverse, from “I don't have time” to “what others will think” to “but how can I start at my age!”.
Don't delay, then, and start today. If you would like to, there must be a reason. Stop denying yourself the right to do what you want.
5. Follow a blog that inspires you and take inspiration from it
Choose a blog that you like and inspire you. How about The Mind is Wonderful? Read several articles whose title you seem interesting, choosing them from the home page, and let yourself be carried away by the messages you find.
After reading them, take note of the ideas that intrigued you the most and put them into practice. If you felt attracted to that particular article there must be a reason. Through this exercise you will discover many things about yourself.
6. Answer the question: "What do I want to do?"
Dare to answer this question: what do I want to do in life? Don't repress yourself. Don't look for excuses. Answers like “I'd like to do this, but I can't because…” don't apply.
7. Identify your fears
What is it that scares you the most? Have the courage to recognize it. When we address the our fears we realize very interesting things about our character. And, surprisingly, this generates a great feeling of trust in us, the same one we feel when we have the courage to talk to a friend.
Furthermore, identifying those fears will also help you find the reason behind them. And this is the first step in identifying the self-imposed limits that block us.
8. Think of what happens to you as a way of learning
Whatever happens to you, good or bad, always think that you can learn from it and that the way you deal with the situation says a lot about you.
If you are able to learn from any situation, every time you will have clearer ideas in life!
