Before I decided to start my innerpreneurial business, Elastic Mind, I did some serious soul searching. I realized that the path I was taking wasn’t working for me and that I needed to find my passion in life. But I realized before I could do that, I needed to better understand who I was and what I needed.
The below steps helped me to find my passion and I hope they help you to find yours.
1. Understand Yourself
“Whatever the circumstances of your life, the understanding of type can make your perceptions clearer, your judgements sounder, and your life closer to your heart’s desire.” – Isabel Briggs Myers
Take the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality test and figure out who you are.
The Myers-Briggs type indicator has been used since the 1940’s to help individuals identify the sort of jobs where they would be “most comfortable and effective”.
The indicator defines 16 possible psychological types which emulate your unique approach to the world, to information, to decisions, and to other people.
The test determines the following aspects (or dichotomies) of your personality:
Favorite world: Do you prefer to focus on the outer world [Extraversion (E)] or on your own inner world [Introversion (I)]?
Information: Do you prefer to focus on the basic information you take in [Sensing (S)] or do you prefer to interpret and add meaning [Intuition (N)]?
Decisions: When making decisions, do you prefer to first look at logic and consistency [Thinking (T)] or first look at the people and special circumstances [Feeling (F)]?
Structure: In dealing with the outside world, do you prefer to get things decided [Judging (J)]or do you prefer to stay open to new information and options [Perceiving (P)]?
When you decide on your preference in each category, you have your own personality type, which can be expressed as a code with four letters. For example, I am an INFP (Introverted, Intuition, Feeling, Perceiving).
Take the Test Online
Tests recommended by the Myers Briggs Foundation
MBTI Complete - (US $59.95)
CAPT – (US $150 – $175)
Free Tests
BBC Personality Survey
PersonalityType.com – website is owned by the author of Do What You Are
Personality Pathways
2. Understand what you need and want
Once you have determined your personality type, start researching it and doing some soul searching.
Take note of the special abilities your type has. Believe in yourself that these gifts are ones that you possess. Take note of the work style that would be most beneficial to you.
Ask yourself what you would do if you knew you couldn’t fail. If you had all the talent, support, resources, experience, etc. that you needed, what would you do to make a living?
Think about what you want from your life, what you want to accomplish, and what you want to leave behind.
Remember the activities you loved as a child. If it was fun then, it is likely still fun to you today.
3. Put It Together
Now you know what makes you unique and what has, and always will, energize and excite you. Don’t ignore this information as in it lies your purpose.
