That last one has absolutely been the biggest obstacle for me to overcome (and one that I am still continuing to struggle with). Where'd my passion go? Does it stem from an absence of inspiration? Am I lacking something internally? Can I get it back? What if I can't? It's stressful, because I don't know the answer to any of these questions! However, things do seem to be on the up and up, and maybe that's why I'm feeling hopeful again. Feeling those little creative sparks. Making plans to do and make and enjoy.
I found this image recently and, to me, it says it all:
And I don't mean that in an "intentionally emo, woe-is-me" kind of way, it's just that it's so completely true. I am so small and unimportant in the grand scheme of things, so what's the point really?
I don't claim to have it all figured out -- far from it, in fact -- but let me tell you what I've learned from this little period of blah-ness:
It's okay to put it away for a while. I think maybe it's okay to set aside what you've been passionate about in the past. As a photographer, this has been the biggest passion that I've struggled with. I know that I love photography, but I know that my heart isn't in it right now. My attitude towards art in general lately has been, "Meh. What's the point?" I worry [constantly] about this. But, I do think that being able to set it aside for a while has helped. Maybe the old adage, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder," has some merit after all.
It's okay not to know right now. And it's okay to start vague. I don't know exactly where my passion lies, or where it is going to take me, or if I'm capable of re-investing in past passions. I simply can't predict those sorts of things! But what I can do is focus on what makes me happiest: Making beautiful things. Cooking and baking. Simplicity. And above all, making other people happy. I love to do unexpected things for others. Really paying attention to what someone needs or wants without them having to ask. Sometimes the tiniest gestures have the most impact, and I love being able to provide that. I love to make people smile.
Surround yourself with creative individuals. This has been the most important aspect of changing things around for me. I get so excited by other peoples' passion and creativity that I can't help but want to do...something! Anything! Who cares if it's stupid or pointless? It could be the first step towards something really phenomenal. You never know!
You have to make passion a priority. I'm still working on this one, but I know it to be true. It's hard, but you have to do it! Find what you love and spend time with it. Develop it. It's the only way to not only understand where your passion truly lies, but also to envision where you want that passion to take you. For me, the only thing that I have been consistently passionate about throughout has been food. I spend countless hours on the website Tastespotting.com. Whenever I'm in a bad mood, or bored, or lonely, I look at recipes. A day off? I cook. I bake. Food is the only thing that I can definitively, 100% and without-a-doubt tell you that I love. That's gotta mean something, right? And I feel like if I work at developing that love, it'll take me places. I don't know where yet, but love will always take you where you wanna go.
