At one point or another, almost everyone asks themselves: “What am I doing with my life?” Uhm, this is a universal question of sorts people ask it all the time and it’s drowned in confusion, uncertainty, maybe even fueled with some anxiety. If you find yourself at a crossroads in your career, or you’re stuck in a routine, or you just need to find a meaning, the struggle to find a purpose is overwhelming. This article will explore some of the most common variations of this question, such as “What am I supposed to do with my life?”, “What am I doing right now?”, and “How can I make the most of my life?”. Breaking down these existential questions will provide you with insights to self reflection, action steps and long term strategy that will help you on your life journey.
What Am I Doing Right Now?
The simplest and perhaps most immediate of all these questions is “What am I doing right now?”. It’s not a stupid question, actually it has a lot of insight to offer. A lot of folks go through life on autopilot: they move through the motions of the day without much conscious thought.
When you ask yourself, “What am I doing right now?”, you’re forcing yourself to be present, aware, and in the moment. It is the path to mindfulness – living in the present moment, attentively, and being wholly present. And then spend a few moments to check in with how you’re currently acting. Are your values aligned with there’s? Are you helping them reach your personal or professional goals? Are you filling time with distractions or do they just distract you from the things you should be doing?
When you need to temporarily ground yourself in the present, engage in mindful techniques like deep breathing, journaling or meditation. That allows you to tune into what state you’re in, and it provides you clarity to see if what you’re doing is bringing you closer to your desired future.
What Am I Doing With My Life?
The broader and more daunting question of “What am I doing with my life?” often crops up during times of major change or uncertainty. If you don’t know what you want, what you stand for or what’s important to you then it can be doubly so.
A good place to start is with a life audit. First, divide your life into different areas—career, relationships, health, personal growth and hobbies—and rate your satisfaction in each one. With this, you will be able to identify areas in your life that are performing well or need a little more attention.
Assess where you’re at, what changes you would like to make once you’ve done that. What’s missing? What does your fulfilled look like? Other people are using other people’s agendas for standards, which leads them to think they’re ‘not doing enough’. Ensure that your vision of success belongs to you and not anyone else’s pressure and nor should it be societal expectations.
What Should I Be Doing With My Life?
Asking yourself, “What should I be doing with my life?”, introduces a sense of obligation. And the word “should” means that there is a certain path but the truth is that life is just one choice after another. While some responsibilities (like paying bills, taking care of family) can’t be avoided, there’s no cookie cutter answer on what you should be doing with your life.
To avoid getting stuck in the “should” trap, focus on what you want to be doing. What excites you? What drives you? Switch “should” for “want,” and you take ownership of your decisions. I use this changed way of looking at things to disengage myself from the influence of society and concentrate on things which really bring me happiness and satisfaction.
The way to find what you are looking for is to explore new interests, try new hobbies and get out of your comfort zone. The only way you can easily do that is by trying new activities and careers out and see what resonates with you the most.
What Am I Supposed to Do With My Life?
When you ask yourself, “What am I supposed to do with my life?”, you might be looking for a clear, predefined path—something that tells you what your purpose is. It isn’t always easy to know what you want to do when you grow up; Some people have a sense of purpose early in life while others take years. There is no generic answer for this question, but I think it is necessary for one to understand this concept. Maybe it’s through your occupation, relationships, creativity, or personal growth.
So don’t wait for life to show you the purpose, go and pursue it! Here are a few methods to guide your journey:
- Volunteer: Contributing to causes larger than you are, can often make you feel like you are making a difference.
- Travel: Getting to try out new cultures and environments can open your eyes to new things and even reveal fascinating new areas of interest you didn’t know existed.
- Mentorship: They can inspire you and teach you what it is they’ve done differently and give you an idea of what you’d want to do.
The experiment lies in the key to finding purpose. You’re not static either, nor is life. The 20 year old is going to be doing things completely different by 40. Purpose changes, and changing is okay.
Why Am I Doing This?
Sometimes, we find ourselves asking, “Why am I doing this?”. Often as we sit with the feeling of being stuck or disillusioned, we wonder about the meaning of life. You can use it for any job, relationship, or even a lifestyle that doesn’t serve you anymore.
If you’re questioning a current direction in your life, figure out what leads to your decisions. Do you do something because they expect you to? Because it’s easy? This is why you’re afraid of change. Understanding, if you answer these questions, clarifies, and can help you make decisions that are more in line with who you truly are.
It’s time to make changes if you understand that you are partaking in things out of fear or familiarity. While it’s tough to leave something that’s familiar behind, not making the right decision sometimes includes stepping into the unknown.
What Can I Do With My Life?
The question, “What can I do with my life?” is one of opportunity and potential. This being an inquiry into what is possible, not so much about what is wrong or wrong, but what is possible. Rather than feeling yourself limited, think what may be possible for you instead for a moment.
This is one of those moment we need to see our skills, talents, and interests with fresh eyes. What strengths do you have? What innovative ways can those be used in ways you haven’t yet considered? Can you take the pieces of different areas of interest and create a new path? For instance, if you’re equally well suited working with or instructing in technology, one career option could be educational technology or online instruction.
And just as importantly, you don’t have to know everything right now. We are all on a continuous journey called life and your career or purpose is not permanent. Attempt to envelop the concept of being a lifetime learner that is comfortable taking on as much as you can and growing.
I Don’t Know What I’m Doing With My Life
Many people feel lost at some point, thinking, “I don’t know what I’m doing with my life.” During transitions or stressful times, it’s normal for you to feel this way. The trick is to not let this uncertainty paralyze you.
Here’s what you can do when you feel lost:
- Embrace Uncertainty: Remember that the process of not knowing is just as much part of it. You may have seen it—and figured it out by trial and error—but every step—even if it feels like a step in the wrong direction—gets you one step closer to clarity.
- Take Small Steps: A good way to get around not knowing the big picture is to break it down into smaller, more manageable steps. Set small ones, short term goals or try out other experiences. And sometimes, clarity can come from action, not deep seated thought.
- Talk to Others: Do reach out to friends, mentors, and other professionals who have made it through a time just like this. They can give you reassurance and guidance in their stories.
What Am I Trying to Do?
Asking, “What am I trying to do?” implies a desire to achieve something, but perhaps the goal is unclear or feels unattainable. At other times, we’re so focused on “doing” that “why” can be forgotten. But pausing and reevaluating your goals will help.
Try to journal or talk to a close someone about it. Ask yourself where you’re moving towards so your current actions are leading you to what? If that’s not the case, you might want to rethink how you sell to them.
Also, remind yourself that that’s alright – goals can change. Just because you were going for something doesn’t mean it’s destiny for you. Life itself should change, so should your goals.
How to Do Something With Your Life
If you feel stuck, you might ask yourself, “How do I do something with my life?” Usually people ask this question when they feel stagnant, when they’re bored or when they feel they have no direction. You need to reignite passion, curiosity and most important, the drive.
Here are some ways to start doing something meaningful with your life:
- Set Clear Goals: Goals give you something to work toward: clear short and long terms goals.
- Create a Routine: When you feel aimless, structure can be such a helpful thing. Set up a daily or weekly routine based on your goals and your well being.
- Step Out of Your Comfort Zone: Challenge yourself and only then will you grow. Go on new experiences, take on risks and enjoy failure in the learning.
Conclusion
Asking “What am I doing with my life?” is not a sign of failure; it’s a sign that you’re reflective and striving for more. Though all of this is happening for me, I remember not to expect this to happen overnight. Life is all about growing, changing and finding out things. But if you can break those questions down, look at your reasons and take purposeful action, clarity will abound and you can build a life that is purposeful and fulfilling.
Frotpox 