One Apple A Day #688 - Inclinations
I'm surrounded by people who have a burning passion for something. Some knew who they wanted to become since they were kids. Some live their jobs as a mission and are never tired. Others have transformed a hobby into the core of their happiness and are willing to do crazy things for it.
To witness how much their passions infuses their lives with meaning is awesome and inspiring.
Unfortunately, I've never been like this. I never had such a burning craving for something. I always found pleasure in doing many different things, but none of them was "the" thing.
This lack of a "driving passion" has been a burden for many years. I felt I was missing out on something. But the worst thing is that it makes it harder to make choices on how to move forward. When you don't have a single force pulling you in one direction, options multiply, and you become engulfed in the paradox of choice.
Then one day, I can't remember in which book, I read about the idea of "inclinations". Each one of us has the potential to do everything at extraordinary levels, but we also have inclinations. You can think of them as the things that come more natural to do.
In my mind, I picture it as if I'm standing in the centre of a flat surface. Around me, an infinite number of paths leading in every direction. Some of those paths are flat, others go upward, and others have a downward inclination. Walking downward makes it easier to keep up with the practice and effort required to move on that path, so the possibilities to become good at it increase. Plus, you may gain momentum, and what started as an inclination can become a fulfilling passion.
If you can't find your passion, think about all the things you are doing, or you did in the past. What came more natural for you? Maybe that's an inclination worth exploring to see if you can gain momentum.