“You’re figuring out what you don’t want to do, and that’s progress.”

Progress.

I realized then that if I was ever going to feel fulfilled by my work, I needed to change my thinking on a few levels:

1. I had to stop assuming the work I’d love would be impossible to get.

That limiting belief kept me from even trying to write until I turned 27 years old.

2. I needed to take the pressure off finding the “perfect job.”

In my youthful confidence, I assumed I’d fall into it; in my adult cynicism, I refused to work for it—but in both cases, I thought my ideal life was some pie-in-the-sky pipe dream, as opposed to an achievable goal. Of course it was overwhelming to work toward a dream I felt was reserved for the chosen few.

3. I had to accept that finding the right situation might be a long-term project.

And I had to accept that getting specific about what I actually wanted might entail a lot of trial and error.

I’ve been trying and erring for over a decade, but with a different purpose these past several years.

Since I started writing professionally in 2006, I’ve realized I don’t want to write full-time. I’m eternally grateful that I’m able to earn money doing something I love; but I don’t love spending twelve hours a day tied to my computer, balancing my passion projects with freelance work that doesn’t excite me.

That realization is progress.

It started as “I want to be a writer.“

It turned into “It’s too hard to be a writer—what else would be fun?”

That became, “I will write, even if I have to take every unpaid Craigslist gig I can find.”

That evolved into, “Now I’m a writer, but something is missing.”

And right now it’s, “I’m writing full-time but I’d like to spend more time engaging with people and doing physical activities.”

I’ve been on a long journey of do, adjust, do, to create a work life that feels balanced, meaningful, and satisfying. Somehow just being on the journey with intention, courage, and commitment feels like a major success.

Finding your passion isn’t about identifying a concrete vision and getting there as fast as possible. It isn’t about making one solid plan and sticking to it at all costs, sometimes against your instincts and honest desires.

It’s about jumping in, exploring, paying attention to how you feel, and then making changes as you go if necessary. Some of those changes will be minor adjustments; some might be major life decisions.

What matters is that we do. That we’re honest with ourselves about what we want, take strides to create it, and then have the courage to change courses if and when it feels right.

Satisfaction is in the doing and adjusting. Meaning is in the journey itself.

                                                                                       - Lori Deschene

http://tinybuddha.com/blog/do-adjust-do-a-journey-to-meaningful-satisfying-work/