Pursuing Your Passion: Find the Spark and Let It Fuel Your Dreams

If you’re feeling stuck, wondering, ‘What is my passion? Why can’t I find it or make any progress on it?’ you’re in good company. So many of us get lost in overthinking instead of taking action. The truth is, pursuing your passion doesn’t mean having it all figured out from the start. It means taking steps — small ones, messy ones — toward what lights you up. 

Let’s talk about how you can start working toward your dreams and powerful goals, even if you feel unsure or overwhelmed.

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Finding Your Passion in a World of Overthinking

You may be thinking, ‘I don’t know what my passion is,’ or maybe even, ‘I have no passion or goals.’ It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, especially if you’re always waiting for that one perfect passion to appear. But here’s the thing: Passion doesn’t always hit you like a lightning bolt. It can be sparked by curiosity, by exploring new things.

For me, it didn’t begin with a perfect plan. Sort of by chance, I started blogging, which I enjoyed. It really is quite a perfect job for someone who doesn’t always want to be told what to write about AND who isn’t always great at personal interactions. 

Then, something unexpected happened. Through my blog, I reconnected with an old friend who told me she had been self-publishing her short fiction. 

I didn’t even know this person liked to write, and then I found out she was an incredibly prolific writer who was earning a monthly income from doing what she loves. It completely turned my brain upside-down.

Deep down, I felt a tiny spark ignite. I thought about the distant dream that I’d had for decades — fiction writing. Like, holed up in a remote cabin all alone, churning out reams of writing on a regular basis, all because it’s just what I love to do. That kind of dream.

Like many of us, I had pushed that dream aside, thinking it didn’t fit into my ‘grown-up’ life. But that spark never truly went away.

If you’ve been in the ‘no real passions’ place for so long that you can’t even imagine what might spark your dream, it can still happen. It just takes a little exploration and being open to new opportunities.

Actionable Tips to Find Your Passion

1. Reflect on Past Dreams: What did you enjoy as a child or young adult? What dreams did you set aside because life got in the way? Revisit those old aspirations and see if they still spark excitement.
2. Start Small: Rather than waiting for a grand vision, begin by exploring things that simply interest you. Try out new hobbies, pick up a book on a topic you’re curious about, or reconnect with an old interest. These small actions could ignite the passion you’re looking for.
3. Take Inventory of What Energizes You: Pay attention to moments when you feel a spark or a sense of satisfaction, even in your daily routine. Those feelings can be the key to unlocking a passion you hadn’t considered before. Write them down, then look for patterns.

Start brainstorming with a dreams and goals worksheet.

From Overthinking to Action: Keeping It Simple

One of the biggest blocks to pursuing your goals is overthinking. It’s easy to get stuck in your head, wondering, ‘What if it’s the wrong decision?’ or ‘What if I fail?’ But waiting for the perfect moment will only keep you stuck.

When I realized how much I wanted to write short fiction, I knew I had to start somewhere. My blogging life was already full, and I had doubts about whether I could handle both. 

I had questions for my friend: ‘How are you doing this? Tell me everything! What programs and tools are you using to do A and B and C and X and Y and Z?’ In my mind, success required a perfectly researched plan and doing all. the. things.

You know what her answer was? ‘I don’t do ANY of that stuff. I just write. Then I publish.’

That simple approach changed my world. It nearly broke my brain, but then I embraced it. I got back to basics and JUST WROTE – even more than the 500 words a day that usually I aimed for. Suddenly, I was writing with more purpose, and I began to believe in myself and the work.

Actionable Tips to Overcome Overthinking and Take Action

1. Set Daily Micro-Goals: Instead of overwhelming yourself with a big plan, focus on small, achievable goals for today. This could be writing a few paragraphs or brainstorming ideas. Every step counts.
2. Avoid Perfection Paralysis: Stop waiting for the perfect moment. Start now, even if your efforts seem imperfect or messy.
3. Do Less Research, More Doing: Instead of obsessing over tools and techniques, spend more time doing the actual work—whether it’s writing, painting, or creating. Action leads to momentum.

Related post: Stop Thinking and Start Doing: A Goal Setting Starter Plan

Pivoting with Purpose: When to Shift Directions

Here’s something we don’t talk about enough: Passions change. Following your passion isn’t always about sticking with one thing forever. Sometimes, you have to pivot. And that’s okay.

Pursuing your passion MAY mean going all in on one thing and letting go of another. 

As my love for fiction writing grew, I realized that I had to pivot. For a while, I considerably scaled back on blogging to focus on fiction writing. I wasn’t sure if I was making the best decision, but I knew I had to try. After a year of diving deep into fiction and proving to myself I could earn some money from it, I felt the pull to return to blogging.

For overthinkers, I don’t believe it’s quite possible to balance two passions FULLY. Going all in on one thing at a time allowed me to grow and focus more effectively. While I sometimes wonder what would have happened if I had stayed with fiction, I’m comfortable with my current choice to focus on blogging.

However, there’s always the possibility that I’ll pivot again someday. Maybe I’ll finally end up in that remote cabin, fully immersed in fiction writing. For now, I’m channeling my love for writing into this blog.

Actionable Tips for Pivoting with Purpose

1. Trust Your Gut and Test the Waters: If you feel a strong pull toward something new, go all in for a while. Commit to one passion and give yourself permission to see where it leads.
2. Reflect on What Feels Right: After giving it your all, check in with yourself. Is this passion fulfilling you? If not, pivot again without regret. It’s okay to change course when something feels more aligned.
3. Accept That You Can’t Do It All: Focus on one passion at a time and dive deep. While it’s tempting to juggle everything, true growth comes from going all in on one path before considering another.

