When was the last time you created something you were truly passionate about? Not everyone is passionate about their career, and you know what? It’s ok! People are shamed for not loving their career or their job. It’s amazing to do what you love, love what you do, and get paid for it! The truth is though, that’s not always a reality. Maybe you don’t ever find that career or job. Maybe you never went to college. Maybe you just don’t really know what you would enjoy doing. Maybe you have children, a marriage, or life circumstances that keep you from ever really being able to have the time to find your niche that also pays the bills. I’m here to tell you something that I really want you to take to heart. I want it to inspire you to action.

“Even if you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way.” -unknown

I don’t know exactly who said this quote, but it has always been one of my absolute favorites. It doesn’t matter where you work, even if it’s the most “insignificant” of all by societal standards, do it with excellence! Do it with your own personal flair! This is how one finds personal fulfillment in his or her work!

Fulfillment in our work and our passions are two totally different things. What are you passionate about? What motivates you? The answers to these questions are likely linked to your purpose. It’s truly a blessing when your purpose, passion, and job overlap, but as I’ve stated, that’s certainly not always the case! In fact, very often, it isn’t, and this does not mean you have failed!

I want to encourage you to begin making your passions a priority. It all comes down to time, doesn’t it? We all have the same amount of hours in a day. There are certain things we make time for. We make time for the things we care about. If you feel as if you don’t have time to devote to your passions, let me suggest shutting off the tv, logging off social media, putting an end to the mindless scrolling. Use this time to devote to something that inspires you, something that moves you, something you truly love.

The next thing I want to encourage you to do is to begin to formulate some kind of a goal. Then begin to work towards that goal. It doesn’t have to be big. It can be something as simple as starting a garden. If you like to draw or paint, you could make a portfolio. If you like to write, your goal could be to create a journal, blog, or even a book! You could learn a musical instrument or a foreign language as well. The most rewarding types of passion projects are those that give back to others in some way. If you’re passionate about helping others, set aside an hour or two every week or month or even two months if that’s all you can do, and volunteer somewhere. Whatever you choose, commit to it though, and treat it as you would a job you’re getting paid for, only calling in when you’re too ill to come in or have some type of emergency.

So how do we discover what it is we are truly passionate about so we can choose a passion project? As a Christian, I say start with God. Pray about it, not just once, but consistently over time. Ask God who He created you to be. Next, ask yourself this question.

“Who would I be and what would I be doing if I were the only person left on Earth?”

That question right there will tell you a whole lot more than you could imagine if you answer it honestly.

Sometimes our job and our passions are related. To those of you who have been blessed in this way, I want to encourage you also to pursue a passion project! Passion projects are not simply for those who aren’t necessarily passionate about their jobs. They are a means of no-pressure, goal directed, joyful work—something we all need! We all need something that inspires us and brings us joy that isn’t tainted by deadlines, money, rules, and the like. If your passion project brings in money—awesome! But it should never be the main objective. They say in Heaven we will work. Passion projects are what I imagine that kind of work to be—the objective being centered on joy not money.

Through our passions, we learn about ourselves and who God created us to be. It’s through the passion project, we find true and lasting joy we can share with the world.