If you’ve ever asked yourself the question “What to do with my life”, then you are not alone.
There are so many people today who feel restless, anxious, and uncertain about their place in this world. Instead of being productive members of society, they find themselves floundering.
Sometimes it’s because they have not found something that will motivate them to get up every day with a real passion for life.
Sometimes the cause is more serious – maybe they’re not in the right job, to begin with, maybe they’re unhappy in their relationships or there could even be deeper problems that are leading them down this path.
Whatever has prompted you to ask yourself the question “what do I do with my life?”, there is one thing for sure – it’s time to make some positive changes. One powerful way to start this journey is by understanding your unique strengths. The HIGH5 strengths test is designed to help you uncover your top five strengths, providing a solid foundation for making informed decisions about your life’s direction. By identifying what you naturally excel at, you can align your choices with your innate talents, leading to greater fulfillment and success in both your personal and professional life.
In this article, we’ll look at some of the issues around this topic and give you some ideas to help you move forward and take control of your life.
Let’s get started.
Why It Is Important to Recognize if You’re Stuck In Life & Benefits After Recognition
There are many reasons why it is important to figure out your new way in life. For one, it can help you get motivated and excited about life again.
When you know what it is that you’re working towards, it’s easier to be passionate about your pursuits.
Secondly, figuring out your new way can help you get unstuck from any negative patterns or cycles that you might be stuck in.
If you’re not sure what your new way is, it can be very helpful to seek out some guidance or counseling.
Lastly, once you have recognized that you are stuck in life, many benefits come along with it such as self-awareness, growth, and increased happiness.
Once you are aware of the fact that you are living a life where you feel stuck, it is easier to move on and create something new. This is where a strengths-based approach, like the one offered by the HIGH5 test, can be incredibly valuable. By identifying your top five strengths, you gain a new perspective on your capabilities and potential. This self-knowledge acts as a catalyst for change, helping you leverage your natural talents to overcome obstacles and create a life that truly resonates with who you are at your core.
Pro Tip From HIGH5
Leverage your strengths to overcome feeling stuck. Once you’ve identified your top strengths through the HIGH5 test, brainstorm how each strength can be applied to your current situation. For example, if ‘Creativity’ is one of your strengths, how can you use creative problem-solving to address your challenges?
10 Benefits After Recognition
The following are ten benefits that will come to you after you recognize that you are stuck.
- You’ll be more aware of your thoughts and feelings
- You’ll be more self-aware in general
- You’ll grow as a person
- Your relationships will improve
- You’ll be happier and more content with life
- You’ll have more clarity and focus in your pursuits
- You’ll feel more motivated and excited about life again
- You’ll take action toward change instead of staying stuck forever
- You’ll find new meaning in life
- You’ll live a fuller, more productive life
Questions to Help Answer “What Should I Do With My Life?
Let’s now look at questions that you can ask yourself to help you figure out what your new way is.
1. How did I get to where I am today?
Let’s start by looking at where you are today. This includes not only your job or career but also what other aspects of your life might be influencing how you feel about this particular pursuit.
If you have been feeling stuck in a rut lately, then look around yourself and try to identify why that is the case.
What has been going on recently? Have big changes been happening that require some time for adjustment?
For example, a new baby, going back to school, starting over after a breakup, etc.?
Have there been little annoyances that have built up over time making it harder for you to enjoy what you do?
Have there been any recent positive changes as well? What has changed for the better since last year or last month?
Have any recent positive changes in your life suddenly made your current situation tolerable?
What else might be influencing how you feel about what you do with your life right now?
Look at the big picture. Think about all of the different factors that are influencing how you feel today.
2. What did I always think I would do professionally?
Think about what was happening when you were younger. What career path did you hope to pursue back then? Who did you want to become once you got older?
It doesn’t matter if it’s still a realistic goal or not, just go back to thinking about what it is that YOU wanted to do for a living when you were growing up.
Write down these goals if they are still there deep down inside you.
Look at what your parents were doing, or the adults that influenced you the most as a child. What type of job did they have?
People tend to follow in their parent’s footsteps when it comes to choosing a career, whether this is something that they talk about with their children or not.
Perhaps take some time to contact one of your childhood mentors and ask them what it is that inspired them to become the person that you knew.
Did they ever envision themselves doing anything else?
What other factors might be influencing what you thought you would be doing with your life?
Were there any ethical dilemmas that might have prevented you from following through on what was expected of you professionally by others?
For example, if something bad happened to you or someone that you love because of some sort of job-related accident, then it might have been enough for you to no longer consider yourself capable of being a part of whatever the issue was.
On the other hand, if an experience at work increased your salary and benefits package, then perhaps this newfound abundance changed what type of career path seemed ideal for you.
3. What do I like to do that I’m also good at?
Think about what activities make you feel good inside. It’s not always about making money either; many people lose sight of their happiness when they are fixated on financial issues. The HIGH5 strengths test can be an invaluable tool in this exploration. By identifying your top five strengths, you gain insight into the activities that not only make you feel good but also allow you to perform at your best. These strengths-aligned activities often lead to a sense of flow and fulfillment that goes beyond financial considerations, helping you make more holistic decisions about your life’s direction.