Making It Work: The Intersection of Passion and Goals

While we don’t have to limit ourselves to one passion or goal, trying to juggle too many can dilute our efforts and prevent real progress. It’s much easier to see meaningful results when we commit to focusing on one goal or project at a time — at least for a while. 

That doesn’t mean abandoning everything else, but rather giving one thing your main attention for a specific period — whether that’s a year or just a couple of weeks. This focused effort will help you dive deeper into your passion and ensure that you make measurable progress.

If you’ve ever felt scattered trying to pursue multiple passions at once, you’re not alone. Many people who overthink find themselves hopping between ideas, never going all in on one thing. I’ve been there. When I was balancing blogging and fiction writing, I found myself spreading too thin, which ultimately limited my progress in both areas. Only when I scaled back and focused on one at a time did I see real growth.

That’s why it’s crucial to align your passion with concrete goals. This approach helps you stay committed and avoid burnout. You’re not abandoning other passions forever, just giving one the full attention it needs to flourish. Once you’ve made progress, if you’re still feeling torn, you can pivot or move on to the next.

Actionable Tips to Align Passion with Goals

1. Prioritize Your Passion: Take time to reflect on which passion feels the most important to you right now. Choosing one doesn’t mean you’re letting go of others forever, just that you’re prioritizing growth in this area. Set a timeline – whether it’s a few weeks or a year – so you can go all in and really explore the potential.
2. Create a Time Block for Passion: Block out specific time in your weekly schedule that’s dedicated solely to your passion project. We all have life responsibilities, but treat this time like a non-negotiable appointment with yourself. Whether it’s an hour a day or a longer block once a week, having that set time will allow you to make steady progress without feeling overwhelmed.
3. Set Long- and Short-Term Goals: Start by defining both immediate goals and long-term milestones for your passion project. Short-term goals will keep you motivated day-to-day, while long-term goals provide the big picture. For example, a short-term goal might be to write 500 words every day, while a long-term goal could be to finish a book in six months. Tracking your progress keeps you focused and energized.

Recommended Resource: I wrote The ONE FOCUS Method for overwhelmed overthinkers who want to finally follow through on their goals. In this practical quick-read guide, you’ll get tips on how to develop the finishing instinct, boost your motivation, and confidently get things done. With simple, actionable steps, you can start applying the method in under an hour – no matter how busy life gets.

Breaking Free from Doubt and Taking Risks

No journey toward passion comes without doubt. You might ask yourself, “Do I really have the determination to follow through? What if I fail?” But pursuing your passion requires taking risks. It’s about trusting yourself to take action, even when you’re unsure.

When I started writing fiction, I had a lot of self-doubt. Was it worth the time? Could I actually make progress? But I took the risk because deep down, I knew I’d regret not trying. That’s how I stoked the fire within me to keep going. 

What does it mean to pursue something? It means believing in yourself enough to try, even when it’s uncomfortable. The key to breaking free from doubt is accepting that uncertainty and failure are part of the process. Risks don’t always guarantee success, but they do guarantee growth.

Actionable Tips for Breaking Free from Doubt

1. Take a Micro-Risk: You don’t need to make a massive leap all at once. Start by taking one small risk today. This could mean sharing a piece of your work with someone you trust, starting a new project, or stepping out of your comfort zone in a small but significant way. Each micro-risk builds your confidence and shows you that fear doesn’t have to stop you.
2. Build a Support Network: Surround yourself with people who understand and support your passion. Having a community – whether it’s friends, fellow creatives, or mentors – helps you stay motivated and reduces feelings of self-doubt. Their encouragement can act as a buffer when you’re feeling unsure about your next step.
3. Document Your Failures: Instead of avoiding failure, embrace it as part of your journey. Keep a ‘failure journal’ where you note down any setbacks you experience. Reflect on what went wrong and what you learned from it. This process helps reframe failure as a necessary step toward growth and makes you more resilient over time. (But at the same time, be sure to document your growth and success!)

More Goals and Intentional Living Inspiration

Living An Intentional Life: 7 Powerful Steps to Make It Happen

Why You MUST Discover & Develop A Creative Outlet

How To Make Decisions Faster Without Regret: A Guide For Overthinkers

The Goal Journey Annual Goal Planner — This printable goal planner is designed to streamline your goal-setting process, allowing you to focus on one goal at a time and adapt as life evolves. Get the extra stuff out of your head, let go of the regrets and ‘should-dos,’ and start accomplishing the goals that really matter to YOU.

Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Pursuing your passion isn’t about having it all figured out or knowing exactly what your life purpose is. It’s about listening to the spark within, exploring new opportunities, and taking action – even when the path isn’t clear. Positive changes happen when you take risks, pivot when necessary, and follow the things that make you feel alive.

In the time since I first wrote this post, I have:

• Published 5 quick-read cozy mysteries in Jana DeLeon’s Miss Fortune World.
• Written and published the ONE FOCUS Method book.
• Quit my part-time job so I can work from home full-time.
• Grown my business to a full-time income.

THAT is what you can accomplish when you pursue your passion, even if you are an overwhelmed overthinker.

So whether you’re thinking about starting a new hobby, pivoting in your career, or simply taking the first step toward self-improvement, know that it’s never too late. Allow your passion to become your purpose, and take the first step toward your dream today.

Write down one thing that sparks your interest today. Make a plan to explore it further. Whether it’s a new hobby, a side project, or a career pivot – just start. Enjoy your life and take action toward your passion as you Build Your Best Life.

Amaze yourself… You’ve got this!

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