MENTAL HEALTH: Why you should make room for passions…

Have you ever been asked, or thought about, what your passions in life are? It’s quite a big question, and if nothing comes to mind you might feel a little insecure or panicked. In this piece we will explore passions a little bit more to see what they’re all about and how you can identify and live alongside them.
A passion is a strong and enduring interest or enthusiasm for something that brings you joy, motivation, and a sense of fulfilment. It often feels like a natural pull or curiosity that makes you want to engage deeper, whether it’s in a hobby, a career or a personal cause. Passions are typically activities or fields that make time seem to fly by and give you energy rather than drain it. Even if our passions have some element of challenge associated with them, we are usually willing to invest time and effort, as the process itself feels rewarding and meaningful to us.

Finding yours
Identifying passions can take time and self-reflection, but there are some ways that can help you to discover them.
Firstly, it would be really useful to pay attention to activities, topics or day-to-day conversations that spark your interest. Think about those moments when you feel energised, curious or fully absorbed, as these could be little clues into what you might naturally enjoy. Look back on your childhood interests or activities you loved but might have set aside in intervening years. Sometimes these may contain insights into what you’re naturally drawn to.
If you’re starting from a clean slate, see if you can experiment with different hobbies, sports or classes. Even small, new experiences can give you insights into what you enjoy and often passions are discovered through unexpected encounters.
A really good exercise is to imagine a life free of financial constraints – if that was the case, how would you spend your time? What would your day look like if you could do only things that brought you enjoyment? Placing yourself into this hypothetical scenario can uncover interests that might otherwise be hidden by practical or financial concerns.
To make your passions a bigger part of your life, you can take really small but intentional steps to integrate these interests into your daily routine and long-term plans. See if there’s a way to bring your passion into your current job, studies, or responsibilities. If possible, try to join groups, clubs, or online communities that share your passion. Engaging with others who are enthusiastic about the same things can keep you inspired and provide valuable connections and ideas.

Small steps
Bringing your passions into your life consistently may take time and adjustments, but each small step builds momentum toward a lifestyle that’s more aligned with your interests.
If you know what your passions are, that’s amazing and you can maybe take on some of the pointers above to make them a bigger part of your life, if that is what appeals to you at this moment.
If you’re still flummoxed, please don’t be! As now you are in a very special position where you get to explore what it is that sets your world alight, and how exciting a prospect is that to look forward to?
A word of advice is to not get in your own way. By this I mean allow yourself to prioritise your passion without feeling guilty. Making time for the things you love is absolutely not selfish, in fact it’s an essential part of living a balanced and fulfilling life. Remind yourself that it’s okay to invest time, energy, and potentially even resources into something that holds meaning for you. What it brings back into your life will be well worth it.

•   Sadhbh Dunne is a qualified life coach based in Westport. She is the founder of Ember Coaching (embercoaching.ie) and can be reached at sadhbh@embercoaching.ie.