Having a source of income is a very good thing to have, but it doesn’t always equate to being happy.
For example, you might enjoy playing with children or people in general, cooking for others, creating something out of very little, etc.
What types of activities make your heart flutter? What are some creative outlets that keep your mind stimulated? It could be anything from learning a new language to tinsmithing.
4. What do I want?
You should have a pretty good idea of what it is that you want by now. However, your desires may change from month to month.
What was once a strong interest in one area of life could turn into something entirely different the next time you think about it.
This is why sometimes people can feel confused when trying to decide exactly what they want out of life.
It’s important not to pressure yourself while going through this process simply because there’s no way for you to know how long it will take until you find your “true calling”.
Just try and enjoy the ride.
5. What do I value in a job?
It would be difficult for anyone to stay motivated if they were doing something that they didn’t enjoy.
The bottom line is that no matter what you’re doing in life, there will always be some sort of emotional consequence if you’re not in the right place mentally.
For example, someone who hates accounting might find themselves dealing with feelings of resentment or even guilt when it comes to filing their taxes.
On the other hand, somebody who loves numbers and crunching numbers could get so much enjoyment out of working at an accounting firm that this becomes motivation enough for them to stop looking elsewhere.
What do YOU value as far as job duties go? How important is it to you that what you do daily fulfills your personal needs?
6. What types of people do I enjoy most?
The company you keep in life speaks volumes about who you are as a person.
Do you surround yourself with positive people because your daily encounters have been nothing but pure joy?
Or, do you tend to stick around the same type of negative ‘energy vampires’ who always seem to suck the energy out of everyone else but never take responsibility for their actions?
Who would be better at getting through to you when it comes down to making important decisions about what direction your life is going in?
Someone who loves and supports everything that you do or someone who brings you down every time they open their mouth long enough for a complete sentence to come out?
7. What do I want to accomplish by the end of my life?
It’s a big question, I know. But when you take your time thinking about it, the possibilities could be endless.
Some people even find that they have a ‘bucket list’ in life that keeps them pushing forward until all of their goals are met.
It’s a very good idea to sit down and write out a quick list now and then because this is usually an effective way for some people to pinpoint exactly what they would like to focus on first.
For example, if one of your priorities is making more money but you’re not sure how to go about doing that without having to sell everything that you own and leave your family behind, then you’ve probably come to the end of your ‘to do list’ as far as that particular task is concerned.
8. What makes me lose track of time?
Think about the activities that make you completely lose track of time and enjoy.
This applies to hobbies such as video games or making lists or spreadsheets.
See what is exactly you like in those things. Is it the competition in video games? Or the need to organize the spreadsheets?
Whatever the reason, try to apply those aspects of your personality to find the right career in which you’ll thrive.
9. What have I not yet tried?
There’s no such thing as a ‘fantasy career’ in life. If there’s something that you feel like you would enjoy consistently, make it happen.
Some people find themselves on their deathbeds and realize only too late how much they wanted to try skydiving or travel around the world or go back and finish college.
The possibilities for what you could potentially accomplish if only you put yourself out there range from being nothing short of inspiring to being downright impossible at times…which brings us to our final question.
10. What problem could I solve?
If you’re not willing to break new ground and pave some roads through the rainforest, who will? What’s it going to take for you to start living on your terms?
You might be surprised at how much closer you could get towards doing that if only you stopped making excuses every time an opportunity came along.
Don’t let yourself become too comfortable because comfort seems to be one of the biggest obstacles when it comes down to what matters.
What is holding you back from finding your true calling in life? For most people, the answer is nothing but themselves.
There are so many different ways for someone with a creative mindset and lots of determination to find their way out of any situation.
The bottom line is always the same…how badly do you want it? If you’re not even willing to try something new, then there’s probably a reason for that.
How to Find New Life Purpose?
Finding a new life purpose is easier than you might think, especially when you have the right tools at your disposal. The HIGH5 strengths test is one such powerful tool that can illuminate the path to your purpose. By identifying your top five strengths, you gain valuable insights into what you naturally excel at and enjoy. There’s a really good chance that your new ‘purpose’ has been under your nose all along, hidden within your unique combination of strengths. The HIGH5 test helps bring these strengths to the forefront, allowing you to align your purpose with your innate talents and passions.
Here are some ideas on how to do this.
What do I want?
Starting from this question leads to all of your answers. If you’ve been stuck in a rut for too long, then it’s time to get yourself out of that slump and start living on your terms.
Many people end up trying things that they’re sure will help them achieve their goals only to discover that they don’t enjoy what they did and wind up quitting halfway through or worse, staying after the initial ‘high’ wears off and life gets tough again.
If you find yourself coming back here time and time again, there’s probably a reason for it.
What do I want to do every day?
You might not think that this question is particularly important, but it can make all of the difference.
