Once you discover what you love doing, do it for the rest of your life. Don’t listen to the naysayers who argue that there is no such thing as a passion-filled life—that there’s just discipline. Those people merely haven’t found their passion yet.
There are different ways to discover your passions. For example, you could compile a list of every activity you’ve gravitated to since childhood. Or you could consider things you often purchase at stores or discuss with friends. Then, select the activities that sound most enjoyable. Next, research them on a job board to see what it takes to turn each one into a viable career. And if you want the utmost passion, find ways to combine as many of your passions as possible in your everyday life.
But what type of passions drive you? I’ve listed several to consider and explore. But before reading them, consider taking a free personality test. It’ll reveal your personality type. Mine is INFJ, which stands for introverted, intuitive, feeling, and judging. After, search each of the main headings listed below, followed by the words “… ideal for INFJ” or your particular personality type. For instance, I would search “exercise ideal for INFJs.” But don’t limit yourself to one search result. Instead, search multiple articles and make a spreadsheet of all the possibilities. Once you do that, try one of the results that sounds most enticing from each of the three categories listed below.
With that in mind, here are the three essential categories we all should feel passionate about: exercise, career, and hobby. Try to pick one possible passion from each category. That way, you’ll come closer to discovering what really excites you. I illustrate each category below with desires deemed suitable for INFJs.
Exercise. Fitness is one area we all should adopt if longevity, health, a fit body, increased energy, and stamina are goals. But even if none of those are goals, fitness can still make a difference in every aspect of one’s life.
The ideal fitness activities for INFJs include hot yoga, outdoor sports, running, and circuit training. Try one or two of whatever workouts are suited for your personality type.
But don’t let the list stop you from branching out. You, like me, may like martial arts, weightlifting, dance, or cycling—none of which are on the list. Try them all. And remember, fitness activities are best when they balance strength training (such as weightlifting or calisthenics) with cardio (such as dance or cycling) with stretching (such as yoga). Combining multiple fitness activities is essential for optimal health.
Career. Don’t waste a moment randomly choosing a career. Instead, use your personality type to Google all the professions that fit you. Then search on a job board like indeed.com for what it takes to gain that career and what to expect regarding job demand and pay.
INFJs make good nutritionists, psychologists, counselors, psychiatrists, designers, teachers, writers, entrepreneurs, marketers, and more.
If you focus on a career suited for you, you may go far. But be sure to know the upper limit in pay and job title if wealth and career advancement are goals.
Hobby. You might not yet have a clearly defined hobby. Or you might want to explore a new creative project. Take heart. A search for ideal hobbies for your personality type will give you lists of suitable activities to try.
To illustrate, INFJs would do well with writing, reading, designing, and gardening. Combining them into a single pursuit can be highly rewarding, too. For instance, you could write and illustrate a book on best gardening practices.
Once you start exploring an ideal sport, career, or hobby, you may notice significant improvements in your quality of life. But don’t stop there. Instead, keep exploring your passions until you find a blend that leaves you stimulated throughout the day. That’s the sign you discovered your ideal recipe for a vibrant life.
