You Don’t Need One Big Passion to Redefine Midlife
I've always disliked conversations about finding your passion. Knowing what you're most passionate about is great, but I've always struggled with identifying mine. I feel passionate about so many things that saying I have only one feels impossible. If you're like me, hearing “find your passion” in midlife can feel like a cheerleading chant you didn't sign up for. Maybe you've already built something meaningful—40‑plus years of work, service, identity gone into your career. And now someone says the next step is to find your passion.
It sounds hopeful. But it can also land as a pressure: “If I don't have one big passion, do I fail?” “If I just play around, is this serious?” Hearing a narrative that your next chapter must be tied to a burning passion becomes a weight, not a gift.
The Problem with “Passion Project” in Midlife
When we're early in our careers, chasing passion has a specific payoff: energy, risk‑taking, excitement. But later on, the stakes feel different. When you're in your 50s, you might pause a long career and expect a clear “aha”: the one thing you'll pursue until you fully retire. And when that doesn't arrive, frustration, fear, and uncertainty mount.
The cultural mantra “Do what you love, and you'll never work a day in your life” overlooks several realities: that you've already worked, that you carry responsibilities (family, finances, meaning), and that one passion may not reveal itself in a clear form until 50+. The push to monetise your passion further adds grit to the pressure.
Three Myths That Hold You Back
Myth 1: You must have one big passion. For many of us, what actually surfaces is a handful of interests—some old, some new. The idea of a singular passion can shut down experiments that can be very rewarding and fulfilling.
Myth 2: You'll know it instantly. Instead of an electric flash, many people find direction through moderating curiosity, easy trials, and noticing what gives a little tug. It's less a revelation, more a matter of noticing.
Myth 3: Turning it into income is the only validation. At midlife, what matters more is alignment and fulfilment. The income part matters—but not always first. The mistake is saying, “If I can't monetise it immediately, it's not serious.”
What Actually Works at 50+
Here's what I believe: our next chapter doesn't have to resemble our first one. My first chapter has been entrenched in User Experience design and technology. What does my own next chapter look like without that if I want something new? I know it can be slower. It can be simpler. It can start small. I will have the freedom to explore what really works. Here are a couple of tips for exploring when you don't have that “one” passion, but are drawn to many:
Curiosity as practice. Choose something that begins with “I wonder…” rather than “I must …”. For example: “I wonder what it's like to lead a writing group,” not “I must write and publish a book.”
Small experiments. Instead of building a business at scale right away, try a low‑risk pilot: one workshop, one talk, one small cohort. Observe what lights you up.
Values alignment. Ask “What matters to me now?” rather than “What do I love?” Because what matters shifts. Identity and purpose undergo significant changes in midlife. It's more natural to work with those changes than against them.
Embodied learning. Because you've lived a lot of life, your approach to learning is different. Reflection, pause, conversations—these become central. Not just “go do it now,” but “sit with it, feel into it, then lean.”
Giving yourself space to explore all the possibilities you see and experiment with a few is a liberating experience. Believing you must have “the one thing” puts pressure on you at a time in your life when you're pivoting away from the pressures of a long career.
A Simple Framework for the Next 90 Days. Here's a plan you can follow:
Reflect (Weeks 1‑4): Write a list of 3‑5 “interests” you've set aside, or new ideas that tickle you. Notice energy, resistances, and questions.
Try (Weeks 5‑8): Pick one of those interests and commit to a micro‑experiment: three sessions, a workshop, an online group—whatever feels low risk. Track how you feel before, during, and after.
Decide (Weeks 9‑12): Based on what you learned, decide: A) keep exploring, B) amplify it, or C) let it go. Then set the next step.
This doesn't have to be a “one and done” cycle either. You might arrive at several things you want to focus on after a few of these cycles. Don't succumb to the pressure to pick just one. Be realistic about the time you can commit to something and go for it.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
We've already accomplished a great deal by the time we reach our mid-50s. And I don't mean only our careers. We've built our careers, but also families, relationships of all kinds, and have grown in our own self-awareness and learning. We're not looking for more busyness or the loud version of success. What we're looking for is a direction that fits the life we want to live now, not a reimagining of the old or a life society prescribes for us.
When you stop chasing “passion” as one singular thing, you open space for something more. And it comes with the potential of variety that excites you with many interests, not just one.
If You're Looking for Support
If this resonates and you find yourself stuck between the myth of “find your passion” and the real question of “what matters to me now?”—I'd love to help. My coaching is all about giving you clarity, structure, and the freedom to explore without pressure. Let's discover what works for you.
