Finding and Cultivating Passion in Life

I used to think passion would just hit me one day like a lightning bolt. It didn’t.

Most people feel this way at some point. You look around and see others who seem so lit up by what they do. They wake up with purpose. They talk about their projects and goals with energy. You wonder, “Where’s mine?”

If that’s you, you’re not alone—and you’re not behind.

Passion Doesn’t Always Start with Fireworks

One of the biggest myths about passion is that it has to come in a big moment. Like one day you’ll wake up knowing exactly what you're meant to do, and everything will finally make sense.

But that’s not usually how it goes.

For me, I spent years numbing myself with gaming, overeating, drinking, and wasting time scrolling or binge-watching shows. I was just surviving, not living. I thought I was lazy or broken, but now I know I was just disconnected.

The truth is, passion usually starts small. Often it starts with discomfort.

That uncomfortable feeling that your life’s not aligning the way it should. That quiet voice in your head saying, “You’re meant for more than this.” That was me.

So what do you do with that feeling?

Start Where You Are

Waiting for passion to show up is a trap. The better path is to take action, even if you’re not sure where it’s all heading.

Here’s what helped me:

I started showing up for myself physically. Losing over 110 pounds wasn’t just about weight—it came from a deeper need to take ownership of my life.
I built simple routines. Two to four hours of deep, focused work each day. Not 12. Just enough to move forward.
I chose healthier ways to cope. I replaced binge eating with walking and prayer. I swapped gaming for journaling and reading something meaningful.
I practiced daily gratitude. Every night, I’d write down three small wins from the day. Some days I only had, “I didn’t give up.”

Each of these little changes built momentum. Passion followed action. Not the other way around.

Try, Tweak, Repeat

Don’t expect to find your “one true calling” on the first try. Most people don’t.

Instead of pressuring yourself to find the perfect path, try this instead:

Pick something that interests you, even a little.
Start doing it consistently. Try 20 to 30 minutes a day.
See how it feels. What do you like? What doesn't feel right?
Adjust. Keep what works. Let go of what doesn’t.
Try something else if needed.

Treat it like a science experiment. Test things without judging yourself. I didn't wake up one day and say, “I’m going to run GoodExistence.” It was a million small steps after a long path of mistakes and false starts.

Passion Grows from Purpose

Passion gets deeper when you connect it to something greater than yourself. For me, that rootedness came through my Christian Orthodox faith.

When I started taking my relationship with God more seriously, everything changed. I stopped chasing surface-level highs. I found peace in discipline, connection in prayer, and meaning in service.

I began to understand that passion isn’t just about what makes me feel alive—it’s about how I serve others and glorify God through my actions. That gave even simple things more weight and joy.

So ask yourself:

What gives your life meaning?
Who do you want to help?
What pain have you come through that now gives you a unique perspective?

Your most powerful passion may come from your deepest pain.

Remove the Blocks Holding You Back

Sometimes it’s not about “finding” passion. Sometimes, it’s already there—but it’s buried under self-doubt, unhealthy habits, or fear.

Here are a few common blocks and how to move past them:

Perfectionism: You don’t have to be great at something to enjoy it. Let yourself be a beginner.
Addiction to comfort: Netflix, food, games—these feel good short term but drain your deep energy. Step into discomfort. That’s where growth waits.
Comparing yourself: Stop looking sideways. Your journey will not look like anyone else's—and it’s not supposed to.
Fear of failure: Define failure differently. Trying and learning is never failure.

I had to get real with myself: The more I numbed my feelings, the more passion faded. When I chose to face the hard stuff instead of running, passion slowly returned.