Have you ever wondered if there’s more out there for you? Maybe you’re in a stable job, checking off all the boxes that society has set for you—career growth, financial security, and personal responsibilities—but deep inside, you feel that something crucial is missing. I understand that feeling because I’ve been there.
I’m Islam Abdullah, the founder of Reverse Mindset Academy and a transformation coach. For years, I worked in corporate roles, climbing the ladder and accumulating success. But even with all the achievements, I found myself unfulfilled. It wasn’t until I discovered my hidden passions that my life transformed into something truly meaningful.
In this article, I want to guide you through the process of discovering your hidden passions—the ones that truly make you tick. Drawing from my own experiences and the THRIVE framework that I’ve developed, I’ll walk you through powerful self-discovery exercises, share real stories from my journey, and provide actionable steps to help you unlock your true calling.
For years, I followed the traditional advice: “Find a stable job, work hard, and climb the corporate ladder.” I worked with prestigious companies like Fujitsu and HP, managing large-scale projects and receiving recognition for my work. But despite the success, something was missing.
I had followed all the typical career advice—focusing on my skills and building financial stability—but I realized that this path didn’t bring me the fulfillment I craved. Why? Because traditional advice often overlooks a crucial element: your passion.
It’s not enough to excel at something. If it doesn’t excite you or make you feel alive, it will eventually lead to burnout or dissatisfaction. I learned that being good at something doesn’t necessarily mean it’s your passion. And that’s why, if you feel stuck or unfulfilled, it’s time to take a new approach.
Traditional career paths focus on external validation—titles, money, and promotions—but true fulfillment comes from aligning your career with your passions and purpose. That’s where the first step of the THRIVE framework comes into play: Transformative Self-Discovery.
Discovering your hidden passions isn’t about taking another personality test or browsing job boards. It’s about digging deep, uncovering the parts of yourself that have been buried under years of routine and expectations. This process is at the core of the THRIVE framework’s Transformative Self-Discovery phase.
Here are three creative exercises that helped me uncover my hidden passions, and they can help you do the same:
Journaling has always been a powerful tool in my journey. But instead of focusing on surface-level questions like “What are my strengths?” I went deeper, asking myself questions that led me to uncover what truly excited me.
Here are the prompts I used:
These prompts allowed me to reflect on moments where I was in a state of flow—where I lost track of time because I was so engaged. For me, these moments often involved helping others, mentoring, and guiding people through difficult challenges. This realization became the foundation of my work as a coach.
Actionable Tip: Set aside 10 minutes today to respond to these prompts. You might be surprised by what you discover.
Another powerful exercise that guided me was visualization. The THRIVE framework emphasizes the importance of envisioning your ideal future, and this technique helped me gain clarity on what my passion truly was.
Here’s how you can try it:
Close your eyes and picture your perfect day—not just the tasks you’re doing, but the feeling it evokes. Where are you? Who are you working with? How do you feel as you go about your work? Imagine the joy, excitement, and fulfillment that comes from doing something you love.
When I did this exercise, I envisioned a life where I was no longer tied to a corporate desk, but instead, building something of my own. A business where I could help others discover their potential and live purposeful lives. This vision inspired me to leave the corporate world and create Reverse Mindset Academy.
Actionable Tip: Spend 10 minutes visualizing your ideal day this week. Let your imagination guide you to what truly excites you.
At first, this exercise seemed unusual, but it turned out to be one of the most insightful. The THRIVE framework’s Reframe and Build Confidence phase emphasizes the importance of shifting your mindset, and role-playing helps you do just that.
Imagine you’re being interviewed for your dream job. In this scenario, you’ve already achieved everything you’ve ever wanted. The interviewer asks, “What do you love most about your work?” How do you respond? What excites you about your daily routine?
When I did this exercise, I imagined talking about the lives I had helped transform through coaching. I realized that my true passion was in guiding others to discover their potential and helping them achieve purpose-driven success. This clarity gave me the confidence to pursue coaching full-time.
Actionable Tip: Try role-playing with a friend or mentor. Have them interview you as if you’ve already achieved your dream career. What do you say about your work? This exercise will reveal insights into what truly drives you.
After years of corporate success, I found myself managing a high-stress government project in remote Queensland. Despite the accolades and financial rewards, I woke up every day with a heavy heart. I felt trapped in a life that didn’t reflect who I really was.
One weekend, I took a trip to clear my head, and during that time, I had a breakthrough. I realized that I wasn’t just unhappy with my job—I was living a life that didn’t align with my core values. This realization was the beginning of my transformative journey.
I left the corporate world behind and began to build something more meaningful—Reverse Mindset Academy, where I could combine my passion for coaching with my desire to help others. That decision changed everything.
Your journey may look different, but the principles are the same. Discovering your passion often requires making difficult decisions and taking risks. But those decisions lead to a life of purpose, excitement, and fulfillment.
The road to discovering your hidden passions is not without its challenges. But every obstacle is an opportunity for growth. In the THRIVE framework’s Reframe and Build Confidence phase, I teach how to shift your mindset to overcome barriers.
Here are some of the common obstacles I faced—and how I overcame them:
One of the biggest hurdles was the fear of what others would think. After spending years climbing the corporate ladder, I worried about how my peers and family would react if I left that world behind. But I realized that I couldn’t live my life based on others’ expectations.
Ask yourself: Who are you living for? Is it for others or for yourself? The moment I stopped worrying about external validation, I began living a life that was aligned with my passion.
Leaving a stable, high-paying career to start something new is daunting. I didn’t have all the answers when I left my corporate job. But I trusted that by focusing on creating value for others, financial rewards would follow.
The Implement Goals phase of the THRIVE framework taught me to set clear, actionable steps to turn my passion into a viable business. I didn’t try to figure everything out at once—I broke it down into manageable steps.
Society often pushes us to follow conventional paths. But if your passion doesn’t fit that mold, it’s okay. Your journey doesn’t have to follow a straight line. The Validate and Execute phase of the THRIVE framework focuses on testing and refining your ideas until they align with your values.
For me, breaking free from societal expectations was difficult, but it was necessary. It allowed me to build a life that was true to who I am.
Now that you’ve reflected on your hidden passions and explored how to overcome obstacles, let’s get practical. Here’s how to take the next steps in your journey:
Commit to writing for 10 minutes each day. Use the prompts from earlier and reflect on what excites you. Over time, patterns will begin to emerge, revealing your hidden passions.
Once a week, spend 10-15 minutes visualizing your ideal day, career, or lifestyle. Focus on the feelings of excitement and fulfillment that come with doing what you love.
Have a trusted friend or mentor interview you about your dream job. This role-playing exercise will help you clarify your passions and how to move forward.
Keep a journal where you track moments that excite you throughout the day. Whether it’s a project at work or a personal activity, write down what makes you feel alive. Review your entries weekly to find patterns.
At the end of each week, review your journal and excitement tracker. Ask yourself: What are these patterns telling me about my passions? How can I align my life with them?
Discovering your hidden passions is not a one-time event—it’s an ongoing journey. By engaging in self-reflection, visualization, and creative exercises, you’ll begin to uncover the passions that have been buried beneath routine and expectations.
If you’re ready to take the next step and dive deeper into self-discovery, I invite you to continue this journey with me.
👉 Download my free eBook to learn more about how you can uncover your hidden passions and transform your life.
You have the power to create a life filled with purpose. Let’s start that journey together.
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