What to Do With Your Life
What do you want to do with your life?
Wow, that’s such a tough, hard-hitting question! And if you’re like anyone else, you’re certainly taken aback by this question as well if this was asked by an acquaintance.
Honestly, we’re not really used to being asked this question, and it’s simply because we are afraid to tackle it. Because it confronts our biggest fear.
The fear of not knowing.
We don’t want to be asked this question because we don’t know the answer. Or at least we think we don’t.
Believe it or not, a vast majority of the world’s population, at a certain adult age, know what they want to do with their lives. They know where they want to go and is willing to do their best to walk towards that direction.
However, not all of us are able to act on our choice. And here are some reasons why.
Some aren’t afforded the same opportunities as others.
Poverty. Sickness. A broken family.
These are just some of the common but huge reasons why people can’t pursue their passion or life’s purpose. They may be from a broken family and weren’t nurtured growing up and didn’t receive the proper guidance to develop themselves fully.
Other times, there are personal disabilities that would prevent a person to carry out his or her dream.
And there are of course those who are hindered by forces that are beyond their control, such as living in a restrictive country or coming from an impoverished family.
As much as we don’t want to say it, these kinds of people already begin their life’s journey with a disadvantage compared to those who live a more comfortable life.
Although we can cite examples of remarkable humans who were able to overcome their limiting situations in order to not just achieve their dreams but were even able to exceed them. However, they are more of an exception rather than the norm.
Others procrastinate to the point of no return
If there’s one thing that you shouldn’t waste, it’s time. We should teach our younger generation — our sons and daughters, nieces and nephews, our grandchildren — to be respecters of time.
And the most blatant disrespect of time is procrastination. When you procrastinate, it’s like you are saying that time doesn’t matter to you. The years don’t matter to you. Age doesn’t matter to you.
When the spirit of procrastination strikes, it’s best to think of it this way. You are not the center of the universe. This world will continue on its way whether you choose to move or not. So better decide for yourself if you are going to get up and get going or choose to slack off.
If you don’t address the issue of procrastination, you will see your life pass you by without you doing what you truly want in your life. Unless, of course, what you want to do in life is procrastinate; then that’s another thing.
Most are affected by what others think of them.
The general rule is that it’s alright if you care about what other people are saying, but not to the point that it will drive the course of your life.
If you watched Crazy Rich Asians, there’s a scene there where Michelle Yeo explains how Asians mold their children to contribute their legacy and purpose as a family or community.
Simply put, in our Asian culture, our parents have a huge say as to how we will manage our lives. They direct us towards which course we should take, where we should study, and even who we should marry.
It might sound strange to the Western or modern ears, but eastern cultures are used to arranged marriages, or at least parents meddling in their children’s business. And while there’s a healthy level of influence that a parent can exert in their child’s life, it is still more preferable to let them choose their own path instead of you shoving what you want down their throat.
There are several other factors that can affect your perception of what you want to do in life. But if you know yourself well enough, no amount of missed opportunities, procrastination, or influential people can derail you from following your path.
As long as you will pursue a courageous life, you will get to where you want to go.
