Sometimes in life you just feel stuck, and you find yourself saying, “I don’t know what to do with my life.” It’s perfectly okay to feel that way. It’s often hard for some people to find their passion or purpose and even when they do, it’s still possible to feel uncertain about the steps you must take in order to create a meaningful life. You could feel ready to take action and make a change, but not know how to begin.
It’s important to be self-aware when you don’t know where to start; self-awareness is often a first step to goal setting. When you’re more self-aware, you are better at understanding yourself, such as your strengths and weaknesses. Having self-awareness gives you the power to influence outcomes by helping you become a better decision-maker and by giving you more confidence within yourself.
If you have a hard time determining what you truly enjoy doing, it’s helpful to try new pastimes or hobbies. This could help you discover new interests, which could result in potential career options. If you don’t like the idea of that, you could brainstorm your talents. You may not think you have any talents, but everyone does. We just don’t always recognize them. If you find yourself struggling to come up with what you could possibly be talented at, ask your peers. For example, you could think you just enjoy doodling, but a close friend might consider you a gifted artist. It’s important to try your best to believe what you hear even if you’ve never considered the things you do as strengths or talents.
When thinking about what you want to pursue in the future, it’s beneficial to discern how you work best. If you don’t like the environment you’re in, you’re less likely to enjoy what you do. When it comes to careers, there are many different options. Some jobs work face-to-face, meaning having to interact in person with other people all day, while others are remote, with few or no virtual meetings ever. Some jobs are strictly during the day, while others are at night. Think about what excites you when you consider all the various workplaces, times, and methods out there. Picture your body, and what you like to do; are you more hands-on, or are you more intellectual? Questions like these can be helpful in narrowing down the type of career you want.
Once you’ve gained a general understanding of yourself, your talents or interests, and how you work best, you could begin researching possible career paths for yourself. Consider the steps you would need to take in order to pursue your passion. Also consider the training or schooling you need to have for certain careers. If the thought of going to school for several years sounds boring and exhausting, a career as a doctor might not be for you.
Not knowing what to do with your life can feel incredibly stressful. However, try to remember that this is a common feeling that most people have or will experience at one time or another, and you have countless options ahead of you.
