Are you working at a job that, while not inspiring, feels “comfortable”?

Being comfortable provides ready excuses to stay on a career path, even if you’re not really happy with its course. It can be easy to convince yourself that in the scope of life what you do isn’t all that important, that happiness isn’t to be found in work or that security is surely a better bet for success.
But here’s a little wisdom from author Todd Brison “When you live in comfort, no matter your level of success, you don’t have a reason to move forward.” That’s right-by taking comfort over actively seeking to find your passion and make it your work you could be missing out on greater success (and certainly greater job satisfaction).

Have you ever thought “wouldn’t it be cool if I could…” but you’re not sure what the “could” really is?

“Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

Have you, like writer Ruth Zive, “always wanted to be one of those people who who absolutely loved what they did and couldn’t wait to roll up their sleeves and get busy”? The idea is inspirational, but it can be difficult to figure out what you love and in turn, how to make that into a viable business or job.

To set you on the right path, we’ve pulled the best from Brison on Medium and Zive at The Muse. Get ready to push out of your comfort zone, find your passion and make it your work!

Stout Takeaways – How to Find Your Passion and Make It Your Work

▪ Eliminate Money from the Equation.
If financial security is the defining motivator, it’s unlikely you’ll end up doing what you love. Find a way to start socking away a cushion today to pad the leap into what you love.
▪ Figure Out What’s Unimportant to You –  and Let It Go.
Time spent on things you don’t really care about (even if everyone else does) is time that could be spent developing what you love.
▪ Get Feedback from Friends.
Ask people who know you well when you seem the happiest and most enthusiastic about what you are doing.
▪ Pick One Spark, One Interest, and Do It for 30 Days – No Breaks.
Then try another. The one you want to keep doing? That’s the one to pursue and develop into your passion.
▪ Embrace & Study Masters in Your Passion.
Use their success as proof to push past doubts and respect your passion is worthy of pursuit.
▪ Take the Leap.
Until you give it a go, it’s really just speculation. In the words of Yoda “Do. Or Do Not. There is no try.”
▪ Keep Going – Consistency Leads to Mastery & Mastery Trumps “Talent”.
Innate talent can get a blaze going, but so can continually feeding any-sized spark – and consistency generally builds a fire that burns longer and stronger than any flash in a pan.

Don’t stop here! Get more of Stout’s takes on finding and living your passion and getting a fresh start.