Purpose & Passion: The Guide to Combating Boredom

By Luis Alcocer MSW, ACSW

Life is a bit of an oxymoron. It is both short and long, sweet, and bitter. Some call it the ups and downs. Others simply call it life. Boredom seems to often serve as a catalyst for unhappiness, frustration, or disappointment. While all that will exist, we have a right and an obligation to ourselves to enjoy even the little things in life. I have noticed purpose, of serving a cause, be it the family, community, or greater goal of one’s self-actualization, to be a major topic of conversation. Passion is another topic that often intersects with purpose. It is very rare that these two domains line up to create the perfect opportunity. Surprisingly, I found a great deal of peace and some passion in soap making. Keep in mind that I am not artistic or crafty by any means and yet giving myself the opportunity to try something, bloomed into something of passion and purpose (making soap for loved ones and friends that can’t get enough). Below are some suggestions to kickstart open-mindedness into self-discovery around purpose and passion.

· Walk through your nearest craft store

This is really how soap-making started for myself. Many of these stores have ready-made kits to jump headfirst into a craft with little commitment to resources or setups. Who knows what you’ll find.

· Create a bucket list

As cliché as it may be, it is necessary to consider avenues for fun, experiences, and enlightenment. I would encourage you to not hold back as the idea should be for you to commit to one of these activities based on time, money, and energy. Nonetheless, you will always have something to do or something to look forward to. (Examples, visit (X) City, County, area, region, learn how to surf, visit the shop on the corner of 5th and 6th, etc.).

· Consider a change of employment

This one is easier said than done but I would like to highlight that we often commit 8 hours a day if not more to the work and any other asks it has. Workplaces can bring about new opportunities in the areas of social, financial, and personal development or create stressful situations. There is certainly a strategic angle to be taken as change can sometimes require multiple variables to be in place before feeling comfortable about moving forward. Nonetheless, this domain is often one that can promote the greatest deal of purpose or passion.

· Understand opportunity cost

This suggestion simply aims to help us recognize that there is a finite amount of time and resources available and therefore, to commit to one action can sometimes mean inability to act on another. I raise this definition to understand the importance of maintaining a balance in areas important to your values as to not fall victim to burnout or remorse about the decision.

Don’t forget to reassess. We grow, experience, age, gain, and lose. Life, relationships, people, experiences shape, influence, and reinforce us. We are not married to our purposes or passions and as a result, we must reassess to ensure we remain on the right path, not necessarily the initial one.