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The passion test: what do you want your life to look like?

Certified Passion Test Facilitator

What would life be like without passion or inspiration? It makes me think of being numb, no fun, a slow death, and life full of obligations. Inspiration and passion are the things that keep life fun and exciting and make us want to get out of bed in the morning. Isn't it funny that while everyone, especially young people are constantly told to find their passions; it's not the way most people live.

Our passions are the things that make us unique. They are kind of like fingerprints, no two people have the same ones. Ultimately they are also the gifts we have to give back to the world. When we're clear on what really matters the most to us we can start building a life based on those things.

The first step to creating the kick-ass life we all want is to figure out what we are really passionate about. I know some ways to guarantee that you never figure it out. Listen only to what other people say you should be doing. Always follow the path of least resistance. Make sure you never put enough effort into anything to see if you really like it. Always put money over what you love. And the biggie, never spend any time thinking about what really matters and inspirers you and why.

If you do want to have a life that makes you feel excited, fulfilled and like you're making a difference, there's a few things that can get you started. Of course, this can be used in every aspect of your life, but just for fun let's look at choosing a career path. What is it you like spending your time on? What kind of environment do you want to be in? What kind of people do you want to be around? The chances are you will spend a large part of your life working, so why not make it doing something you love, in a place you want to be? Think about all areas of your life, sports you've played, vacations you've taken, hobbies you enjoy, yes even school. Talk to people who know you well; they'll have some insights and be able to remind you of things you may have forgotten. There are people making a good living doing just about everything, so put your limiting ideas aside and just see what comes up. For example, let's say your passion is making crafts. Some people may say there is no way to make a career out of that, well I can see a few. How about art therapy, having a craft store and selling your creations or, art teacher/instructor.

Once you've got a list, narrow it down to just a few things that really excite you. Keep it simple. When we get scattered on too many things we're not very effective at any of them. Think about what your life would look like if you were living each of those passions 100 per cent. The clearer you become, the more chance you've got of actually creating this in your life. This isn't something you do in an hour.

Once you've got a pretty clear idea on what you would like to have in your life, you're ready to take some action. Sorry to say, just thinking and talking about something isn't going to get you there. Think of one small thing you can do and just do it.

Now get going, your amazing life is waiting for you.

Free Passion Test for youth and young adults soon to be given at The YC. Call 604-935-8187.

This monthly column is produced by Pique Newsmagazine and Mountain Youth Society, and is written for youth. Mountain Youth Society (MYS) promotes and fosters the positive growth and development of youth aged 13 to 35 through the programs and services of their member organizations. Public meetings with guest speakers are held the second Tuesday of each month at Whistler Public Library's Community Room from 3:30-4:30 p.m. NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, Nov.8 - The Passion Test - How to figure out what you love and do it for a living! If you're interested in writing an article, contact us at mountainyouth@gmail.com.