What Is NOT Your Passion?

Question #3 in Rachel Hollis' book "What If YOU Are the Answer?" is: What is NOT your passion? What is definitely not your purpose?

I really like this question. It can be overwhelming to hear all these things about finding your true passion and figuring out your entire purpose in this world. There are some that believe everyone has a purpose on this Earth, and some who don't believe that it goes that deep. For those who do believe everyone has a purpose, but are struggling to find out what their own is, it's so hard. It can feel like you're wasting your time here, dabbling in this, dabbling in that, doing what you need to do in order to get a paycheck to get by, but not fulfilling a deeper purpose for being here. And to that I say - I get it. I totally get it.

I've always felt that I was put on this Earth for a reason, but I've struggled to figure out what that reason is. Like I've talked about previously, I've spent years...decades at this point...just trying to fit in and not doing what I truly enjoy. This is a huge barrier to figuring out your purpose, when you are constantly doing things just because others like them, or just to fit in with others. This question that Rachel asked provides a different perspective - what DON'T you like? What is NOT your passion or purpose? Knowing the answer to these questions can provide clarity for us and cancel out some options. Sometimes too many choices can just cause stress and overwhelm.

So what is not my passion? The first thing that comes to my mind is sales. Being salesy gives me the ick. Especially trying to promote something I don't actually believe in or think is worth the price. Some people are really good salespeople, whether they actually like the product or are just trying to make a sale to benefit themselves. I'm horrible at it. I just can't fake it. About 10 years ago, I worked in the gift shop of a Cracker Barrel. They would push us to go up to every single person that walked through the doors and try to convince them to buy something. Many employees did this with no problem; even if it didn't always work, they were still ok with doing it. Me? I hated it. As the Grinch once said, I loatheddd it entirely. It made my skin crawl. If someone wants to buy something, then they will. That's how I always thought of it. If someone has a question, I am so there to help them. But bombarding someone as they enter Cracker Barrel to try to convince them they need to purchase a whimsical trinket or a Moon Pie...not my style. And you can see and feel the customer's discomfort, or irritation, or if they are just being nice but still don't really want to buy something. I would always think of when I walk into a store, how much I hate when a salesperson immediately comes up to me to try to "help" me, but with the underlying intention of just selling me something. It makes me cringe. So no - I'm not a good salesperson, and it's definitely not my passion nor my purpose, because my body physically rejects it.

The next thing that comes to mind that is not my purpose or passion is having a job for the sole reason of having a job. I understand we need to make money to live, but I actually want to love what I do and make a real difference. I'm completely aware that there are several people who don't really care what they do - they just want a job. And that is completely ok if that is what they want and how they feel! Everyone is different.

The next one is a big deal because it's what I went to school for. My passion is not becoming a registered dietitian. Like many high school students, I felt the pressure to go to college, get a degree in a field we just knew was our destiny, and have a "big girl job" in that field forever. So why did I choose nutrition? Because I had become obsessive over what I ate and what I weighed, and I had an eating disorder without even realizing it. I know this now, but didn't know it then. Why did I commit to going to college? Because I felt I had to. Listen, I love learning. But it doesn't feel good knowing I spent all that time and money - and am STILL spending a whole bunch of money on student loans - for a career that I actually never loved for the right reasons. Now...do I love to cook? Yes. Not when I'm hungry, but that's besides the point. Am I interested in nutrition? Yes. Do I want to counsel others on their nutrition and eating habits for a living? Honestly...no. I enjoy doing it occasionally, but 40 hours a week as a lifelong career...no. I've lived with a lot of guilt for not following through on this career. But to be honest with myself, if I truly wanted to do it, I would. It was never my true passion. I "had" to choose a major for college, and nutrition and weight loss were my obsessions. But not in a positive way.

What else is not my passion? I've been realizing, especially lately, that I don't like to do the same thing over and over. I love being creative and coming up with ideas, and doing projects. I love to do my own thing. Something difficult is that I'm really good at following the rules of a job and executing it well (as long as it's not sales), but I really don't enjoy doing the same thing day in and day out...following someone else's rules, living out someone else's agenda and dreams. The thought of being at the same job for 30 years terrifies me. A lot of people like it; it makes them feel safe and like they have stability, and that's great! But I believe I'm meant for entrepreneurship, so that I can be free to be creative. I think I'm meant to make an impact on a larger scale. I've felt this way for years, but I've ignored it, because trying to make an impact on a large scale is scary and risky. I know this was about what isn't my passion, but it naturally led me to what is my passion, which is the overall purpose of the question - no pun intended. The purpose of the question was to find out what isn't my purpose, which leads me to find out what is my purpose. It's also difficult when most of the people I'm around do live the 9-5 type of job and lifestyle, and are not entrepreneurs. Which again, I can't say this enough - it's totally awesome if that is what they want to do. But I need to worry about what I want.

I hope this was helpful for others. What is not your passion? What do you not like to do? What do you loathe doing? What makes your skin crawl? What makes you not happy? What makes you feel like you're doing it because you have to? Obviously we need to do things like brushing our teeth and showering - I don't always like to do those things but know I still need to. What makes you feel bored? If it doesn't give you a sense of fulfillment, if it doesn't make you happy...can you eliminate it? I get a happy, tingling sensation when I'm doing something I really enjoy. If you don't feel a positive reaction to something in your mind, body, or spirit, then it's not your passion.