The 5-Step Guide to Discovering Who You’re Meant To Be
The journey of self-discovery is one of the most important life journeys. When you understand who you’re meant to be, your direction…
The journey of self-discovery is one of the most important life journeys. When you understand who you’re meant to be, your direction becomes clearer. Once you understand your life’s purpose, it’s your responsibility to do everything to achieve it. Doing this will give you the ultimate sense of fulfillment and make life more meaningful.
Discovering who you’re meant to be helps guide your path. Without a sense of direction, you may find yourself wandering through life aimlessly and finding fulfillment in nothing. It’s important that you take the time to analyze every aspect of your life and put it all into perspective. Here are 5 simple steps to help guide you.
Your past is filled with experiences that can shape your future if you reflect critically. To do this, find a quiet place and write down the highlights of the past few years. This can include places you’ve worked, people you’ve hung out with, hobbies you’ve adopted, etc. Even if you no longer participate in these activities, write them down.
From this list, circle the items that have made you happy or that you were good at. Try to form a connection between these things. For instance, if you loved taking cooking classes, enjoyed working in a bakery, and are happy when you’re surrounded by people who love cooking, it means you have a passion for cooking. Write that down.
After your trip down memory lane, write down the present highlights of your life. Are you working on your dream job? Do you enjoy working out? Are you in a happy relationship? Do you enjoy gardening? Just as you did with your memories, circle those things that make you happy. Next, make the connection between these things and the things that make you happy from your past. There’s a good chance that they’ll be related.
Look through everything you’ve gathered. Don’t disregard any experience or assume it’s irrelevant. Even if you spent a week working as a substitute teacher, if you loved it, it’s a clue in revealing your destiny.
Make final connections between all of your likes. Are all the things you enjoyed doing pointing you towards becoming a teacher, writer, or business owner? If the final picture is one that makes you happy, then congratulations, you’ve just discovered your path in life!
Often, self-doubt keeps us stagnant. For instance, if you have a passion for writing and, after taking the first three steps, discover you’re destined to be a novelist, fear of criticism or discouragement from loved ones can stop you from ever publishing a book.
To rid yourself of doubts, research your new endeavors and become a subject matter expert. This will boost your confidence. Also, try finding a mentor who will give you constructive criticism and help develop your skills. Write down words of affirmation e.g. I am smart, I am strong, I can do anything I set my mind to, and repeat them to yourself daily.
The people you surround yourself with either help you during your journey of self-discovery or holds you back. So take a moment to access your relationships. Reduce time spent with people who discourage/mock you, and strengthen relationships with people who boost your self-confidence.
When working to discover who you are, you may encounter people who will try to discourage you or may have doubts. You must learn to ignore them.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to put each of these steps to practice in a single day. This process may take a few days or weeks even, so take your time and think deeply. With each of these steps, you can find your true path and become the best version of yourself. Good luck!
Written by Shaunte Young
Instagram: @shaunte_boom
Originally published at https://staeboom.com on October 23, 2020.