Our lives can lack joie de vivre, and can even be stressful and exhausting. So how can we restore our smiles and keep our spirits up? For that, having passions is essential. Because it’s a powerful engine for rediscovering joie de vivre and being happy in life. But how do you go about it? Where to start? Here are 7 exercises to help you find your passions.

1 – Back to childhood for passions

Because when it comes to passions, children are the real teachers. All we have to do is watch them do it all in one day. They give free rein to their joy, and to do so, they do what they’re passionate about at the time.

They ask themselves no questions and set no limits other than those set by adults.

So, yes, to have passions is to allow yourself to return to childhood. What kind of child were you? And, above all, what did you like to do as a child?

Or what did you do as a child that brought you great joy?

To find out, close your eyes and go back to your childhood. Find the things you did, the activities you did, the places you enjoyed. If you’ve forgotten, ask your parents and siblings.

2 – Back to school

To have passions is first and foremost to learn. Yes, to be passionate is often to discover new things, to become a student again, and to marvel at new things and mysteries.

That’s why I invite you to go back to school. But not just any school!

There’s no question of subjects or timetables being imposed on you. In fact, the opposite is true. It’s up to you to choose your subjects and timetable.

If you were to go back to school, what would you want to learn? In other words, what would you love to learn?

Astronomy, history, cooking, swimming, gardening, astrology, writing, playing the guitar?

Close your eyes and imagine your ideal schedule. Have fun!

3 – Creative visualization to find your passions

To have passions is to regain control of your time. The problem is that, on a day-to-day basis, we tend to feel like we’re chasing our time and running out of it.

That’s why finding our passions seems like a mission impossible.

So, I wholeheartedly invite you to take a moment and close your eyes. Then, ask yourself this question: “If I had 20 minutes every day to do what I wanted to do, what would I do?”

Finally, on a sheet of paper, list at least 10 different answers.

4 – Make time for your passions

Obviously, to cultivate your passions, you need time. But time is often in short supply. So how do you go about it?

Let your creativity provide you with valuable solutions.

To do this, take some writing materials and list 15 different ways you could find 20 minutes a day or 2 times 45 minutes a week.

Be curious and creative. In other words, instead of starting from the premise that it’s impossible, start from the opposite premise: what if it were possible?

5 – Listen to your jealousy to have passions

Jealousy is a useful emotion, and can even be healthy if you listen to it in the right way.

Jealousy tells us what’s important to us. And if we then take the right steps to move towards what we hold dear, then jealousy, instead of destroying, creates.

To do this, I invite you to take some writing paper and answer this question: “If I were perfectly honest, what activities, what talents, do I envy in others? On social networks, in my entourage and in certain celebrities?”

Take a deep breath and explore your jealousy with curiosity and kindness.

6 – List your strengths and skills

Our passions also lie in our strengths and skills. Indeed, we are often passionate about things we are good at. Because it’s no accident.

So how do we find our strengths and skills, given our tendency to devalue ourselves on a daily basis?

To do this, take something to write with and answer this question: “If I were perfectly honest, what are my 5 strong points? On what subjects, in what areas, do others ask me for advice?”

7 – Give yourself the freedom to have passions

Cultivating your passions requires a certain amount of courage. It’s not always easy to enjoy doing things that those around us don’t like doing.

And yet it’s essential, even necessary, if we’re to be happy in life.

So how do we find this courage? How do we take the freedom to have passions that don’t please everyone?

To do so, I invite you to take something to write about and answer this question: “If I closed my eyes and totally forgot about the way other people look at me, what would I do?”

List at least 15 different answers to get to the bottom of what you really like.

Once you’ve found what makes you tick, go for it. Because it’s not because you’re brave that you do things, it’s because you do things that you’re brave. Can you see the difference?

Then be brave! Because it’s not what others think of you that counts, it’s what you think of yourself.

Find out more:

I invite you to read these 2 complementary articles:

Discover How to find your passion: 7 magic tips
Discover I don’t have a passion: 40 ideas for passions to try out!

I recommend this inspiring book:

Find Your Why: A Practical Guide for Discovering Purpose for You and Your Team by Simon Sinek

The author proposes a structured approach to discovering and cultivating one’s passions by uncovering their deeper meaning. The book offers practical exercises and ideas to help individuals and teams clarify their values and motivations. By identifying why they do what they do, readers can connect with their passions at a deep level, creating a roadmap for a more fulfilling, purpose-driven life. Sinek’s work enables individuals to align their passions with greater meaning and contribution, fostering an authentic link between personal aspirations and a motivating life.

As noted in the book, this practical guide is one more step to help inspire others to do the things that inspire them. Highly recommended!

Thank you very much for reading this article.

If you liked it, let me know in the comments.

Take care of yourself