Don't Know What to Study?

When someone tells you Don't know what to study? or you ask yourself should I study this?, should I accept this job, or has the time come to look for another job?, the door opens to a deep exploration of personal interests and desires, especially in the context of identifying a passion that leads to a fulfilling career.

This moment represents more than a simple decision; it is the beginning of a journey of self-discovery.

The path to passion often begins with exploring your personal interests, allowing you to experiment and immerse yourself in different activities.

What is Passion?

Passion can be understood from various perspectives, reflecting its complexity and the richness of its meaning in different contexts:

1. From the Etymological Origin and Love: Passion, derived from the Latin "passio-onis", originally meant "to suffer" and is related to suffering and affliction, which is associated with a deep feeling that can be linked to desire or to a vehement fondness for something or someone, indicating an extreme liking or preference that can cloud reason and dominate the will​​.

2. As a Vehement Fondness: It is described as a very strong inclination toward something, such as an activity (for example, literature) or toward another person (passionate love). This need to do something arises from an internal force that drives the individual, especially linked to artistic vocations or love and sexual attraction, where emotions lead over reason​​.

3. Harmonious Passion vs. Obsessive Passion: A distinction is made between harmonious passion, in which the person has freely and autonomously integrated the activity into their identity, generating motivation, willpower and a feeling of harmony with life. On the other hand, obsessive passion is pursued relentlessly, coming to dominate the person and causing conflict with other areas of their life. While harmonious passion is linked to the Flow state (flow) and well-being, obsessive passion can lead to rigidity, conflict and, eventually, to negative emotions such as guilt and shame​​.

The search for passion thus becomes a fundamental pillar, offering direction and meaning in choosing an educational and professional path.

Passion, seen as the engine that drives fulfillment and personal success, stands out as the beacon that illuminates academic and degrees options, encouraging each individual to follow those paths that truly capture their interest and enthusiasm.

Passion is what directs us toward activities and fields that resonate with our natural inclinations.

What genuinely motivates you?

Although there are various interpretations of what constitutes passion, it is widely recognized that it is grounded in a deep and intrinsic drive and perception that push us toward actions that make us experience a profound sense of vitality. These essential drives tend to fade with the passage of time, therefore, achieving a successful career involves rediscovering and revitalizing that inner connection, guiding our professional life according to what genuinely motivates us and makes us feel fulfilled.

How to find your passion?

Angela Duckworth, a psychologist known for her research on "grit" and passion for long-term goals, proposes a view on how to find your passion that moves away from the idea of instant discovery. According to Duckworth, passion is cultivated over time through exploration and deep commitment to activities that capture our interest. She suggests that we should allow ourselves to experiment with diverse interests to see which ones attract us enough to dedicate ourselves to them persistently.

Duckworth emphasizes that passion emerges from a process of continuous interaction with our activities, challenges, and satisfactions. This process involves experimentation, curiosity and, fundamentally, perseverance in moving forward even when we face obstacles. Passion, in this framework, is not a flash of inspiration, but the fruit of constant work, curiosity, and sustained effort.

Duckworth argues that by committing to an activity and working to overcome the challenges that arise, we not only acquire skills and knowledge in that area, but also foster a passion that can endure. The idea is that passion and perseverance feed each other, leading to a long-term dedication that is fundamental to achievement and personal satisfaction.

This approach invites us to see passion not only as a starting point, but as a goal to be reached through exploration, commitment, and personal growth. The search for passion, according to Duckworth, is a journey that requires patience, openness to new experiences, and the resilience to keep going in the face of challenges, which eventually leads us to discover and delve into what truly motivates us and fills us with energy.

Discovering your passions can turn into a rewarding journey if you allow yourself to be guided by your own curiosity

This is the spark that ignites the desire to explore, to venture beyond the known toward what genuinely captures your interest and enthusiasm. Imagine, for a moment, that money is not a concern in your life. What activities would you choose to do? This mental exercise not only opens up space for reflection but also invites you to consider possibilities that, even if they may seem unconventional at first, are essential for getting closer to what you truly love doing.

Let's take, for example, Marie Curie, whose insatiable curiosity for science led her to pioneering discoveries in the field of radioactivity. Her dedication did not come from the pursuit of recognition or wealth, but from a deep desire to understand the mysteries of the physical universe. Her passion for scientific research transformed not only her life but also the course of the history of science.

The process of finding your passion is, in essence, a personal journey that invites you to immerse yourself in activities that resonate with your deepest interests. This might mean venturing into new areas of study, diving into creative hobbies, or even getting involved in social causes that awaken a sense of purpose in you. Every step you take in exploring your interests brings you closer to understanding what truly fascinates you.

