Day 111: Rediscovering Your Passions

Why Passion Withers

At some point in life, we set parts of ourselves aside. Maybe it was the art you stopped making, the instrument left to gather dust, or the dreams you told yourself were impractical. Passion often withers not because we reject it outright, but because life becomes crowded. Responsibilities, social expectations, and the drive for external achievement slowly overtake the space where curiosity and play once lived. According to a study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology, passion tends to fade when individuals feel pressured to prioritize productivity over personal fulfillment, particularly in work-centric cultures (Vallerand et al., 2003).

Additionally, research in Motivation and Emotion highlights that when intrinsic motivation is consistently overridden by extrinsic goals, such as financial stability or societal approval, people begin to disconnect from activities that once brought them deep satisfaction (Deci & Ryan, 2000). In this way, the loss of passion is often a symptom of disconnection: from self, from values, from presence.

The Power of Reconnection

But the story does not end there. Passions may go dormant, but they do not disappear. Like embers buried beneath ash, they wait for the conditions that allow them to reignite; attention, time, and a gentle willingness to remember. When we revisit old passions with the benefit of maturity and new perspective, something powerful can emerge.

Some of the greatest innovations and artistic breakthroughs have come from individuals who returned to a long-abandoned interest with renewed purpose. Consider Georgia O'Keeffe, who reignited her painting practice after a long break, creating some of her most celebrated work later in life. Or Charles Darwin, who, after years of collecting and cataloguing, rediscovered his childhood fascination with the natural world, which ultimately fueled his groundbreaking theory of evolution. These stories remind us that dormant passions are not lost—they are incubating.

Scientific literature supports this phenomenon as well. A study published in the Creativity Research Journal found that returning to a previously enjoyed activity after time away can enhance divergent thinking and problem-solving ability, particularly when the individual engages with a sense of curiosity rather than performance (Sio & Ormerod, 2009).

Rediscovering your passions is not about rekindling everything you ever loved with the same intensity. It is about tuning in to the things that still move your spirit and allowing curiosity to lead the way. This is the intersection where inspiration meets transformation.

Techniques for Reconnection

1. Revisit Your Childhood Joys
Think back to what you loved before anyone told you what was practical or useful. What did you do when no one was watching? These early interests often hold clues to your authentic passions.

2. Create a Curiosity List
Set a timer for five minutes and list everything that sparks even mild interest. Do not filter or judge; just write. Then pick one and explore it this week in a small, noncommittal way.

3. Reclaim Time for Wonder
Passions thrive in spaciousness. Set aside just 15 minutes a day for something exploratory: reading, sketching, walking without a destination. Sometimes the best way to reconnect is simply by giving yourself room to breathe.

4. Talk to Your Past Self
Write a letter to your younger self, asking what they miss or wish you would remember. Then write a reply from your current self. This imaginative dialogue can uncover long-lost desires.

5. Notice What Sparks Jealousy or Awe
Pay attention to the things that stir a pang of envy or reverence in you. These emotions often signal a hidden longing or untapped part of yourself that wants to be seen.

Today, Ask Yourself

• What passion have I neglected that once made me feel alive?

• What small step could I take to reintroduce it into my life?

• How would it feel to follow that spark, not as a goal, but as a gift?

You are allowed to begin again, to remember what matters, and to make room for joy. Passion, after all, is not something we chase. It is something we let ourselves feel.

If this reflection speaks to you, share it with someone else looking to reconnect with what lights them up. And visit Lucivara.com daily for more reflections on renewal.

Bibliography

• Vallerand, R. J., Blanchard, C., Mageau, G. A., Koestner, R., Ratelle, C., Léonard, M., ... & Marsolais, J. (2003). Les passions de l'âme: On obsessive and harmonious passion. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85(4), 756–767.

• Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The "what" and "why" of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Motivation and Emotion, 24(3), 204–219.

• Sio, U. N., & Ormerod, T. C. (2009). Does incubation enhance problem solving? A meta-analytic review. Creativity Research Journal, 21(1), 1–14.