When I was growing up, I was all-in on sports. I was constantly outside playing baseball and football and loved the sweat and work required to be great. Now as a parent, I have really enjoyed watching my four kids thrive at the different things they enjoy. Two of my boys love to play lacrosse, my daughter is amazing at soccer, and one of my sons is a fabulous artist who draws accurate Disney characters with ease. He’s much better at art than I am, that’s for sure. They all have their own things.
If your kids haven’t found a true passion yet, today is the perfect day to probe. That’s because people gain so much from identifying and chasing a passion. It leads to joy, increased self-esteem, a sense of purpose, and even a good work ethic. I want all those things for my kids, and I’m sure you desire them for your family, too. If your kids know what they love already, great. If not, you can help them get there. Here are 5 questions to ask to find your kid’s passion.
1. What makes you happy?
Happiness doesn’t drive passion but pursuing a passion can create more happiness. So, ask your kids what they already enjoy, and steer them toward activities that produce more of it. If helping others makes them happy, guide them toward a passion that benefits others. There are plenty of kids who have a lot of energy. Urge them to try joining a team. Knowing what produces happiness will lead them to finding a passion.
2. What do you NOT like?
This is the inverse and is just as important. If your kids don’t really enjoy schoolwork, then their passion won’t be tutoring younger students. If they hate getting dirty, gardening won’t work. Identifying and eliminating dislikes is how to find your child’s passion.
3. What would you do for free?
Football was my job, but I played for the pure love of the game. I was practicing and studying the craft of playing quarterback long before I earned an NFL paycheck. Football was, and still is, my passion. I still talk about it daily on TV and ingest every detail and nuance of the sport because I find it fascinating. When you ask your kids what they’d be willing to do for free, you will start to see what really drives them. If it leads to a paycheck in that field, even better.
4. What do you want to be good at?
Skill doesn’t necessarily equate to passion, but pursuing improvement is a good indicator. I love to golf and I’m always trying to shoot better scores. Wanting to be better fuels my passion. Ask your kids where they’d like to improve is a good way to find your child’s passion.
5. What do you circle on your calendar?
We should all have things we look forward to. I remember circling games on our schedule each year, usually when we faced former teams or friends around the league. You got a little more hyped for those matchups. What do your kids circle? The science fair at school? A robotics camp? Maybe a dance recital? Use the calendar to help find their passions.
Sound off: How many passions have you had in your life?
Huddle up with your kids and ask, “Why is it important to find something you’re passionate about?”