These books will help you to feel less confused about your passions and purpose and get you on your way to taking action and leading your best life!
Trying to find your passion or purpose?!
These books will help you find more clarity in who you are, who you want to be, and how to start living out your passions.
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#1 The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The Alchemist is an amazing fable of chasing ones destiny. The story is filled with life lessons and shows the power of believing in oneself. When you actively work towards your dreams, there will be tests, but ultimately “all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” Wherever we are right now is where we are meant to be, as it will help us get where we need to go. Finding people throughout the journey with more experience and wisdom than us is key in helping us find our passions and purpose. I reread this book every year, and each year I read it differently. You will love it…I know it!
#2 Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
Viktor Frank’s analysis of his time at Auschwitz is harrowing and extremely telling of the human spirit. How do people find meaning in a world of powerlessness, violence, and death? Viktor explains how it is that the men around him held on to hope and why others did not. He explains that we must not focus on wealth or success but rather on finding our meaning and purpose and doing it to the best of our ability. In doing this, we will indeed find success and happiness, but not if we do it for success and happiness. The ladder half of the book consists of Frankl’s insights on his school of thought, logotherapy, which seeks to help people find meaning in their lives. Frankl explains, “We can discover this meaning in life in three different ways: (1) by creating a work or doing a deed; (2) by experiencing something or encountering someone; and (3) by the attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering.” This book will fascinate you and better help you figure out your own meaning or purpose in life.
#3 Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport
This book is a must read if you find yourself consistently wasting time on social media or reapplying to emails instead of getting what you really need to do done. Cal Newport explains that “what we choose to focus on and what we choose to ignore—plays in defining the quality of our life.” Newport explains that when we fully immerse ourselves in something challenging we are able to feel deeply satisfied. This book better taught me how to work in a deeper state. It also revealed the harsh consequences of my future if I continue to allow myself to be distracted by the technologies and modes of communication of the 21st century…and contrastingly, the rich rewards of longer stretches of deep thinking.
#4 The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything by Ken Robinson & Lou Aronica
Many people often believe that intelligence and creativity are two separate things. While our school systems and standardized testing have often pushed for conformity and lack of creativity, it is now more than ever that the world needs people to find their creative passions and do them to the best of their abilities. Robinson tells stories of many famous individuals, who were told they had limited prospects in life, because they didn’t fit the status quo. However, these misfits found amazing success once in their “element,” which is “the meeting point between natural aptitude and personal passion.” Robinson explains, “The Element is about discovering your self, and you can’t do this if you’re trapped in a compulsion to conform. You can’t be yourself in a swarm.” Moreover, once we find our passion, we are able to help those around us find theirs as well.
#5 Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
This is probably my favorite book on the list, as it has made the greatest impact on my daily life. I know this book has less to do with passion, but it will help teach you to instill tiny changes and habits that lead you to become the person you want to be and achieve your goals and dreams! James Clear explains the power of getting a little bit better every day, as “Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity.” Clear gives easy to implement systems that will make it SO MUCH EASIER to live a life in which you become 1% better every day. “Be the designer of your world and not merely the consumer of it.” Please read this book, and tell me your thoughts. It has changed my life.
I hope that this list is helpful to you…these books have sure been eyeopening to me. I would love to hear your thoughts or if you’ve already read any of these books before.
Another great way to help in finding your passions and purpose is asking friends and family. Our friends and family can usually be a good help in telling us what are talents or strengths are. Something helpful to ask those you trust the most is: “What would you come to me for help with? What are talents I have that you most admire?” It may feel uncomfortable to ask these questions to someone, but often we can’t see our most obvious strengths and talents…because they come naturally too us!
