Find Your Passion & Reignite Your Purpose
Explore practical steps to discover what makes you come alive and create a meaningful, fulfilling life.
How do you find your passion and reignite your purpose? Especially if you’re burned out or unsure of your next path or overall direction? Welcome to Depth and Drive: Finding Success Without Losing Yourself. I’m Lauren Polly, your host. Today, we’re diving into one of my favorite quotes that challenges us to rethink how we find our passion and purpose. It’s from Howard Thurman and goes like this: “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
Why We Lose Touch with What Makes Us Feel Alive
So often in our culture, whether you’re building a business or creating a life, there’s a push to meet the status quo—to follow the rules others say should make you happy. What do we end up doing? Chasing success, chasing sensation, chasing goals—thinking they’ll bring us happiness. But what I’ve seen time and again, whether working with clients or just being a chatty Cathy out in the world, is that people often start down these paths, believing they’re driven by what will make them happy and successful, only to find a sense of hollowness at the end.
It’s like when that big goal is finally met: you sign the contract, land the stage, secure the client, create the family, or find the partner—all the things. And once they hit that milestone, there’s a letdown. Why does this happen? How can we feel like we’ve achieved so much, yet still feel empty?
Choosing What Makes You Come Alive: Your True North
What often happens is that we start by seeking things we think others need or things we believe we need, not what actually makes us feel alive. It’s a completely different way of looking at the world, making decisions, and using that sense of aliveness as your “true north.” The real question to ask yourself is: Does this choice make me feel more alive?
It’s not about fulfilling someone else’s needs or doing what everyone else does just because it looks successful. Our ideas and sparks of inspiration have incredible potential, but as we move forward, we hit so many choice points. With every choice, we risk veering away from that aliveness and initial spark. Our minds get involved, confusion sets in, and we start getting pulled off track. Raise your hand if this sounds familiar!
Why It’s So Hard to Stay True to What Makes You Feel Alive
It’s tough for many people to hold onto that spark of creation and stay in their lane, making choices that bring more of that feeling. Today, we’re opening doors to a new perspective: Don’t ask what the world needs or look outside yourself. Keep reconnecting with that initial spark before making any decisions to ensure they’re leading you toward more aliveness.
Another thing I see a lot is people who want this sense of aliveness. They want to feel more connected, healthy, and vital while they’re out there creating and living their lives. But they don’t know what that looks like for them. They have this feeling or desire, but they aren’t sure what will actually bring it to life.
How to Reconnect with Your Passion When You Feel Lost
So, if you’re in that boat—wanting to make decisions from a place of aliveness but not knowing where to start—this is for you. Maybe you don’t know what makes you feel alive because you’ve been burned out for so long. Or perhaps you’ve been living up to others’ expectations, or hustle culture has beaten you down. You feel disconnected from your body, your desires, and you’re not in an emotionally regulated state. Your nervous system might not feel healthy or vital enough to make choices that truly support you.
If you’re feeling like this, you’re not alone. So many people are right there with you. And I find that we often cycle through these feelings. There are times when I’m totally regulated, feeling alive, and knowing where I’m headed. Then, a new cycle hits, and I find myself in a dysregulated state, thinking, “I don’t know what I’m doing.”
When I hit those states, there are three things I usually go back to. I hope these will help ground you and reconnect you to your purpose and vitality in the moment.
Step 1: Experiment by Putting Yourself on the Spot
For me, a big part of this journey is putting myself on the spot. Sometimes, I’m not sure what would make me come alive or what truly interests me in the moment. Maybe I have an idea, like, “This topic seems cool to dig into,” but I’m not fully sure about it yet. When that happens, I try to find a scenario where I can speak about it—whether that’s teaching a friend, sitting down, and putting on my teacher hat to explain what I’ve learned.
I used to do this with my live podcast from years ago. Those of you who’ve been following me for a while might remember Beyond Speech: Limitless Communication. My background is in speech-language pathology, so I thought, “Perfect! If I want to talk for an hour, I’ve got a ton of material.” Plus, I’ve always been fascinated by interpersonal dynamics and relationships.
