Image from ArtSHINE Pixels
There’s a moment in every creative journey when someone says, “I just don’t know what my passion is.”
I remember this vividly during a discovery call with a client named Myra. She was intelligent, accomplished, and curious — yet deeply frustrated.
She told me, “I’ve tried so many things, but nothing feels right. I don’t know what my passion is.”
I smiled because I’ve heard that sentence many times before. It’s a common feeling among people who’ve spent years building a career, managing responsibilities, and following structure — all while quietly wondering what really lights them up inside.
So, I told her this:
“Passion is not something that just pops up out of nowhere. It will find you when the time and the purpose coexist.”
And that’s exactly what happened.
The Myth of “Finding” Passion
We live in a world obsessed with quick answers. “Find your passion” has become a slogan — something people expect to happen like a sudden spark or divine revelation.
But in truth, passion is rarely instant. It doesn’t always arrive as a lightning bolt. More often, it begins quietly — as curiosity, interest, or a small tug toward something unfamiliar.
That’s what I told Myra. Passion isn’t discovered; it’s developed. It unfolds through exploration and alignment — when what you do connects deeply with why you do it.
Purpose is the bridge that allows passion to cross from imagination into reality.
Myra’s Turning Point
When we started working together, Myra had dabbled in many creative projects — photography, interior styling, content creation — but she felt nothing truly “clicked.”
She thought passion meant instant certainty, but it’s the opposite. Passion often hides behind uncertainty, waiting for courage and consistency to bring it into focus.
We started by exploring her purpose — not her skills or achievements, but what truly mattered to her. What did she value? What kind of change did she want to make? What kind of stories or messages resonated with her most?
As she answered these questions, she stopped chasing passion as a goal and began living with curiosity as a process.
She experimented without pressure. She tried small creative challenges. She connected with others who were exploring too.
And slowly, something shifted.
Her purpose — to create meaningful experiences that help people connect emotionally — started to take shape. Passion began to grow naturally from that purpose.
When Purpose and Timing Align
I’ve seen this pattern again and again at ArtSHINE. Many of our clients start by saying, “I’m not a creative person.”
They come from backgrounds in law, finance, science, medicine — highly analytical fields. They often see creativity as something “other people do.”
And then, something extraordinary happens.
One woman who once said she wasn’t creative is now a botanical artist, painting stunning large-scale works that hang in galleries. When we met her, she had no interest in painting. But over time, she allowed herself to explore without judgment.
She showed up. She stayed curious. She gave herself permission to play.
That’s the power of passion — it finds you when you give it space to exist.
It doesn’t require you to have all the answers. It just asks that you stay open, consistent, and kind to yourself as you explore.
Why Passion Needs Purpose
Many people think of passion as pure emotion — the fire that drives you. But without direction, that fire can burn out.
Purpose gives passion structure. It transforms energy into endurance.
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Purpose asks, “Why does this matter to me?”
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Passion answers, “Because it makes me feel alive.”
When the two meet, life becomes meaningful, not just busy.
You might not know your passion right now, and that’s okay. Focus on understanding your purpose — what values, causes, or experiences drive you. Passion will emerge as you act on those values.
It’s like planting seeds. Purpose is the soil; passion is the bloom.
The Power of Showing Up
If there’s one secret to discovering passion, it’s this: keep showing up.
Don’t wait for clarity before taking action — clarity comes from action.
When you show up consistently — even in small ways — you create the space for passion to notice you. It’s in the act of doing, experimenting, and exploring that passion reveals itself.
Try this:
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Take a workshop.
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Sketch something, even badly.
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Write a paragraph for fun.
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Volunteer for a cause that resonates with you.
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Collaborate with someone in a creative field.
Every time you show up with curiosity, you’re giving passion a chance to grow roots.
From Frustration to Fulfillment
When Myra finally stopped asking, “What is my passion?” and started asking, “What excites me enough to try?” — everything changed.
Her mindset shifted from frustration to flow.
She started enjoying the process instead of demanding results.
She no longer treated passion as a test to pass but as a journey to experience.
And that’s when passion found her — through purpose, timing, and willingness.
A Message to the Overthinkers
If you’re reading this and still wondering what your passion is, take a breath. You don’t need a definite answer right now. You only need a sense of curiosity and the courage to explore.
Remember: passion is not hiding from you. It’s waiting for you to slow down, align with purpose, and give yourself the gift of exploration.
You don’t have to chase it.
You just have to be open to it.
Because one day, in a moment you least expect, you’ll realise that passion has already found you — quietly, naturally, and purposefully.
The ArtSHINE Perspective
At ArtSHINE, we believe that creativity is not a skill—it’s a calling that awakens when purpose and curiosity meet.
Many of our community members start as professionals—executives, doctors, designers, teachers, entrepreneurs—who once thought they weren’t creative. But once they embraced the idea of showing up, experimenting, and aligning with purpose, their lives changed completely.
Some became artists. Others became mentors, writers, or social innovators. All of them became pivoters — people who turned their experience into expression, and their curiosity into contribution.
That’s what happens when you let passion find you through purpose. It doesn’t just change your work—it changes your life.
Final Thought
Passion is not something you “find” in a single moment. It’s something that finds you when you show up, stay curious, and align your life with meaning.
So stop chasing time or perfection. Start exploring.
Because when purpose leads the way, passion will always follow.
Ready to Begin Your Creative Journey?
Are you a creative or a Pivoter, someone ready to start a new career or transition into the world of art and design?
Don’t wait for the “perfect moment.”
The best way to grow is to start and to keep showing up.
At ArtSHINE, our Launchpad & Accelerator Program is designed to guide you step by step – helping you discover your strengths, build your portfolio, and turn your passion into a sustainable career.
Take the leap today: LPA.artshine.com
Your journey starts now
