7 Important Questions to Help Figure Out What You Want in Life
Updated: Jan 25
What do you really want in life? What is your life's purpose? While the answer might come easily to some, most of us feel quite burdened and unsure about how to proceed. Personal Empowerment Life Coach and Executive Coach Smita D Jain elaborates upon the seven questions to help you figure out the answer.
You only get one life and, naturally, want to make the most of it.
But what do you really want in life? While the answer might come easily to a lucky few, most of us feel quite burdened and unsure about how to proceed. At the outset of their careers, many people are content to take whatever job pays the most, only to realise at a later stage that they want more out of life.
It is possible to have a fulfilling life along with a job that pays the bills on time each month. Provided you give the question the time it deserves. Answer the questions below and be sure to make a decision. Failing to choose can create more challenges than choosing the wrong thing.
7 Questions to help you find out what you want to do in your life
1. How hard are you willing to work?
If you want to be a billionaire, it will take tremendous work. But, maybe you’re the type of person who has a lot of hobbies and likes to spend evenings at home or with your friends. Are you willing to take away from some of this personal time and commit those hours to the additional work required to be a billionaire? Be realistic. Think about how much time you’re willing to work on something and ensure that the options under your consideration fall within that limit.
2. What are your values?
Values are an excellent starting point for understanding your life’s direction. Someone who values security and success will have a different purpose in life than the one who favours family and fun above all else. Most people aren’t aware of their values because they have never thought about them. Make a list of every value you have, and then prioritise your list by placing the most important values at the top. Focus on the top ten. What you want to do with your life should support those values.
3. What were your past aspirations?
What did you like to do as a child? What did you want to become at that time? What have you enjoyed doing in the past? What did you find fun and exciting? You already know yourself quite well, and the pointers from history will help you choose a fulfilling future.
4. What are your interests right now?
What are you curious about? What would you like to spend your time learning and doing? What do you spend time on without keeping track of the hours doing it?
Consider your aspirations and interests from your point of view and not from the perspective of your parents, spouse, friends and colleagues. From the time we talk, we are programmed to “fit in” and conform to the people we love and those who love us. In the process, we suppress the real person inside us. Find Your Real Self to rediscover the real you.