Conquer the thought, “I don’t know what to do with my life”

‍

Enlist the help of a therapist.

There are some things that a coach isn’t equipped to handle. A good coach will be able to tell you if or when that happens, and at that point, will direct you to a therapist. There are plenty of people who have both a coach and a therapist! Having this team in your corner will help you get to where you want to be.

How do I find out what to do with my life? 6 questions to ask yourself

If you find yourself wondering, “How do I find my purpose?” or “How do I find my passion?”, below are some questions that can help get you closer to your answer.

1. What was the first thing I ever wanted to be?

Now, don’t take this answer too seriously. Few of us want the same job that our 5-year-old selves wanted. For instance, the first thing I ever wanted to be was an astronaut—that doesn’t mean I want to be one now! 

The beauty of this question lies not in the specifics of it but in the general desires behind it. For example, I wanted to be an astronaut because I love the beauty of the night sky and the freedom of exploring new territories. While I have no desire to walk on the moon today, I feed those desires by visiting new countries, going stargazing and watching meteor showers.

As we grow up, many of us learn to stomp down those desires and tuck them away in the recesses of our hearts. I encourage you to remember what the childhood version of you wanted to be so you can remember what you used to find joy in.

2. When was the last time I created something I was truly proud of?

Typically, when we’re passionate about something, it inspires us to create something related to it. Someone who loves music might write songs on their piano, or someone who cares about animal rights might start a fundraising campaign for abused pets.

So think back to the last time you created something you were proud of. In it lies hints to what you find meaningful.

3. What’s something challenging that I could do for hours, without noticing the time passing?

Have you ever been so engrossed in a challenging task that you glanced at the clock and realized two hours went by without your noticing it? This is known as “flow,” a state of being “in the zone” or so engrossed in a demanding activity that time flies by. It can happen when you’re playing an advanced piece of music on the piano or when you’re putting together a complicated jigsaw puzzle.

This “flow” activity is linked to an increase in positive emotions. In a 2007 study by Thais Piassa Rogatko, college students were asked to list eight to ten major activities they participated in each week and then rate how much those activities made them feel “in the zone.” 

One group was then asked to partake in one of their top three “in the zone” activities for one hour within the next week, while the other group was asked to partake in one of their lowest three “in the zone” activities. By the end of the study, researchers found that the high flow group experienced a larger boost in positive emotions than the low flow group.

Try making your own list of high flow activities. These will clue you in to what energizes you and fills your life with meaning.

4. What do others say I’m good at?

I became a writer because in 3rd grade, Mrs. Burt read my short story and said, “Amy, you’re a good writer.”

I picked up guitar because in 5th-grade music class, we were all learning guitar, and my teacher said, “Amy, do you play guitar?” When I said no, she replied, “Well, you should.”

Now, take this with a grain of salt. Just because other people think you should do something doesn’t mean you should. But you can use their opinions as guidance, especially when that person is someone you trust and admire.

5. What do I daydream about at work?

Instead of, “So, what do you do?”, my favorite question to ask a stranger is, “What do you daydream about at work?” Why? This usually clues me in to what they’re truly passionate about, which interests me far more than their day job.

So ask yourself, “What do I daydream about at work?” If you’re tapping away at the keyboard doing some mind-numbing task like data entry, but you can’t stop thinking about the campervan conversion you’re working on at home, then that’s a pretty strong hint that it’s something you’re passionate about.

6. If I had a magic wand that I could wave over my life tonight, what would be different when I woke up tomorrow morning?

This “magic wand” question is popular among therapists and coaches because it gets right to the crux of the matter: What, exactly, do you want to change? 

‍
If you could fix everything overnight, how would you know things had changed when you woke up the next morning? What would be different/better? The answers will help you understand the changes you need to make to get there.

Don’t know what you want to do with your life? Parting words of advice

If you don’t know what to do with your life, give yourself permission to stop trying so hard to find your life’s purpose. That’s a lot of pressure for anyone. Be kind to yourself. Reconnect with things you simply enjoy doing. Cultivate relationships with people you delight in being around. Purpose usually follows.

And regarding passion, let go of your preconceived notions of it. Realize that, even when someone is deeply passionate about something, there will be times when they don’t like it. 

I’ll always remember when a friend who was an aspiring writer found out that I didn’t feel like completing an article that was due that day.

“But writing is your passion!” she said, her wide eyes telling me she was shocked by my admission. 

I think the problem here is that most of us have fallen for the lie of, “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Look, I love writing—but it still feels like work to me. And that’s okay!

If you’re feeling disillusioned or discouraged because you haven’t found your life’s purpose or true passion, my best advice is this: Please be kind to yourself. Most of us have been fed lies and illusions about what passion and purpose look like. Just because one has passion and purpose doesn’t mean they won’t also struggle and doubt themselves sometimes. It happens to us all.

Not knowing what you want to do with your life doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Let it be the springboard that catapults you to the next level. This is only the beginning for you.