What Makes You Come Alive?

Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.

― Howard Thurman

What makes you come alive? That’s a question I’ve often asked myself. When I discovered the work I was born to do after ‘wandering’ around quite a while, it felt good to be ‘home’.

I wrote about this earlier in this post – Is Your Profession The Work You Were Born To Do and shared the process I followed in this post – What Is Your Sentence?

But I’m always going deeper in this search to become more specific about who I write for and what I wish to do in the world.

What Makes You Come Alive?

Doing the work you were born to do is a feeling of being in alignment with your purpose. It’s when you’re using your strengths and talents to make a difference in the world. It’s when you feel fulfilled and motivated, even when the work is challenging.

There are many signs that you’re doing the work that makes you come alive.

Some of them include:

• You feel a sense of passion and excitement about your work.
• You’re constantly learning and growing in your field.
• You feel like you’re making a difference in the world.
• You’re able to use your strengths and talents to their fullest potential.
• You feel fulfilled and satisfied with your work-life balance.

If you’re not sure if you’re doing the work you were born to do, there are a few things you can do to find out.

First, take some time to reflect on your interests, values, and skills. What are you passionate about? What are you good at? What kind of impact do you want to make on the world?

Once you have a better understanding of yourself, you can start to explore different career paths. Talk to people who are doing work that you’re interested in. Shadow them for a day or two to get a sense of what their day-to-day work is like.

The most important thing is to be patient and persistent. It may take some time to find the work that’s right for you, but it’s worth it in the end.

Here are some additional tips for finding and doing the work you were born to do:

• Be open to new experiences. Don’t be afraid to try something new, even if it’s outside of your comfort zone. You might be surprised at what you enjoy.
• Network with people who are doing work that you’re interested in. They can give you valuable insights and advice.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you’re not sure where to start, talk to a career counselor or a mentor.

The most important thing is to never give up on your dreams. If you’re passionate about something, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it. Go after your dreams and you’ll eventually find what makes you come alive.