When you were growing up, there’s a good chance that your parents told you, “You could be whatever you want when you grow up.” It’s something that most of us hear at some point in our lives.

That’s all well and good when you’re a child, but there comes a point when you realize that you can’t be a dog (one of my daughters wanted to be a dog when she grew up) and that queen of the universe isn’t a real job title.

So, though our passions do change as we get older, we start to write off even the realistic ones as being unattainable.

The greatest experience you can have in this life is striving for a goal that ignites your passion, something that is of real interest to you and motivates you to work harder every day. The key to living a full life is to chase your passions and here’s why.

Clarity

In this modern age, even those of us who have reached our mature years have far too many distractions in our lives pulling our focus from what’s truly important to us.

Whether it’s texts, social media, emails, phone calls, your friends, your partner, your family, your job, you are being pulled in every direction and everyone wants a piece of you.

It’s kind of impossible to give your attention to everything properly, but when you start to chase your passion… the world tends to fall into focus. It’s easy to see what’s truly important and allow everything else to fade into the background.

What might this look like? In my own life, I struggle to find time to write and create, but writing and creating are the passions of my life. When I got clarity that these were the things I was destined to do, it became easier to say no to distractions.

Less time on the Internet or fewer unnecessary shopping excursions are easier to give up when I am clear on what is the highest and best use of my time – writing and creating!

Purpose

When you chase your passion, you fill your life with a sense of purpose that not only fuels your soul but improves your mental health and overall well-being and allows you to live life to the fullest.

Sometimes as we get older, we question our purpose. Our kids are grown, and we don’t see where we fit into the world moving forward. Finding and pursuing your purpose will help you lead a fuller, maybe even longer, life.

Fun

You know that old saying about doing what you love, meaning that you’ll never need to work a day in your life? There’s so much truth in that! Following your passion means that even your job won’t seem like work.

It’s something that you love doing and can get lost in for hours, forgetting everything else around you. Nothing feels better than waking up and starting a day that you designed entirely.

When I am having an especially good day writing, or arguing a case in court, I have to pinch myself and ask, “And I really get paid to do this?”

Minimalism

Not everything in your life is necessary, whether it’s appliances, clothing, or clutter. When you have that sense of clarity, you understand that less is more and that material wealth isn’t what will fulfill you. Rather, your actions and activities will help you live a full life. So, why not design the life that you really want to live?

After raising four small souls, I have some clarity on this. I constantly fought the battle of clothes and toys for years. Now I fight the battle of my clothes and my toys. I am highly aware that the more I have, the more I have to clean and take care of.

The Pay Off

If you choose to make your passion your career, it will eventually pay off in monetary ways. Whether you are a blogger, an artist, a musician, or a makeup artist, when you are truly passionate about what you do, it shows, and success is inevitable.

Consider, also, that money may not be your motivation. For many years, writing purely to encourage others was the only motivation I needed to keep going. Getting an email or a note from someone saying I had touched their life was worth more than all the money in the world!

A full, passionate life will look different for each of us. Don’t compare your journey or quest to anyone else’s. Trust your own heart to be your guide.

Are you living a full, passionate life? Have you identified the thoughts and actions that might be holding you back? What aspects of yourself do you need to conquer before you will feel fulfilled and happy?