I don’t know what to do with my life. Fortunately, digging within yourself can help you connect to your true passions.
In this article shared 11 tips for how to figure out what to do with your life.
How to figure out what to do with your life: 11 tips
Here are 13 tips to help you if you don’t know what to do with your life.
1. Do some shadow work
It’s possible that you haven’t actually met yourself.
Shadow work is the exploration of parts of you that have been ignored. In the end, you’ll integrate all parts of yourself to enjoy wholeness.
The shadow self is a concept used by Carl Jung to describe parts of ourselves that we either suppress or don’t acknowledge. Meanwhile, this stranger within us is calling the shots in our lives from behind the scenes.
Living with a shadow self feels like I have no idea what I’m doing in our careers and relationships. How do you make decisions when you’re a stranger to yourself?
2. Abandon the idea of a “life’s purpose”
Many people think they have to achieve something to matter as a person. The truth is that not everyone is fueled by a great mission. Yes, it’s true, some people discover a passion early on that drives all of their life choices. This is rare.
But why don’t I know what I want to do with my life? A number of things could be going on. See if any of these strikes cords:
- Your motivations and values are different from what’s valued in your household. Let’s say you have high-achieving siblings who value money or titles. If that’s not what you value, you may have a hard time finding your own passion because other pursuits are looked down on in your family.
- You were never encouraged to pursue your talents or interests as a child.
What do you do when you don’t know what to do? The next obvious step is good enough. Not everyone has a big, grand purpose that drives their decisions.
You can still find purpose in creating a full life.
3. Decide what you don’t want to do with your life
We are going to get practical with this next tip. Decide what you definitely don’t want to do.
Make a list! Name five situations that you strongly dislike. For example, your list might look like this:
- Spending time alone.
- Feeling isolated.
- Uncertainty.
- Doing the same things over and over again.
If I were helping a person who made this list move forward, I’d know a few things immediately. They like to feel connected. They also like predictability.
My suggestion would be that this person would be happiest in a fast-paced environment that involves clients or patients. What are your dislikes revealing about what you want in life?
4. Think about the last time you lost track of time
Okay, what do you love? Think about the last time you lost track of time. I’m talking about getting so caught up in an activity you didn’t think about anything else! This could help you to get an idea of what matters to you.
I’m not saying that everyone can expect to get paid to do what they love. However, knowing your likes and dislikes is a starting point!
5. Let go of embarrassment
Some are secret writers, and others are secret singers. You will often flounder in life if your subconscious feels that you’re not being authentic.
6. Decide “who” you want to be instead of “what” you want to be
The “What am I supposed to do with my life” question usually refers to your career. However, we are more than our jobs. Ask who you want to be instead of what you want to be.
Take the pressure off of finding the perfect career for a moment. Think about the traits you’d like to cultivate instead. You might find that you also reach career goals along the way!
7. Be careful about your inspirations
There’s nothing wrong with having role models. However, it can be easy to get caught up in someone else’s dream. Don’t assume you have to follow the same trajectory as your role models. Give yourself the grace to work at your own pace.
8. Set realistic goals
Discover what to do with your life in baby steps. If you’re in “I have no idea what I’m doing” mode right now, here are some tips to stop the spiral:
- Do one thing today that you’ll thank yourself for in a month. This could be sending out a resume, connecting with a good career contact, or just going to the gym.
- Commit to doing three acts of self-care by noon every day. They can be as simple as making the bed or feeding yourself breakfast.
- If you have a career goal, set a deadline for getting a new position or enrolling in training that will get you to your goal.
9. Look at age as nothing more than a number
People often put artificial timers on when they should begin a career, get married, buy a house, or reach other milestones. When we stop changing, we stop growing. Look at the “not sure what to do with my life” question as an exciting challenge.
10. Assess your risk tolerance
People can give some pretty fantastical advice for how to figure out what to do with your life. It usually involves huge, impulsive changes. You don’t have to go big to find happiness.
11. Take responsibility for your life
What if I don’t know what to do with my life after 40? There’s a good chance you’ve been living for other people. It’s time to get in the driver’s seat.
Is it okay if you don’t know what to do with your life?
Yes, 100%! We aren’t born with a natural skill for how to know what to do with your life.
