DO YOU REALLY KNOW WHAT YOU WANT?

There are a million different paths we can take while we are on life’s journey.  The options are endless, yet with so many different options many people have no clue as to what is they really want out of life and as a result they find themselves pursuing paths that don’t match up with their inner desires.

Sometimes we truly don’t know ourselves well enough to understand the paths that would bring us the most satisfaction.  Some never even take the time to explore themselves and their desires to clearly come to the conclusion of what it is they want out of life.  They pursue paths that others find suitable for them or that society holds in high esteem. While still others spend a great deal of time trying to discover what it is that they truly want out of life but discover that some of those  revelations will only come in time.

My Story

I for one had the pleasure of experiencing all of those scenarios.  I was a pretty smart kid, so when I graduated from high school I chose to become a pre-med major in college.  Not because I had a deep passion for medicine or desperately wanted to be a physician but because it seemed like a great choice for a “smart” kid.  It wasn’t until I ended up in medical school that I discovered it was a far cry from what I truly wanted for me.

From there I transitioned into law school with the desire of becoming a big time attorney, a future partner at a large firm.  But once I graduated and got the coveted law firm job I discovered that wasn’t what I wanted either.  Lots of money, yes, but the long hours and lack of time for the things I truly valued like my family and friends wasn’t what I desired.

So I left the law firm and became a stay at home mom and entrepreneur.  Finally I was beginning to understand what it was I truly wanted out of life.  Spending time with my family and having the ability to call my own shots as my own boss is what I truly wanted.  As I continued on the journey called life and experienced the pain of losing my son I was further able to identify what I wanted out of life, and that was to encourage and inspire others.

Discovering what you really want out of life isn’t always easy.  It requires some serious self reflection and examination.  However, it is well worth the effort.

Why It’s Imperative You Know What You Want

1. Life is too short to spend time climbing up the wrong tree. Time is not guaranteed so it’s important we place our greatest efforts on the things that will bring us the greatest happiness.  There will be times when God has a purpose for us climbing up certain trees, but when He reveals it’s time to make a switch we must do it without hesitation.
2. It’s critical to your happiness. You can never experience the depths of true happiness when you’re doing something just for a paycheck or when you’re in a place that doesn’t match up with your hearts desires.  It’s just not happening.
3. It will remove the unsettling feeling of unfulfillment. We were created to fulfill great and grand purposes.  God designed us in such a way that fulfilling these purposes would give us a great sense of peace and happiness.  When we aren’t doing what we love there is inner feeling of unfulfillment that may go by unnoticed for awhile but will eventually manifest itself.
4. You will be able to reach your greatest potential for success. People flourish in areas that they love.  Why deprive yourself of the high levels of true success you can achieve by not being clear on what you want.
5. You will stop robbing society of the best you have to offer it. We live and thrive off of community.  We benefit from the success of others.  When you aren’t pursuing what you want and what makes you tick you aren’t in position to offer society your absolute best.

Homework:  Take a few moments to answer the following questions.  Does your job feel more like a burden than a pleasure? On Monday morning do you dread going to work?  Do you feel fulfilled in life?  Are you excited about what you do?  What things in life bring you the most joy?  When are you at your best?  These are just a few questions that will help you identify what you really want out of life.

Share:  What are your thoughts on this post?  Are you currently in a place where you know exactly what you want out of life?  How does that make you feel?  How does it make you feel if you’re not exactly sure what it is you want?  What steps will you take to discover what you want?  Please share your insights by commenting below.  Also, if this post was helpful to you please share it with a friend!  Until next time BE EXTRAORDINARY!