Allowing your curiosity to be your guide means adopting an attitude of openness toward life, exploring freely without the constraint of preconceived expectations. This approach leads you to discover not only activities you enjoy, but also those that fill you with a sense of fulfillment and purpose. Through this process, what initially may have seemed like a simple interest or hobby can reveal itself as a true passion that shapes the direction of your life and career.

Thus, the journey toward passion becomes a continuous exploration, where each experience, each new learning, contributes to defining and refining your true passions. This path is full of discoveries, of moments of joy and fulfillment, which together make up the mosaic of a life lived with passion and purpose.

Finding Flow to reach the peak of creativity and focus

The Flow state or state of flow, encapsulates those moments when we immerse ourselves completely in an activity, to the point where the outside world seems to fade away.

This phenomenon transcends cultural and professional barriers, manifesting itself in a variety of fields, from the arts to business. Characterized by absolute concentration, this state is reached when the challenges present in a task use our skills to the fullest, producing deep enjoyment and often, a distorted notion of time.

The key to accessing this state lies in taking on tasks that are not only meaningful and challenging, but are also aligned with our abilities, allowing an expansion of our skills and providing deep personal satisfaction.

The state of flow, known for fostering a high level of immersion and satisfaction in activities, has been widely researched, revealing complexities in its understanding and measurement. Recent research has advanced the differentiation between "shallow" and "deep" flow states, suggesting a continuous nature of this phenomenon, where the intensity of flow varies according to the balance between challenges and skills, as well as attention and engagement with the task (Moneta, 2021). In addition, the neurocognitive basis of flow has been explored, identifying the transient hypofrontality hypothesis, which describes a temporary reduction of activity in the prefrontal cortex during altered states of consciousness, including flow.

This decrease in prefrontal activity is associated with an increase in efficiency in automated tasks and a focus on implicit processing (Dietrich, 2004). Other theories highlight the synchronization of attentional and reward neural networks, contributing to an optimal and rewarding experience during the Flow state (Weber et al., 2009; Gold and Ciorciari, 2020).

These perspectives broaden our understanding of flow, beyond simple immersion, toward a dynamic interaction between cognition, attention, and the environment.

Giovanni B. Moneta (2021) suggests that flow can be "shallow" or "deep", depending on how immersed you feel in an activity. Arne Dietrich (2004) explains that when you are in a Flow state, parts of your brain that usually overthink calm down, allowing you to focus better. Gold and Ciorciari (2020) talk about how your brain synchronizes attention and reward areas, making you really enjoy what you are doing and feel great doing it. Imagine you are playing a video game and you lose track of time because you are totally absorbed in the game; that is being in Flow.

1. Shallow vs. Deep Flow (Moneta, 2021): Imagine you are playing your favorite video game. If you are "in Flow," but you are still aware of time and the distractions around you, you are experiencing shallow flow. In contrast, if you dive so deep into the game that you lose track of time and completely forget about the outside world, you are in deep flow. It's like when you are so absorbed in a movie that you don't even realize an hour has passed.

2. Transient Hypofrontality (Dietrich, 2004): This concept may sound complicated, but it basically means that when you are in a flow state, certain parts of your brain that are normally very active, like the one that worries about the future or reflects on the past, calm down a bit. This allows you to concentrate more on what you are doing in the present moment, without being distracted by other things.

3. Brain Synchronization (Weber et al., 2009; Gold and Ciorciari, 2020): When you are in flow, your brain works in an amazing way. The areas in charge of paying attention and feeling good when you achieve something coordinate perfectly. It's as if all the pieces of a puzzle fit together perfectly, and you feel great as you make progress in your task or activity, whether studying for an exam, playing a musical instrument, or practicing sports.

The essence that gives purpose and direction to your life

The concept of Ikigai, rooted in Japanese wisdom, offers us a window into a life of fulfillment and meaning.

"Ikigai" combines "iki", which refers to life, and "gai", which means value or worth, weaving a philosophy that suggests we all possess a reason for being, a core of existence that evolves with us. This philosophy holds that discovering your Ikigai involves finding the perfect balance between what you love, what the world needs, what can sustain you financially and what you do exceptionally well.

The search for Ikigai becomes a process of alignment where passion, mission, vocation and career intersect, creating days full of meaning.

It is about finding joy in activities that you not only enjoy but in which you excel, recognizing how your skills can meet the needs of the world and, at the same time, how you can make a living from it. This intersection reveals a path toward an authentically enriching life.

