Thread: Do you know what to do with your life?

The thing is, I don't.

I mean, I keep saying I want to do this, I want to be that but...I always change my mind. And I'm worried that if I keep acting like this then I'm never going to get anywhere in life and that I'll be stuck in my hometown for the rest of my life T_T

I think the real issue is that I'm worried about spending a lot of my life doing something and then finding out that I don't like it - 'cos that would be a lot of time I can't get back...but the same applies if I do nothing... @.@

Are there others who feel like this or does everyone else know what they're doing in life?

I think I just lack courage to make big changes to my life is all. Heh. Talk about a scaredy cat right? ^^

I used to think that, I always do something a lot for a bit (maybe a few months) then switch to something new. I find it's best to find something that is always changing, never the same. Don't be a telemarketer or an assembly line worker, do something that is always changing, like a designer or even a writer. Explore your creative side, don't do something mundane that is just the same repetitive task over and over. Best of luck!

Live.

Just do something. If you don't like it, stop doing it.

Thanx.
I like things that are dynamic too - repetitive things bore me to tears and frustrate me

I've always wanted to travel, see the world. I've thought about travel writing and maybe even getting a pilot licence (even though I have a HUGE fear of flying)

I want a career which does't bore me but which I can help people and the environment...only I don't think there are any like that. Just my luck right? Heh-heh.

There are no wrong turns in life.

I wish I could find this amazing picture I saw once... it was a maze with a plant trying to grow through it, sending shoots out in every direction. Most of them ended up trapped in sunless boxes, but just one made it out to the top and sunlight, and from there the plant flourished and grew strong. So, should the plant regret that it tried all those "wrong turns"? Or be glad it tried them all and eventually, through its persistence and exploration, found its way? The "wrong turns" aren't really wrong, they're an integral part of the searching. If you take a wrong turn in a maze you're actually doing something very important and positive - you're eliminating something and narrowing down the alternatives.

Originally Posted by Darkmatters

There are no wrong turns in life.

I wish I could find this amazing picture I saw once... it was a maze with a plant trying to grow through it, sending shoots out in every direction. Most of them ended up trapped in sunless boxes, but just one made it out to the top and sunlight, and from there the plant flourished and grew strong. So, should the plant regret that it tried all those "wrong turns"? Or be glad it tried them all and eventually, through its persistence and exploration, found its way? The "wrong turns" aren't really wrong, they're an integral part of the searching. If you take a wrong turn in a maze you're actually doing something very important and positive - you're eliminating something and narrowing down the alternatives.

That's a nice metaphor, but the problem is that you can't try every alternative (every turn in the maze) at once, so if you don't have some kind of plan - and you're anxious about life/your future -, there's a big risk you will regret whatever turn(s) you take.
And if you - like me - have reason to believe that you might lack some of the necessary skills (and it's either very difficult or impossible to obtain them), then you're pretty much screwed.

I have several dreams, but they all seem very distant, and I'm not sure which one(s) I will be able to accomplish and which I might not.
I'm afraid of entering the maze, because I don't even know where to start, and I'm afraid that the alternatives being eliminated will be my dreams.

I'm not saying you should sit home and do nothing, I'm just saying, I dunno.....Life's a bitch D:

Originally Posted by AngelZlayer

That's a nice metaphor, but the problem is that you can't try every alternative (every turn in the maze) at once, so if you don't have some kind of plan - and you're anxious about life/your future -, there's a big risk you will regret whatever turn(s) you take.
And if you - like me - have reason to believe that you might lack some of the necessary skills (and it's either very difficult or impossible to obtain them), then you're pretty much screwed.

I have several dreams, but they all seem very distant, and I'm not sure which one(s) I will be able to accomplish and which I might not.
I'm afraid of entering the maze, because I don't even know where to start, and I'm afraid that the alternatives being eliminated will be my dreams.

I'm not saying you should sit home and do nothing, I'm just saying, I dunno.....Life's a bitch D:

Nothing's wasted if it was an experience to learn from and if you wanted to go in that direction in the first place (whether or not it turns out like you expected). And yes, doing nothing is a lot worse than making mistakes. I know from my own life, sitting around here procrastinating in fear of failure. Life's so much more livable, meaningful and interesting when you do what you're afraid to do, confront a project you've been putting off that's bothering you, or just making a decision and sticking with it until you're absolutely sure you should do something else.

Granted, I've always known where I wanted to go in life ever since I could ponder it, but the hard part is doing it, persistently, instead of just dreaming about how awesome the future will be.

Originally Posted by DeeryTheDeer

Nothing's wasted if it was an experience to learn from and if you wanted to go in that direction in the first place (whether or not it turns out like you expected).

I'm afraid that what I will learn is that I've wasted a [relatively] big part of my life, and that's an experience I'd rather avoid.
Like I said, I'm not even sure which way to go, or if I can make it.

I have applied for social allowance/disability insurance (on top of the problem already described, I also have asperger/autism and agoraphobia), so now I just hope my application will pass, at least for a few years.

Originally Posted by AngelZlayer

I'm afraid that what I will learn is that I've wasted a [relatively] big part of my life, and that's an experience I'd rather avoid.
Like I said, I'm not even sure which way to go, or if I can make it.

Read the thread. You aren't wasting you're time if you enjoy the journey. If you don't enjoy the journey you won't enjoy the end result.
So as long as you enjoy something, it's not wasted time right?
So even if you don't get a final "thing" like a job, from your studies, at least you enjoyed your studies and didn't waste your time.

