Commit to your pursuit. The hardest part in pursuing your passion is figuring out what your purpose in life is. Whether you want to start a garage band, go back to nursing school, write a best-selling novel, start a business or win an Academy Award for best actress, the most significant step in your pursuit is simply making the decision to do it. Once you've made the decision, you are free to pursue your passion with clarity.
Draft a plan. It's like the old adage reads, "You eat an elephant one bite at a time." The same is true of making a plan to pursue your passion. While it may feel overwhelming at the start, simply make a plan of action, breaking down the process into small steps. Remember, the journey is what makes this pursuit worthwhile and as you check off each of your action items listed on your plan, you are, in fact, progressing toward achieving your purpose in life, your passion.
Surround yourself with positive people, avoiding those nasty naysayers who will attempt to squash your pursuit. One of the most unexpected parts of pursuing your passion is that not everybody is going to be happy for you, including those people closest to you. The good news is that when you begin this journey, you will find the most unlikely people to support you. Don't be too hard on the naysayers; it's only because they have yet to discover their own passion that they feel the need to be unsupportive. The important thing to remember is to not let them hinder you from pursuing yours.
Take steps to achieve your goal, even if that means going back to school. Whether you are required to attend a course in scuba diving or obtain a bachelor's degree in journalism, don't put off your personal development. The sooner you get started with completing your education, the sooner you are free to pursue your passion. Just keep in mind that the journey, itself, is a part of what makes this pursuit worthwhile.
Volunteer in the community to gain experience doing what you love. Whether your band offers to play at a charitable event or you volunteer to be the photographer at your best friend's wedding, putting your passion to work for free is just one way to solicit experience, as well as other opportunities. It is also an effective way to put your passion into practice. And let's face it; if you love what you do, you're not above doing it for free, at least at first.