Ten tips on finding your passion at midlife, by Rachel Green.

1. Midlife is about what's important, about following your passion, about following your dreams. So here are 10 tips on how to find your passion.

2. What are your strenths?
   Write down what your strengths are. Are you using them?

3. Advertise Yourself
   Write an advert on yourself for a personal column. All those glowing adjectives about yourself - are they obvious in the way you live your life at the moment?

4. Notice what you do in life
   Monitor the things you do in your life and notice which things leave you feeling good about yourself and which leave you drained or down. Work out ways to do more of the former and less of the latter.

5. If you won Lotto
   Ask yourself - if I won Lotto tomorrow what would I do differently in my life? Now find ways to do it without winning.

6. Happiness
   Ask yourself - what would really make me happy? Find ways to do it.

7. Do the important things
   Ask yourself - if you only had 2 more years to live, what would you most want to do. Find ways to do it now. Don't keep putting the important things off.

8. Keep a list
   Ask your friends and family what things they think you're really good at. Keep a list. Then look at your life and work out whether you are using your strengths and if not, work out how to.

9. Hold onto your dreams
   What did you always dream of doing as a child, around the age of six or seven. Have you done those things? If not, can you still do them?

10. Values
    What values did you support as a teenager - were you active in a political party, a social group, in wanting to do voluntary service overseas - what? Did you continue to support those values? If not, would they still be important now?

11. How do you want to be remembered
    Decide what you'd like your epitaph to say and make sure your life allows that to happen!

12. Be passionate, have a purpose, do what's important and happiness will come to you.

Further information

There are inspiring stories on coping with Midlife in the book: "Midlife and Happiness".

Please note:
The information in this article is in no way a substitute for proper medical advice or psychological counselling. The tips are only of a general nature - please seek face-to-face professional help for your individual needs.

May you find contentment at Midlife.
Best wishes,
Rachel Green
PO Box 344, Kelmscott, Western Australia 6991.
Phone: +61 8 9390 1188. Fax +61 8 9390 1199
E-mail: