Do you want to find what you want to do with your life. Many people today wander around, wasting the best part of their lives only to realize they didn’t find it purposeful. Some come to this realization later in life when they feel it is too late to make a change or pursue a purposeful life. This doesn’t need to happen to you if you understand how to find what you want to do.
As we grow up from childhood to our teen years and then into adulthood, we are faced with many opportunities.
The thing with some of these seeming opportunities is that they aren’t opportunities but threats.
Some people only discover this after they must have invested time, energy, efforts, and even other resources in pursuing them.
Many today spend hours working at jobs that give them little to no satisfaction, joy, or fulfillment.
Some do not even know what type of career they want to pursue and are often left in a confused state as far as this is concerned.
Whatever the case, these people have one thing in common, which is that do not know what they want to do.
This is a dangerous situation to be in because you might find yourself bending to the opinions and direction that others want you to go.
You would be swayed around so to speak, by parents, guardians, tutors, friends, or even acquaintances.
Hence, you lose control over one of the major things you should be primarily responsible for; your own life.
You might also waste your most productive years because you lack direction.
To avoid this, you need to learn how to find what you want to do in life.
What It Means to Find What You Want to Do
What professions or careers do you find around you?
Perhaps you know people who are medical practitioners, whose goal and drive in life is to help others live healthy lives.
You might also know of people around you who are motivational and inspirational speakers, with the sole goal of helping people be the best of who they are meant to be.
Now, what do you do?
It could be that you currently work a job that pays the bills and might be what you love to do or not.
You might also be currently running a business you established, and you see yourself as an entrepreneur.
What counts is whether or not you are currently doing what you want to do.
Some today are disillusioned with life and find no joy or satisfaction in life because they wake up every day to do what they don’t want to do.
It might even be that you are not sure of what you want to do yet but you are sure that what you currently do isn’t it.
Well, if you find yourself in this situation, there is a guide for you.
Finding what you want to do is like looking for your purpose in life; knowing what is essential to your joy and happiness.
You do not need to settle with your present situation if you are not where you want to be yet.
Only when you find what you want to do would you experience the satisfaction that comes with doing it.
Why It Is Important to Find What You Want To Do
People are living their lives today but not sure if that is what they want and do not even know what they want.
The problem with that is that these people are not finding purpose in their lives, and usually end up disappointed.
If you are reading this, then you are in the right place, as you can learn how to avoid that path.
Here are some of the benefits of finding what you want to do and doing it fast, showing its importance:
It Gives Your Life Focus and Clarity
There are few things worse than spending many years of your life chasing or going after futile endeavors.
That is what happens when you do not understand what you want to do in life.
Imagine someone who has spent 20 years working for an organization, only to realize in his late 50s or early 60s that he doesn’t find fulfillment in it.
That would be years wasted you would agree.
The individual could be said to have pursued futile things or endeavors with the time that would have been used for better endeavors; what he wants to do.
Therefore, when you learn how to find what you want to do, and find it soon, it can help you avoid that path.
Instead, your life has a focus and clarity on where you are headed.
It Helps You Take Control of Your Life
Another benefit of finding and knowing what you want to do is that it prevents you from being tossed around by others.
Usually, there are different influences we have today on our professional journey, both the ones we asked for and not.
Most of these advisers such as parents, guardians, and academic tutors want the best for us, and hence their suggestions and advice.
However, is the best they want for us actually what we want for ourselves?
The career path that your parent or tutor wants you to choose might have great potential for success, but still not be what you want.
If you do not learn what you want to do and do that on time, you might fall under the control of these.
They might take control of your life, pushing you around or showing you where you should go.
And that might not be the best for you.
Finding and Doing What You Want To Do Builds Passion for It
Did you remember the last time someone asked you to do something that doesn’t interest you and you do not want to do?
It might be that the person asked that you participate in an exercise routine that you do not find important or enjoyable.
How did you approach that task?
You most likely did it with little or no passion for it.
That is the same thing that happens when you choose a career that you do not want or do what you don’t like.
In this circumstance, developing a passion for what you do can be quite difficult.
On the contrary, when you find what you want to do and end up doing it, the passion for it comes naturally.
And of course, that passion is essential for greater efficiency in executing that task and getting results.
It Helps You Find Enjoyment, Satisfaction, and Fulfilment in Life
One reason why some people today do not have fulfillment in their life and are not satisfied with life is that they constantly do what they do not want to do.
When you do what you do not want to do regularly, it can steal your joy as you do it with sighing and not with joy.
However, once you find what you want to do, and you start to do it, it doesn’t feel like work or a burden.
Even if this is your job, it comes off as more of a hobby, and that is where the real satisfaction and fulfillment come in.
You Get Better Results and Success Professionally
A key to better productivity and success professionally is being adequately motivated on whatever it is you do.
This is something you lack when you constantly have to do what you don’t want to do.
In this case, intrinsic motivation becomes difficult to come by, and this in turn will affect your productivity.
On the other hand, when you find what you want to do and you do it, you have more motivation.
This motivation and drive for success push you to give your best on the job.
And when you consistently give your best in what you do, the results will be excellent and success is easier to come by.
It Helps You Build Values
Finding your purpose in life also comes with developing the right values that guide your way of life.
When you are busy doing what you do not want to do, anything goes, and bad habits might develop.
This is because of the lack of interest in the process or results of that endeavor.
However, when you do what you want to do, you put yourself into it and in the process develop key core values.
You have a clear understanding of what right and wrong are for you, and this directs you in your decisions and actions.
How to Find What You Want To Do – The Search Process
At this point, you are now ready to find what you want to do in life.
But having made this decision, there are important steps you need to take in the search process, so your search is successful.
Let us walk you through the process.
Here are about ten(10) practical steps you need to take to find what you want to do and do it now:
Know What You Don’t Want
Usually, the first and arguably best approach to finding what you want to do is knowing what you don’t want.
Sometimes, we take the direct approach of thinking about what we think will make us happy.
We go ahead to pursue those things, only to come to the painful realization that the happiness we seek eludes us.
To remedy this problem, it is better to first think about the kind of life we don’t want for ourselves.
Once you know this, then you can start working on what to do to avoid that which you do not want.
Consider What Makes You Truly Happy
Another step you can take in finding out what you want to do is considering the things that give you true happiness in life.
Therefore, devote time to figuring out what things contribute to your happiness in life.
It could be owning a successful business, being financially free, having a peaceful home or building a family, or going on vacations, or traveling.
When you can identify what makes you truly happy, then you have a pointer to what you should want to do.
There is no point living life and not finding joy or satisfaction in it, and a life spent doing what makes you happy is never a waste.
Hence, it is important to prioritize your happiness when choosing what you want to do.
What Are You Passionate About?
Here is a question you need to ask yourself as you try to find what you want to do.
This is closely related to the point above on considering the things that make you happy, as happiness and passion go hand in hand.
As you think about what gives you joy, you also need to consider what you do with so much attention to detail and passion.
It is when you do these things that you don’t feel like you are performing a duty or a chore.
They come as something you enjoy doing, and they should play a major part in helping you find what you want to do.
Make A Note of What an “Ideal” Life Means to You
Another way you can successfully find what you want to do is to think about what the ideal life means to you.
You can start by writing down how you want your ideal day to look like.
Then you can expand this to an ideal week, month, and then year.
Try to be as open and sincere with yourself as possible as you make this note or write down a list for this.
This gives you direction as to what kind of life you want and points you in the direction of what you want to do to enjoy that life.
Reminisce Your Best Experiences in Life (Yet)
Maybe you have two or more things you currently do but need to find that which you want to do.
If so, it helps to take a moment and relive past experiences you’ve had in life, especially your best achievements.
What moments in your life were the best for you, that came with the best feelings so far?
Was it when you had the opportunity to take a group of beginners in your industry on training or was it when you help the needy ones?
Reminiscing these great experiences can equally help you find what you want to do, leaving no doubts in your mind.
Think About the People You Admire Most
Usually, the people we admire the most or sometimes even jealous of have the things we wish to have or live the life we want.
Hence, it is not out of place to sometimes think about these people and see how they can be of positive impact to you.
Try to figure out what it is about them that you love, and what qualities they have that you can cultivate.
Also, endeavor to see practical things they do that you can learn from.
This can help you to have clear insight into why they are what they are, and why that is what you want to do.
Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment
In your bid to find what you want to do, you cannot afford to always play it safe.
It is okay to experiment with different things and see which one works best for you.
During this process, you discover your strengths and weakness and know how to properly utilize them in making your choice.
Try new things, and do not be afraid of failure.
This process can only help open your eyes and mind to different opportunities and help you find what you want to do.
Take Responsibility for Your Life Choices
When finding what you want to do, this isn’t the right time to allow someone else to take control of the wheel of your life.
You will find many well-meaning people who will come with various suggestions, opinions, ideas, and recommendations.
While you will find quality inputs from these, you need to always remember that the sole responsibility rest on you.
You are looking to find what you want to do, i.e. something that excites you and gives your life real meaning.
Hence, it would be dangerous to allow someone else to make those decisions for you.
They are yours to make, and yours alone.
Be A Little Bit Selfish
If you want to find what you want to do, you also need to be selfish at times.
That means not always pleasing others to the detriment of yourself.
You also need to put yourself first sometimes, doing what you love to do.
Only then can you easily find what you want to do with your life, and actively pursue it.
Get a Mentor
While we do not advise you to allow others to make this decision for you, you can still do with the help a mentor provides.
A mentor will not necessarily spoon-feed you on what you should and should not do, but they can act as guides.
If you have a mentor, they can help you to rightly consider your present situation and point you on the right track.
If you know of someone who will do a great job for you in this regard, then why not ask them to be your mentor?
Their expert advice and quality input will go a long way in helping you find what you want to do.
To Wrap It Up – How to Find What You Want To Do
Talk they say is cheap, but action is the most important thing.
Hence, after going through all these practical suggestions, you need to get to work.
Don’t just write down what you want to do, but every decision and action you take should be geared towards this.
Always ask yourself what kind of life you want and take every step that leads you towards it.
When you finally find what you want to do, you can experience the true joy and satisfaction that comes with it.