For example, if you want to become a writer more than anything else in life, then you should probably start writing something.
You don’t have to publish what you write or even show anyone else…just do it because that’s how you build momentum.
As far as integrating your new purpose with your lifestyle, there are lots of things that you can try.
For instance, if you’ve always wanted to be able to cook for yourself daily, then you could invest in some cheap cookware and start slow until you’re ready for bigger things.
What are you good at and find interesting?
This is a very broad question, but that’s because there are as many valid answers as there are people.
For example, you might not think that learning to code web pages would be much fun at all, but if you’re good with computers and the result would help solve some of your problems in life, then it could become an ideal place to start.
As far as learning how to do new things on your goes, there are two schools of thought here.
One group will tell you that you should experiment with different tasks until something feels right while the other group will recommend starting slow and picking up momentum along the way.
Pro Tip From HIGH5
Create a ‘Strengths-Purpose Map’. List your top five strengths from the HIGH5 test. For each strength, brainstorm potential purposes or life directions that would allow you to fully utilize that strength. Look for overlaps or themes across your strengths. This exercise can help you identify a purpose that leverages multiple strengths, leading to a more fulfilling and authentic life path.
Identify Your Tribe & Admirations
Your tribe & those that admire you will help you determine the things, people & places that will enrich your life.
Many times, it’s also important to be able to identify which of these is most appealing.
Here are two questions that you can ask to help you do just this.
Who are your favorite types of people?
Your favorite type of people might vary from day to day, but there are some things that you can do to get an idea of what sorts of people you’re naturally drawn to.
For example, if you always seem to get along with musicians better than anyone else, then it might not be a bad idea for you to try playing an instrument or two at least until you find something that feels right.
The same goes for finding out the types of people who make you feel good about yourself.
What do I value? In what order?
This will help you determine which sorts of values are most important in your life.
For example, if one person likes art more than money while another prefers money over art, neither of them will get along with someone who doesn’t care about either one.
Imagine Your Future
Thinking about your future can help you identify your purpose and give you a clear idea of what you want to do with your life.
For example, if you know that money isn’t everything and that there is more out there than just the hustle and bustle of city living, then chances are good that you wouldn’t be very happy with an urban lifestyle.
You might even find yourself spending more time in nature and with family instead.
When it comes down to it, everyone is different in their special way.
While one person might not need much encouragement at all to get started on something new, others will need a little bit of extra guidance for them to figure things out on their own.
Here are a couple of questions to ask.
What do I want to do before I die?
To figure out what you want to do before you die, you need to know yourself inside and out.
For instance, if one person wants to travel the world while the other only wants to learn how to cook on an open countryside farm, neither one of them would be satisfied with living in a concrete jungle.
You might even realize that it doesn’t matter where you are or who you’re with because all that truly matters is your family and friends.
If this sounds like something that might interest you, then perhaps downsize your life so that there won’t be any distractions keeping you from spending as much time with them as possible.
Where do I derive my inspiration from?
If you want to do something creative, then you need to be around people who will inspire you.
One of the most common mistakes that beginners make is trying to copy everything that their favorite artists or even just people they admire do.
Doing this is usually a recipe for disaster because there is no way that someone can keep up with all of their inspirations unless they’re already extremely talented.
The best thing that you can do in this situation is to figure out what inspires you the most and try to incorporate it into your life without pushing yourself beyond your limits.
Frequently Asked Questions About Life Purpose
What should I do with my life at 30?
When you are 30 years old, you are in the most exciting period of your life. You’re full of vitality, both physically and mentally.
First, go back to who you were when you were a teenager. If you have forgotten, ask your family members or old friends about it. What did you love doing? Why did you enjoy those activities so much?
After sorting out these things, find new ways to pursue them now that life is more complicated than ever before.
What job will make me the happiest?
The first step to finding what you should do with your life is to discover who you are.
There are many ways to figure out yourself: write down things on a piece of paper, look at photographs of yourself taken 5 years ago, talk with an old friend, or analyze why certain events in our lives happen or don’t happen…
After exploring yourself further through learning about different subjects, find out which subject interests you the most.
You can also ask people who are in that area to provide you with more insights about the job.
What to do with my life at 40?
There are still lots of possibilities for your life at 40 or even 50.
The most important thing for everyone in their 40s is to be honest with themselves and truly learn who they are, what they like and don’t like, and how to deal with other people.
We should indeed enjoy our lives when we get older, but it doesn’t mean we need to know everything about ourselves at one time.
What should I do with my life after high school?
There are so many different things to choose from: traditional careers, non-traditional careers, and unpaid or volunteer jobs.
Ask yourself some questions – what are the most important things in your life? What type of work brings about joy or stress to you?
These can help narrow down your search for what you want to do in the future. And whatever makes you happy – go for it.
What should I do with my life after college?
There are many possibilities for you after college, but try not to rush into things too quickly because it can hurt your career afterward.
It’s good to talk about options with friends or family members for different aspects of your life.
