How do you know what you are passionate about and what you want to do?

Hello Grecia,  this is always a tough one but you do have opportunities to find out. First of all if you see something that you think you might be interested in,  find people who are doing that job or activity. Ask as many questions that will give you a good perspective. If you're not comfortable with that approach, there's always you tube. You will find a lot of insight there as well.  My daughter for some reason knew she wanted to be a nurse when she was a junior in high school. She knew someone who was a nurse and talked to them to gain insight.  She went to nursing school, 4 years and before graduating  she had a job waiting for her. She loves what she does.

This is a question everyone wrestles with at some time. This is the technique I'm currently using drom "barking up the wrong Tree", great book i highly recommend. Imagine an activity in your minds eye, then do the activity. How close did the actual match your imagined outcome? Do those things where there is alignment betwwn imagined and actual. Then do that activity in the right pond, i.e. in a place where they want or need that activity. Good luck!

Hi Grecia,

It is great that you are thinking about your passions as a guideline for your education/career path. And you have been given some excellent guidance that will help you define the right path for you. One additional thought to consider is to gain insight into your natural strengths which may help you refine your search for what you are passionate about. My favorite assessment is StrengthsFinder. The assessment and resulting report will provide you with key aspects of your true strengths and what career opportunities may be a good fit for you. Not only could this help to define your path, but it also gives you great insight into why you are drawn to certain things and not others. You are off to a great start by looking at what drives you. I wish you continued success as you discover more about yourself and what that means to your future.

Great question.   I honestly believe it is something that you learn by trial and error and just getting out there.  In the work world it may be less about the products or the services your are selling and more about the people you work with and how you influence their lives.  As others have said,  making lists are important.  What motivates you should also be a part of the discussion.   Is it money?  Lifestyle? Location?  You also may find that what you are passionate about is not work, but what you do outside of it.  The work may be the driver to get you the time to experience what you are passionate about.

Grecia, make a list of what you are not passionate about. Write it down on paper. All of the things you know in your heart, you don’t want to do. Some doors won’t open until you shut a few down. If you are not sure what the answer is, pretend you know. I wasn’t passionate about my job at first. It just felt like something I was meant to do. Something that seemed a little interesting and the competition was low. The passion came along, a few years later.