Questions you’ve never asked yourself that could tell you what to do with your life


What am I doing with my life?! Chances are, we have all yelled this in exasperation or silently thought it during a long meeting, or on a cold Monday morning. Figuring out what it is that you want to do with your life is difficult and something that most people struggle with. If that sounds like you, here are some questions to ask yourself to find the answer.

Is there someone you are jealous of?

Being envious of someone is seen as a sin, but there are ways to make jealousy into a positive emotion. Find out what specifically it is about someone that gets the green-eyed monster roaring for you, and work to gain that. For example, if you’re jealous of your sister, dig into what aspect of her life you wish you had. Is it the money? The freedom to travel? The family? Pinpoint what it is and work towards it.

Who are your top three role models?

It’s important to answer this honestly, rather than saying what you think the answer should be. If you are inspired by reality TV stars, chefs or people you know in real life, that’s fine! The important part is to decide what aspects of that person you are inspired by, the common threads between them, and therefore what your core values are.

If someone gave you $250K for an advanced degree, what would you spend it on?

That much money could get you into almost any career, whether you wanted to be a doctor, a pilot or a chef. But it’s not about the most prestigious degree; it’s about what you would learn if money was no object. This will unlock your secret desires, perhaps for studying communication, yoga or pottery. Find out what it is you really want to learn.

What is your USP?

Talking about your unique selling point, or a gift that only you have is difficult for most of us, as society frowns upon people talking positively about themselves! However, it is so important to know what you can offer. Maybe you’ve won an award, have a fun party trick or babies love you – whatever it is. Make a list of as many as you can think of, at least 10!

Phone a friend

Now ask three different friends what it is that makes you special. We are a lot more comfortable with tooting someone else’s horns! Which of these qualities have you developed and which have always been there? Focus on what it is that makes you you.

What passion did you let go of?

Sadly a lot of us let go of our passions to make way for time to work, or because of injuries for example. If you can no longer pursue your passion in the same way, why not try doing it a different way. Perhaps just to go along as a fan or supporter of matches or shows, or become a coach? Find a way to incorporate it back into your life, even if you can’t make a career of it.

These questions might seem pretty random, but they all set out to find out what really makes you tick – what you should be pursuing in to lead a happy and fulfilled life.

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