O.O Wow. That is so insightful. Thanks Darkmatters. *hugs* =D

I do like writing and I'm fond of journalism and photography - I love the idea of uncovering mysteries and bringing down corruption, so I guess a career in photojournalism would be write up my alley. Plus that career entails some travelling and movement right?

The only downside is the whole sitting in front of a computer for ages and writing up the story - plus the deadlines >_<

Interesting coincidence. I'm also into photography and writing, so I became a stopmotion animator. Heh, I think a photojournalist would have a much better chance of finding a job though...

If you don't like typing, use a voice recognition program (not sure that's what they're called ). Just talk to your computer. Of course, you still have to go through and correct its grammar and speeling...

Heh-heh. My younger sister had a laptop with that software. She provided me with endless hours of amusement as she cursed at it because the software kept acting up =D

Still, I could always give it a whirl. Thanx!!

Yeah, I guess it can be pretty buggy...

So can my sister lol XD

Yea, I've always been a decent writer, and it's something I enjoy so hopefully whatever I do in the future will include that.
I also love travel, but who knows. I could be happy just travelling in my free time, or maybe it could be job related.
I don't have a specific idea, just a general idea. I think that's the best thing to do. If you try to get too specific, you may be disappointed.
All in all, there are a lot of things I would be happy doing in life, so I'm just going out to find those things.
If you don't like what you're doing, you can always stop and do something else.

Originally Posted by StonedApe

Live.

Just do something. If you don't like it, stop doing it.

This.

Originally Posted by Darkmatters

There are no wrong turns in life.

I wish I could find this amazing picture I saw once... it was a maze with a plant trying to grow through it, sending shoots out in every direction. Most of them ended up trapped in sunless boxes, but just one made it out to the top and sunlight, and from there the plant flourished and grew strong. So, should the plant regret that it tried all those "wrong turns"? Or be glad it tried them all and eventually, through its persistence and exploration, found its way? The "wrong turns" aren't really wrong, they're an integral part of the searching. If you take a wrong turn in a maze you're actually doing something very important and positive - you're eliminating something and narrowing down the alternatives.

This.

Originally Posted by Savy

I also love travel, but who knows. I could be happy just travelling in my free time, or maybe it could be job related.
I don't have a specific idea, just a general idea. I think that's the best thing to do. If you try to get too specific, you may be disappointed.
All in all, there are a lot of things I would be happy doing in life, so I'm just going out to find those things.
If you don't like what you're doing, you can always stop and do something else.

This.

I'm in the same boat. And I pretty much agree with these posts.
I realised even though I went and studied Illustration for 3 years and I don't want to do it anymore, I still had a good time, for the most part.
Now I want to do something in Science, so I'm going to go and do a general Science course next year, then go on to a more specific science.

And who knows, maybe I will decide that I don't want to do that for my entire life either.
In that case I would just do something else.

The thing is, you are on a journey. Not trying to reach a goal.
So even if you spend 10 years, just for example, pursuing some thing you think you might want to do,
going to university then getting a job in that field and all that. Then after that 10 years you realise you want to try something new.
As long as you enjoyed that part of your journey you didn't waste your time.

If you are doing something and trying to actually get somewhere, trying to reach some goal, but you don't enjoy the actual process of getting there,
then you have wasted your time.

And as you said, if you do nothing because you don't want to waste your time, you are also wasting your time

And as you said, if you do nothing because you don't want to waste your time, you are also wasting your time

True. =D

I think for now I'm just gonna enjoy myself and try to revive my social life and stuff. Life is just far too short to worry about things like education and junk ^^

And from there, who knows...but I will start enjoying my time more instead of worrying ;-]

Thanx everyone!!

I think I just want to be cashier. Cashier of Mcdonalds or KFC to be exact. Ah yes, I can see myself doing it right now, accepting money, handling food, and most of all, free food for lunch.

While I admit I'm not too sure what my aspirations are, but don't you want to do more with your life than serve poisonous fast-food to people weakamon?

Originally Posted by Mireille

While I admit I'm not too sure what my aspirations are, but don't you want to do more with your life than serve poisonous fast-food to people weakamon?

Well, I did wanted to live in a yacht with a dog someday. I mean, wouldn't it be good to live among the seas peacefully with yourself and "man's best friend"? I often see myself aboard that yacht, just allowing it to drift among the waves. The fishes as my source of food, and most of all, stopping by any random ports and get some neat souvenirs. But I figured out that it would be too good to be true. I'll get arrested for invading of privacy(like crossing sea borders), or die because of a powerful storm, etc. So I just figured out to dream of being a cashier.

It's called.... sar.... sarc.... sarcassss...... sarcasmmea?

That does sound awesome though! You could rent a yacht and take your dog out on cruises now and then.

I've never really given it much thought, I just browse the web and fap until I pass out. It's gotten me this far, may as well keep it up.

Originally Posted by GavinGill

I've never really given it much thought, I just browse the web and fap until I pass out. It's gotten me this far, may as well keep it up.

Might try this.

Originally Posted by Mireille

The thing is, I don't.

I mean, I keep saying I want to do this, I want to be that but...I always change my mind. And I'm worried that if I keep acting like this then I'm never going to get anywhere in life and that I'll be stuck in my hometown for the rest of my life T_T

I think the real issue is that I'm worried about spending a lot of my life doing something and then finding out that I don't like it - 'cos that would be a lot of time I can't get back...but the same applies if I do nothing... @.@

Are there others who feel like this or does everyone else know what they're doing in life?

I think I just lack courage to make big changes to my life is all. Heh. Talk about a scaredy cat right? ^^

do be do be doo.... do? be? HU R U?