If you are anything like me, when people ask you what you're passionate about, you may stare blankly into the distance, words scrambling in your mind to find other words so that you may put those words together into a sentence that will make you sound interesting or intelligent. It's a tough question. There are so many things out there to be passionate about, and you definitely want to feel passionate about one of those things, but, like, which thing?
Now more than ever, it seems that so many millennials feel lost. In a world of increasing amounts of opportunities for change and connection, this is completely understandable, but still, just as frustrating. On my journey to discover my own thing, I've tried a bunch of different ways to expand my mind. These are some techniques that have helped me narrow down my own personal list.
1. Be an Artsy-Fartsy Aesthetic Queen for a Day
While the title may be a little theatrical, that's the point. Even if you have never been an artsy person, art can teach us a lot -- whether it be about a culture we've yet to explore or a part of ourselves we have otherwise ignored other the years. Taking the time to read a book, look a little longer at a piece of art, really listen to that experimental piece of music, or watch an avant-garde short film, will at the very least, make you think about something you hadn't before. Art can be political, intellectual or emotional, among many other descriptors; it has something for anyone to connect to, therefore, it can expose you to an entirely different world.
2. Meditate On It
In today's society, information is thrown at us from all directions with more filters than Instagram could ever create. Biases and agendas convolute reality in so many different ways that it is sometimes hard to know what to think. Meditation can assist in finding your own mind, your own truths, your own perspectives. Setting aside some time in your day, as little as two minutes to as long as a half-an-hour, to focus on yourself, will drain out some of that excess of media sewage and other daily stressors. Find what sort of meditation works best for you; although this is a learning process filled with patience and discipline, it is completely worth it. Not only will meditation help you to calm your mind, it has proven to have numerous other healthy effects.
3. Take Some Buzzfeed Quizzes (I'm Serious)
Alright, listen, I know. I know. I get it. The vast majority claim they can tell you what the perfect career for you is based on your favorite character from "Stranger Things" or "Friends." Obviously, the correlation is so clear. Still, taking a couple helps to take some of the stress off of this whole process. With an anxious or restless mind, you will not necessarily be as productive as you could be. And who knows, maybe the results of one of these may actually spark a fire somewhere in you.
4. Talk with some Earthbound Angels
If you are in high school or college (or somewhere else in life that has access to one of these earthbound-angels) talk to a counselor. At Clark, at least, there is an entire team dedicated to helping you figure out what it is you want to do, or how you can apply your interests. Talking it out will piece together the puzzle. I merely told the woman I talked to a fragmented list of favorite subjects in school, things I have been a part of, or that I do outside of school and she was ready, responding with so many various directions I could go in. These wonderful people are trained in this sort of thing and have so many resources and connections to offer you -- you just have to take the first step and ask. Another perspective is always helpful, since an outsider may see something in you that you either downplay or ignore.
5. History class? Never! But also like, yes!
When scheduling comes around, if you have the room to explore in your schedule, try choosing a class that sounds interesting, but one that you have also never taken like it prior. Look through the entire course list; as easy as it is to go straight to you desired major, who knows what else you could find to fulfill other requirements. If you had told me at the beginning of my college experience, that I would be taking a history class next semester I would have laughed audibly in your face and promptly walked away. Here we are -- I'm taking a class called Introduction to History of Genocide. I could not be more genuinely excited, as this is something that I have never really delved into, yet the description immediately caught my eye. Yes, it's a little scary to do at first, but who knows what it could reveal to you.
6. Say Yes To Things
Lately, I've been trying this one more and more. When an opportunity arises, and it's one that I usually either do not accept or have not previously encountered at all, I push back the initial anxiety, and actually consider it. So many chances in the past have passed by because of this overwhelming fear. More times than not now, I accept. I usually take a few deep breaths as I actually ponder the situation as unbiasedly as I can, looking at what the pros and cons are. Whether it be something so seemingly insignificant like hanging out with someone new or going to a guest lecture, or as big as a job offer, challenge yourself to seek out and genuinely consider opportunities for growth and change. New faces, voices, and environments are crucial to our growth as individuals, and the only way to find these is to step beyond your comfort zone. With this one, don't overload yourself or put yourself in danger.
7. Take After Bob Ross
What is great about life, is that you don't have to be just one thing. You don't have to have just one thing. Don't feel boxed in or discouraged. Explore, learn about things, try things. As jealous and in awe as I will forever be of this person, look at Bob Ross. The wonderful man has the ability to gently and beautifully caress the minds of millions with his voice and stories, while painting some absolutely sick paintings. He uses two things to create an entirely unique thing. Try taking a few things that you like and see how they may connect; what they can create and this may reveal to you your true passion. So many innovations are started this way. Poetry and mental illness awareness have proven for me, personally, to work incredibly well in conjunction. If all else fails, just watch some Bob Ross, that man will make you see the world in a completely different, much more vibrant and ethereal way.
