SPARK!

By Maha Chaudhry

When I think of purpose, in matters of fulfillment and self-discovery, I simultaneously think of “the spark.” If I were to explain the meaning of a spark, I would describe it as an inner passion that speaks to us and ignites something deeper within.

We can successfully look to what speaks to us, in other words, our spark, to help us find our purpose or passion better. Sometimes purpose and spark coincide, and sometimes they don’t have to. Because whether it is spark or purpose, it is still igniting our soul to move towards a transformative journey.

Here are five steps you can take to embark on the journey of self-discovery when finding your spark.

Pay attention to your emotions. How you engage in conversation about a subject or during an activity can be really telling. Does the activity make you feel more alive? Are you more energized? When talking about the particular topic, do you feel excited? Does it make your eyes light up? Pay attention to these cues.

Play detective to your curiosity. If you feel compelled to learn more about something, chances are it has peeked your interest and created curiosity. This is great on the road to self-discovery because curiosity will lead you to finding answers that will help you better understand opportunities the future holds for you.

Be open to new experiences. Some of our best memories and experiences are yet to happen. And sometimes they happen when we step outside of our comfort zone and open ourselves up to new experiences. You never know what you might find.

Look for inspiration. Inspiration is all around us. Sometimes it takes the form of our role models, a story we read, a movie we watch or a podcast we listen to. Explore what resonates with you, and take account of the journeys of others and what inspired them to get to where they are today.

Seek Self-Reflection. Sometimes it helps to write everything down. Journal your thoughts and get deep with yourself. Ask yourself questions like what brings you joy? What do you look forward to? What would you like to do more of? Allow yourself the freedom to explore all the possibilities.

It’s never too late to find your spark, nor is it too late to find purpose or passion in anything that moves you. As we continue to evolve, so do the things that move us. Therefore, there is no need to limit ourselves to a single passion that may be worth pursuing.