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| Soup Spoon: Soup and Flatbread set with drink |
Alex:
I don’t know what I’m doing anymore. I keep wondering if I’m missing some “passion” I was supposed to find. Everyone says “follow your passion,” but how do I know what it even is?
Sam (smiling gently):
That’s such a big question, and I’ve been there too. Passion isn’t something we’re handed—it’s something we discover, like turning over stones in a forest and finding something glowing underneath one of them.
Alex:
But how do I know which stone to even look under?
Sam:
Start with curiosity, not certainty. The smallest spark can lead to the biggest fire. You test your passion by doing, not just thinking. Start trying things that feel even a little interesting—no pressure to be perfect or impressive. Just follow your nose.
Alex:
But what if I try and I’m not good at it? Or I get bored?
Sam:
That’s part of the process! Passion isn’t always instant. Sometimes it starts as interest, grows into skill, and then blossoms into something meaningful.
Take Julia Child, for instance. She didn’t learn to cook until she was nearly 40. One cooking class in Paris lit her up, and she kept going—testing, failing, learning. Eventually, she became a culinary icon.
Alex:
So, passion isn’t about being young and knowing exactly what to do.
Sam:
Not at all. It’s about staying open. There’s Maggie Doyne, a teenager who took a gap year to volunteer in Nepal. She ended up using her savings to build a home and school for orphaned children. Now she runs a whole foundation.
She didn’t start with a master plan. She started with care—and followed where it led.
Alex (thoughtful):
So it’s more about asking “what do I care about?” than “what’s my passion?”
Sam:
Exactly. Try this:
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What makes you lose track of time?
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What topics or problems spark outrage or joy in you?
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What do you find yourself daydreaming about?
Also: Pay attention to what people thank you for. Sometimes others see our gifts before we do.
Alex:
Okay… say I start testing a few things. How will I know if I’ve found the thing?
Sam (leans in):
You’ll feel energy instead of just obligation. You’ll want to return to it even after it gets hard. It’ll challenge you, but it won’t drain you—it’ll grow you.
And sometimes the passion isn’t the job—it’s the impact it lets you make.
Like Fred Swaniker, who didn’t just love education—he loved the idea of shaping Africa’s future. So he founded the African Leadership University to train future leaders.
Alex:
That’s big. But what if I’m just… ordinary?
Sam (grinning):
All those people were ordinary too. The only difference is they followed their threads of interest and didn’t give up too quickly.
You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to start somewhere. Test. Reflect. Adjust. Repeat.
And if it fills you with meaning, energy, and love—even quietly—that’s a path worth walking.
Alex (smiling slowly):
Okay. I’ll start flipping stones.
Sam:
And I’ll walk the forest with you. You’re not alone."
Thank you for reading Daily Refreshing.
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