The relevance of living in accordance with your Ikigai is also reflected in studies on well-being and longevity. Research such as that carried out by psychologist Michiko Kumano, suggests that those who identify and live according to their Ikigai can enjoy greater life satisfaction and more robust health. Through the analysis of life patterns, this type of study shows how a sense of purpose acts as a pillar for a longer and happier life.

Ikigai is not limited to being a personal search for happiness; it is a call to contribute to collective well-being. By finding and living your Ikigai, you not only benefit personally, but you also offer your gifts and talents to the world, enriching the lives of others.

Discovering your Ikigai invites you to deep introspection and personal exploration, encouraging you to ask yourself how you can integrate what you love, what you need to live on, what the world needs from you, and what you are able to do better than anyone else. This search is a journey toward self-knowledge, a continuous process of alignment and readjustment that reflects the dynamism of life itself.

The Ikigai is not simply a destination, but a process of constant growth, a guide toward a life of fulfillment where each day is an expression of your most authentic self. This path toward self-fulfillment and service to others offers a deep sense of satisfaction and a legacy of positive impact on the world.

Identify your interests

NoSeQueEstudiar is a tool that uses the Holland methodology to recommend degrees and help identify interests. Interests refer to those activities that a person wants to know or learn more about. Understanding one's passion begins with knowing their interests. These are not only discovered, but can also be developed over time.

One of the most common methodologies to identify interests is the Holland RIASEC model. This model suggests that people's interests can be grouped into six personality types:

• Realistic
• Investigative
• Artistic
• Social
• Enterprising
• Conventional

Each of these types has a series of activities, beliefs, skills, values and associated characteristics. John Holland, the American psychologist behind the development of this model, argues that people tend to seek work environments that allow them to use their skills and pursue their interests, while at the same time expressing their personal attitudes and values.

The occupational interests inventory of Holland assesses the level of interest of a person in these six occupational areas. This helps to understand which jobs are most suitable according to individual interests and talents. For example, someone with a high interest in artistic activities could find satisfaction in degrees related to creative expression, such as music, art or design.

The NoSeQueEstudiar test provides a structured guide for identifying vocational interests and preferences, offering personalized recommendations about the degrees that could be the best fit. This tool helps individuals make informed decisions about their educational and professional future, aligning their goals and skills with the opportunities available in the job market. Discover your interests and find your path to a rewarding career!

Common challenges to discovering your passion

Connecting with your passion is often hindered by several factors, with the financial challenges and lack of time being the most prevalent. The need to ensure our survival and economic well-being can lead us to prioritize jobs for their monetary aspect, setting aside our true passions. In addition, the current pace of life, full of responsibilities and commitments, often leaves us little room for personal exploration and developing our true inclinations.

One of the most common challenges to establishing your passion and purpose is the need to focus on your financial situation. Money is crucial for our personal survival and, in most cases, our professional decisions are mainly influenced by finances. In addition, the time factor also plays a crucial role. Often, we find ourselves so immersed in daily responsibilities that we do not devote enough time and energy to exploring our passions and discovering what truly excites us.

For example, consider Warren Buffett, the famous investor and philanthropist. Despite his busy schedule and financial commitments, Buffett has always found time to follow his passion for investing and business management, which eventually led him to financial and personal success.

There are people like Elon Musk, a renowned entrepreneur in the technology sector, who insist that the key to doing what you love lies in finding time to explore your genuine interests, even when financial concerns are a reality.

Oprah Winfrey, the famous leader and television presenter, found time to follow her passion for media despite initial financial limitations.

Sofía Vergara, renowned Colombian actress, faced financial challenges in her early days. However, her passion for acting drove her to move forward, balancing jobs and auditions until achieving success in Hollywood. Her story is an example of how, despite financial difficulties, it is possible to find and pursue your true passion.

Lionel Messi, one of the most outstanding footballers from Argentina and the world, had to overcome significant obstacles since childhood, including health problems that threatened his football career. Despite these challenges, Messi dedicated time and effort to follow his passion for football, which ultimately led him to achieve unprecedented success in the sport.

Shakira, the famous Colombian singer and songwriter, is another inspiring example. From a very young age, Shakira showed an innate passion for music and dance, but she had to face rejection and financial hardship before achieving worldwide recognition. Her determination and commitment to her passion led her to become one of the most influential artists in Latin music.

I understand that this may seem challenging, especially if you have significant financial responsibilities. You may have family members who depend on your income, a lifestyle you would like to maintain, or debts you need to pay off.

The key is to commit to your passion and be willing to sacrifice certain temporary privileges. For example, you may have to postpone certain luxuries or adjust your lifestyle while you work on finding your true passion. Although it can be difficult, it is possible to overcome these challenges and find your passion if you are willing to dedicate time and effort to exploring your genuine interests.