I don't know what to do with my life- 5 helpful tips

I don’t know what to do with my life- 5 helpful tips

When we are young, we start off inherently believing that we are excellent. At everything.

Ask a young child, for example, if they are good at something. Like drawing…

Often they will gladly go on and on about how they sure are! Not just average either, but really, really good.

Until someone tells them differently. Until someone teaches them that they aren’t enough. We stop creating,

We learn to settle for “good enough”. Or worse, not being anything at all. Maybe it feels safer to be on the fringe than being criticized.

We need people to remind us of who we really are

When I was a girl, I was an artist, a dreamer, a writer.. I lived and breathed creativity. My parents were bombarded with notes, letters, drawings. homemade perfume (sorry mom for that one!)

I even loved writing stories. But somewhere along the way, I learned that I was not as good. Not good enough. Those dreams and stories got tucked away and forgotten.

Thankfully, they weren’t forgotten by my loved ones.

What to do when you don’t know what to do in life?

One day, my Grandma pulled out some old stories that she had saved. They were a bit rough, of course, but they showed a girl with a vivid imagination. She asked me to write.

Insisted that I write again.

One day, my Mom gave me a folder of childhood creativity she had saved. She asked me to not forget who I was. An adult with so much potential.

The next day I opened a magazine to the full page ad for Christian Writer’s Guild.

That day I started writing again. Timidly. And on and on it has come. 15 years later and here I am.

I say, HERE I AM!

I grew up. Became who I really am.

I want you to join me. Please…

(here is a fun little quiz for you)

(would you like to print that off as a free PDF? click here

Knowing who we are? It’s an amazing way to live

The best and only way. Otherwise, we live someone else’s dream of who we should be.

That comes with someone else’s limited vision of our potential. We are amazing!

I know who I am, and I like me. Finally.

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong! Be fearless! Don’t be afraid and don’t be scared by your enemies (the lies we believe for example ) , because the LORD your God is the one who marches with you. He won’t let you down, and he won’t abandon you.

What am I meant to do with my life? 5 questions to consider

1. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. That is emotional and creative quicksand.
2. Recognize that what you considered flaws could be strengths unrecognized. My report cards indicated I talked too much. Hey, writers need to practice being communicators! List out ways your “flaw” could be an asset.
3. It’s more than okay to be sensitive. After being teased, I tried to learn to bury that, for years, but guess what? That processing is essential for the kind of writing “I” do. It is a strength that allows me to share with you vulnerably with empathy. Your feelings may need to be directed. Look for avenues for those emotional sensibilities are needed! Are you great at bookkeeping? Photos? Cooking? Listening? Being practical? Someone needs THAT from YOU. Share it without fear.
4. List out your childhood joys and revisit them. Healing comes from doing the things our heart delights in. Let it go and explore with freedom. You don’t have to be the best, or even that great technically. So what? If it is fun, that God might have wired you to use that for a release. Or even a future business. You just need to start.
5. If people don’t support your new explorations, find people who will. I am not saying ditch your friends and family, but allow new friendships and support systems to come into your world just for those outlets.

Where are you on this journey?

I won’t lie and say it was easy. That is IS easy.

Far from it, every victory was hard-earned and the battles ferocious. As each smothering layer of fear ripped away, the light within shone brighter.