What Am I Doing With My Life?

If you are here, it's likely you belong to the 99% of 20somethings who also have no idea what they want to do with their life. I don't and I'm the author of this website— dedicated to helping you get your life together in your 20s. But the way I see it I'm not a fraud, just a fellow traveler bumbling down the same unknown road as you. 

The problem is twofold, because to know what to do with your life you have to have two things— passion and direction. And unfortunately for us you really do need both. Not to say that life won't take you to amazing places until you've figured out both pieces of the puzzle, but rather that you wont really feel like you're in control of your life until you have both. 

Say you're passionate— you love music— it's what you live, eat, and breathe. Cool, but what are you going to do with your passion? How does your love of music make you a living? How does it help others? How does it connect you to the world? What direction are you going with this thing that is burning inside of you?

Or maybe you've got direction— you are a Type A personality— you always have been. It doesn't matter where you are, you are on the up and up. You get promoted because you work hard, no matter the task. But at the end of the day you have this feeling in the pit of your stomach— is this all there is? What am I working so hard for? Is it so I can buy things— a big house, new car, 47 inch LCD flat screen? Have I become my parents? Do I even want this life? 

It's tricky getting inside your own head, a whole world of mess to get tangled up in. So instead we live on the surface of our own lives, never delving deep enough to figure out what we want, what we really really want (obligatory Spice Girls reference). But I'll tell you now, that feeling in the pit of your stomach will never go away if you keeping living your own damn life on the surface. 

Okay I've convinced you— now what?

Well let's take a step back. First things, first— passion. What are you passionate about? 

"Ugh, I don't know". 

Here's a place to start— what do you do in your free time? What would you do if you didn't have to work? What would your life look like if money didn't matter? Is something stirring inside, a version of yourself you didn't even know existed? Follow that feeling, see where it takes you. 

Second things, second— direction. What do you do with your passion? 

In this case I would like to refer you to Diane Sawyer, or rather her dad. On an episode of Oprah's Masterclass Diane Sawyer said her dad gave her 3 pieces of advice which guided her through her life. 

1. Do what you love. 
2. Do in in the most exciting place possible. 
3. Make sure it helps people. 

When it comes to direction it doesn't get any simpler than that. When you find out what you love, do it somewhere fun, and make sure it's not just for you, make sure you are helping— connecting. 

I hoped this helped. 

You probably don't have everything figured out after reading one blog post, but it's a start. You dug a little deeper than usual today, letting yourself dream about the "what ifs" and "why nots". This is important, even if it doesn't feel like it now. Keep doing it, keep listening to what your heart's telling you. Discover your passions, pick a direction and then go— just go.

P.S. for all the latest updates from Twenty & To and my other writings make sure to like my Facebook page here. 

I wrote this whole post while listening to this song on repeat, something about it stirs my passions. Maybe it'll do the same for you.