What Makes You Come Alive?

Howard Thurman once said, "Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go and do that." When I first came across this quote, I was struck by its simplicity and truth. But what surprised me even more was learning about Thurman himself—an influential theologian, civil rights leader, and mentor to Martin Luther King Jr. His theology of radical nonviolence shaped the civil rights movement, and his words continue to inspire people to live with passion and purpose.

This idea—that we should pursue what makes us feel most alive—resonates deeply with me. Interestingly, I discovered this truth not through careful planning, but by accident. Twice.

First, Magic Found Me

Nearly thirty years ago, I was going through a divorce at just twenty-five. It was a difficult time, but something unexpected happened. A few months before separating from my first wife, I had performed a magic show for my daughter’s fourth birthday. The show was for the kids, but weeks later, I kept running into parents who couldn’t stop talking about how much they enjoyed it. Their enthusiasm shocked me. I had prepared for the show, but I never imagined how much joy it would bring—not just to the audience, but to me.

Intrigued, I started practicing more, attending magician meetups, and immersing myself in the craft. Before long, I was performing regularly—enough to consider leaving my corporate job to become a full-time magician. That chapter of my life taught me something profound: sometimes, what makes us feel most alive isn’t something we seek out—it finds us.

Then, Writing Found Me

Fast forward to 2017. As I approached retirement, I tried to reignite my passion for magic, but it didn’t excite me anymore. I then considered fashion, an industry I loved, and even shadowed a professional tailor at a luxury clothing brand. But the reality of retail felt too much like my old corporate life. It wasn’t fulfilling.

Surprisingly, while exploring career options, I began writing as a way to process my thoughts. It started with a short story, which I submitted to a contest. Someone from the contest wrote back, encouraging me to turn it into a novel. The idea had never crossed my mind. But the more I wrote, the more I realized—I was having fun. Learning the craft of storytelling, creating characters, and building worlds energized me. That short story became my first novel, and from there, writing became my passion.

Choosing to Live with Intention

These experiences taught me that sometimes passion comes by accident, but we don’t have to wait for it to find us. We can actively seek what makes us feel alive. Instead of stumbling into our purpose, we can be intentional about discovering it. Here’s how:

1. Make Space for Reflection – Find a quiet place, ideally in nature. Sit with your thoughts, free from distractions. What keeps surfacing in your mind? What excites you when you think about it?

2. Try New Things – Passion often reveals itself through action. Experiment with different activities, even if they seem unrelated to your past experiences.

3. Notice What Energizes You – Pay attention to what makes you lose track of time. What sparks curiosity? What do you do for hours without feeling drained?

4. Embrace Discomfort – Growth and self-discovery often require stepping into the unknown. Don’t be afraid to pursue something simply because it’s unfamiliar.

5. Practice Meditation or Mindfulness – Centering yourself can help clarify what truly matters to you. Meditation allows you to quiet external noise and tune into your authentic self.

Go and Do That

Passion doesn’t always arrive with fanfare. Sometimes, it whispers, waiting for us to listen. If we create the space to explore, we can uncover what truly makes us come alive.

So ask yourself—what makes you come alive? And when you find the answer, don’t hesitate. Go and do that.