If you’re looking to find what gives you that alive feeling, try experimenting by speaking about it. For 30 or 40 minutes, just dive into a subject and see if, by the end, you feel more alive and engaged. Test it out with friends, family, or even an audience like I did. Ask yourself, “Did the people listening feel more interested and alive by the end of that conversation?” You might find that it sparks more interest, curiosity, and creativity.
Step 2: Pay Attention to Your Obsessions
Another thing you can explore is what you’re currently obsessed with. What are the things your mind keeps returning to—not the worries or anxieties that make you feel dysregulated or anxious, but the things you’re deeply curious about? The topics that fascinate you so much that you lose track of time while exploring them.
Think about it: when you’re chatting with a friend or a client, is there a theme that keeps coming up, something you never get bored talking about? Many creators have these interests but don’t even realize what they are because they feel so natural, so innate.
One important tip is to start paying attention to what comes out of your mouth. What’s the topic that keeps popping up when you’re talking to others? When you’re alone and bored, what grabs your attention again? These topics are your guideposts.
If we work with ourselves in a more holistic way—choosing things that naturally make us come alive—then whatever we create will have a sustainability far beyond what we think others need or want from us.
Step 3: Be Generous with Your Gifts
Another, more esoteric way to look at this—and the third thing I always come back to—is remembering that you give to get. You need to ask yourself, “Where is my generosity?” Many of us have those moments where we feel truly alive. We have topics we could talk about endlessly, little obsessions that bring us out of our shells and fill us with curiosity. Yet, sometimes, we tend to hoard these gifts. Instead of stepping out of our comfort zones and letting others truly see and hear us, we hold back.
For me, sharing these passions feels vulnerable because it’s like saying, “This means a lot to me. I’m putting this out there as a gift to the world.” And yes, there’s always that fear—”Will it be received?” I understand that; I go through it all the time. But to flip this mindset, you need to ask yourself: Where is your generosity? Are you willing to share your gift even if it isn’t received?
If you give and get nothing in return, is the act of engaging with it enough to make it worth it? It’s like an energetic feedback loop. When I talk about something I care about, it brings me so much aliveness that it feeds me. Of course, I’d love for it to be received, to have that exchange of giving and getting. But at some point, when something truly matters to you and makes you feel alive, the need for reciprocation isn’t as important. You’re able to nourish yourself through that passion.
That’s the secret sauce many creators, solopreneurs, and founders miss out on. It’s about being generous with your gifts, yes, but also finding that feedback loop where your aliveness fuels you. You’re giving to get—not from others, but from yourself, your business, and your passion. And when others come along for the ride, that’s just the cherry on top.
Final Thoughts: The True Genius of Following Your Passion
That’s where true genius lies. If you look at the people who have created amazing things, rocked the boat, made waves, or done something fun and innovative, they’re so alive with what they’re doing. They’re obsessed, fascinated, and filled up by engaging with their passion. Their energy is so magnetic that people can’t help but listen and respond.
So, what is that thing for you? Are you giving yourself enough time, space, curiosity, and room to experiment? Willing to open your mouth, start talking, and see what pops out? Are you allowing yourself the time to discover what truly brings aliveness to your world, what feeds your spirit, and what could lead to even bigger benefits?
Remember, the ROI in our business isn’t just about the money or the people who show up. The real return comes from what we give ourselves through the choices we make and the content we engage with. At the end of your journey, will you feel proud of what you’re creating now.
Join the Challenge!
If you’re ready to dive deeper and find the support and inspiration to truly discover your passion, I invite you to join my 5-Day Solopreneur Success Skills Challenge! Over five days, we’ll explore practical steps to help you reconnect with what makes you come alive, overcome burnout, and take meaningful action in your life and business. Don’t miss this chance to reignite your purpose and create a path that feels authentically yours. Sign up now and start your journey to success!