She was so happy. There was a light in her eyes that pierced any sort of darkness in the room. The moment was bright. And it was true. She had—after years of searching, praying and waiting—found a job which satisfied and propelled her heart.

But selfishly, in the same moment, I was envious. I wanted her light. I wanted that feeling of true peace and contentment where I knew I was doing something [or was headed toward something] that made me feel whole and full.

There is something magnetic about seeing the passions of another person come alive. It is energizing, inspirational and life-giving. When I see how excited and driven my roommate is about nursing, I can’t help but smile. When I listen to one of my favorite bands, Penny & Sparrow, perform, I know they are in love with what they do. When I read the works of someone like Anne Lamott, it is clear to see the deeply rooted passions which propel her books.

But what about those of us who often feel apathetic and clueless when it comes to our passions and deepest callings?

I would be lying if I said I have never felt this way. Growing up, I was never the kid who knew exactly what she wanted to do when she grew up. Of course, at my kindergarten graduation I said I would like to be a ballerina-missionary, and when I was nine I wanted to be a professional soccer player. Both of these dreams, however, had only a slim chance of coming true. Other than these shoot-for-the-stars aspirations, I have never had a specific career at the forefront of my mind. I’m sure many of you, at one time or another, have felt the same.

It is excruciatingly difficult to feel like the only person who has absolutely no idea what she wants to do with her life or what she is passionate about. As someone in college, I am constantly asked about my next step, my career aspirations and my wildest dreams. When these questions come up, I am at a loss for words. I find myself making up answers to avoid embarrassment and shame. I know the answers are deep within me, but I am unable to uncover them.

To myself and to those feeling similarly, I would say three things:

Firstly, you are passionate. Don’t ever let yourself think you are characteristically devoid of passions. For some, passions are vast and loud. You know from the moment you meet them that they are fired up for a certain cause or issue. We must not forget, however, that many of us possess smaller and quieter passions. These are just as significant.

Secondly, listen to others. It is important to listen to the advice and insight of others because we might be blind to our passions. When we call on trusted individuals to help us discern our calling, we open ourselves up to a world of passions.

And finally, I would encourage you to pray and wait. It is important for us to pray for our passions to be revealed and made whole. But we must not pray and wait passively; rather, our prayers should be accompanied by doing. We will never understand or recognize where our passions are most deeply rooted if we are not willing to dig deep into our hearts.

For those who feel severely apathetic and purposeless, never forget that you were made with passion and made for passion.