When you take the time to listen, does your inner self sound something like: “You know, this isn’t what you love doing. You have so much passion to give.” You might have been debating with yourself on what would help you more on pursuing your passion or you could have no clue whatsoever what your passion might be. You might have no idea what path you want to take and have been waiting for a sign to tell you what your next step should be.

It’s absolutely terrifying to feel like your life has no purpose or direction, but finding your passion can change all of that. If you don’t feel like you have any passions, or don’t know how to discover them, keep reading. We’ve all heard that if you find something you love doing, you’ll never work a day in your life. Here’s some ways to find them and live the life you love.

Slow down.

When we slow down and take a breath, we are able to gain insight on the best versions of ourselves, which is when we most often find the answers we’ve been searching for. This might mean doing some sunrise yoga, going on daily walks, meditating, or my personal favorite, setting aside time each day to talk with my Savior. Slowing down allows you to quiet other voices and listen to the ones that really matter to you.

Change your story.

We tell ourselves who we are, what we’re capable of, and what we deserve. Do you ever tell yourself you aren’t good enough or that you don’t deserve to be happy? When you can identify your self-limiting stories, you can start writing new stories that are grounded in confidence. Once you start doing this, you can then take actions towards your future filled with the happiness that you deserve.

Own yourself.

You are unique. You are not everyone else. Stop comparing yourself to others. No one else has your unique blend of talents, strengths, skills, and creativity. You have something to offer that no one else does. Learning to accept and own what makes you, you is crucial to sharing your gifts and passion to the world.

Have confidence.

If you keep telling yourself you can’t, then you will never believe that you can. There is always a chance you may fail, but it will be impossible to succeed if you don’t believe in yourself. Confidence is crucial in finding your passion.

Find the themes.

If you aren’t sure what your passion is, recognizing the recurring themes in our lives creates a pattern for us to either follow or change. What themes or lessons seem to constantly surface in your life? What are you drawn to again and again? What areas of life seem to be full of discomfort and upset you? What areas fill you with joy? The answers to these questions will help point you to what you love.

Write.

I know this isn't for everyone, but ideas flow more freely when you write without having a "rubric." New inspiration may appear unexpectedly and it becomes easier to connect the dots. Spend a few minutes of quality time each day with a pen and paper, allowing yourself to process your thoughts without influence from the outside world. Just you and your thoughts.

Focus on the fun.

Too often we get wrapped up in the expectations we set for ourselves. We tend to focus on the details and the do-to lists instead of what is most important: what do you love to do? What makes you smile? I know, life is not all fun and games, but finding something you love to do, and making a career out of it, can increase your happiness tremendously.

Last, but not least: Push past fear.

We tend to tell ourselves that we’ll go after what we want when we have more experience, more money, or more time, but here is the truth: You’re just procrastinating from making the change. You'll most likely never get more money or more time. You need to identify what excuses you’re making in an act of fear that are holding you back. It’s only when you clear your fears and recognize how they are holding you back that you can begin moving toward your dream.

Following your passion can be emotionally challenging and a leap of faith in some cases, but you will never have to worry about making the “wrong” choice. You’ll finally love what you do and be content. Content is a word I haven’t used to describe myself in a long time, but knowing I’m pursing what I love and my passion, I am beyond content and excited for my future. And you can be too.