Three: Find Your Passion

Writing and looking at quotes have always been something that I do in my spare time. Writing, especially, has always been my outlet. Once in a while, I stumble upon quotes that really speak to me. When I was struggling with finding a career path in something that I was truly passionate about, quotes and writing really helped me through. It’s different speaking to your tribe about your career path; many of my friends were incredibly supportive in anything that I would have chosen to do with my life, so this was really something that I had to figure out for myself. This involved a lot of self-reflection and truly figuring out what sets my soul on fire. Some quotes that really got me through this rough patch in my life were these:

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle” –Steve Jobs

“Pay attention to things you are naturally drawn to. They are often connected to your path, passion, and purpose in life. Have the courage to follow them” – Ruben Chavez

“Whatever it is that stirs your soul, listen to that. Everything else is just noise” – Nicole Lyons

“Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it” – Maya Angelou

These quotes are just a few that lead me towards a career I could not be more passionate about. I once was told that as soon as you find your passion, everything else will follow. I can’t remember who told me this, but I can say, without a doubt, I did not believe it at the time. Fast forward to today, I could not find this saying more relatable.

The year 2016 for me was really difficult on so many levels. It honestly felt like my entire world was falling apart – it sounds dramatic, but, initially, I truly thought that I wasn’t going to come out of the year 2016 a happy person. This year changed me forever. It is the year that I felt like I hit my “rock bottom” and the year that I picked myself up, knocked some sense into myself, &, along with my tribe, pushed myself to keep going – this all happened in about two weeks. Two weeks doesn’t seem like a long time, but when you’re living it, it was the longest two weeks of my entire life.

I have always been a very optimistic person. I always try to look on the bright side of things and I always try to be that crutch for all of my friends. But it’s really different when you’re the person going through a hard time and have to be vulnerable enough to lean and rely on the people that love you the most. I can’t even tell you how odd it was to be this vulnerable. I’m not much of a crier, but I can tell you that in that two-week span in 2016, I thought I was never going to stop crying. But, here I am to tell you that the crying does stop and things definitely start to look up and I mean WAY up.

The year 2016, although one of the most difficult years that I’ve ever had to live through, lead me to some incredible opportunities, as well as some of the most undeniably best humans. 2016 was the year that I got out of a relationship that I needed to escape from but didn’t know it at the time, it was the year I applied to a load of grad schools, graduated from UBC with a double major and got accepted into grad school (!!) 2016 was difficult and fulfilling all in one. It was the year that I figured out my passion (or the world sort of figured it out for me) and I was able to meet some of the most incredible people (some of the best teachers of our future generation) in the most gruelling two weeks of my life (you guys know who you are).

Looking back, 2016 seems like such a blur – I’m not even sure how I got through it. But take it from me, it does get better. I was fortunate enough to have everything sort of fall into place. I got the opportunity to get my foot in the door at a couple of great job opportunities, to which I gladly took. Now here I am, juggling three jobs and grad school, and trying not to get lost in the process. As difficult as it is to juggle everything, 60 hours a week not even counting the hours for school, it doesn’t really feel like I’m working that much because I love every job that I have.

I truly believe that when you love what you do, it will not feel like work. Follow your passion, because that is so important to your overall wellbeing and happiness. It took me a very long time to figure out a career path that I love and the only downfall about finding it now is that I wish I had found it sooner. I no longer dread waking up for work every morning and I hope that everyone is able to have this exact feeling in their life.

Do you have something that you’re passionate about? Have you thought about turning that passion into a career? What is stopping you from pursuing your passion?

Finding your passion is the third element towards my journey of uncomplicated happiness.

-lyss

xoxo