{"id":103670,"date":"2023-05-24T16:17:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-24T20:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=103670"},"modified":"2023-05-30T13:42:38","modified_gmt":"2023-05-30T17:42:38","slug":"pursue-your-passions-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/pursue-your-passions-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Find & Pursue Your Passions: Taking Time to Prioritize Fun"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What activities make you feel more alive<\/a>? If a passion isn’t just something that you love to do, what is it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In The Power of Fun<\/em>, Catherine Price says that modern society has made it harder to prioritize fun. She shares ways to bring fun back into your life. One of these ways is to find and pursue your passions\u2014activities that inspire and energize you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more to learn Price’s advice for going after the things in life that bring real enjoyment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Find & Pursue Your Passions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With a better understanding of what True Fun means for you, you can start prioritizing it in your life. Price explains that you don\u2019t just start having more fun because you\u2019ve decided to: You also need to create the conditions that are conducive to fun. To attract more fun into your life, Price recommends making time and using that time to find and pursue your passions<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re going to prioritize fun, you need to make space for it to happen. The first step in making time is to give yourself permission to have fun<\/strong>. Then, think about how you can free up time in your day for fun<\/strong>. This might mean focusing on your high-impact tasks at work, saying no<\/a> to obligations that aren\u2019t necessary or fun, and setting boundaries<\/a> with your phone and other devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Price recommends you use your reclaimed time to pursue your passions<\/strong>, which she defines as activities or hobbies that focus your attention and leave you feeling invigorated. Not everything you love to do is a passion. For example, you may love taking baths, but this is an activity that relaxes you, not one that inspires you; therefore it doesn’t qualify as a passion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: While pursuing your passions is an excellent use of free time, you shouldn\u2019t feel any pressure to use your leisure time productively. According to some research, many people feel pressure to maximize their leisure time by choosing the most fulfilling and enjoyable activity<\/a>, which can lead to unnecessary stress. Alternatively, the pressure to maximize leisure time can lead to a performative approach where individuals prioritize external validation<\/a>, societal expectations<\/a>, and the appearance of a perfect leisure lifestyle over their own authentic preferences and enjoyment. Ultimately, your passion won\u2019t be fun if the pursuit of it isn\u2019t intrinsically motivated.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Price explains that our passions are often a great jumping-off point for True Fun because they lend themselves to opportunities for playfulness, connection, and flow. Passions are playful because they’re voluntary and pursued for their own sake. They also often lead you to meet new people and make new connections, and they facilitate building skills and knowledge that allow you to experience flow<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: In The Happiness Project<\/em><\/a>, Gretchen Rubin makes an important distinction between fun and passion. She explains that fun (and leisure) activities are activities you enjoy, while your passion is something you want to get better at. Unlike Price, Rubin recommends jumping into your passion by setting an ambitious goal.<\/a> For example, if you\u2019re passionate about playing music, you might commit to recording 10 songs by the end of the month. She argues that setting an ambitious goal will help you prioritize your passion, boost your confidence, and bring a new perspective to your life.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Find Your Passion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you’ve lost touch with what you\u2019re passionate about, Price offers some guiding questions to help you get started:<\/p>\n\n\n\n