Stop being a dick to your future self.
Feeling stuck? I’ll get straight to the point. This should take you ~20 minutes.
On one piece of paper, make a list of four different lists, one in each corner, with 3-5 items each:
Types of content you consume most often
Successful people you admire/follow along with what they do
Skills you have or would like to have
Hobbies and other ways you spend free time
Now make one more list in the middle with three columns of:
Column 1: Potential ways to spend your time that combines items and ideas from at least two of your other lists
Column 2: How this idea could help others
Column 3: How this idea could help you (with boredom, purpose, mental health, and/or financially)
It should look something like this:
It might take some creative energy, but that’s the fun part. Here’s a free template you can use.
Filling this out marks the beginning of your next chapter. If you’re discouraged and you’re not sure what to do with your life, or you at least know that what you’re currently doing isn’t it, then this is what to do.
Don’t put pressure on this exercise, and don’t feel like you need to come up with THE answer right away. Rather, treat this exercise like a puzzle or like a video game with levels to beat. Start with this worksheet and, when you come up with something in the middle section that resonates with you, well then you’ve beaten level 1.
If you chip away at solving this puzzle/beating the game on a consistent basis (especially during those times where you feel stagnant and unsure of what to do), then you not only will have solved boredom or feeling stuck, you may well also have unlocked a career path for yourself and answered the question, “What is my purpose?”
Keep at it. You have something special to contribute to the world that no one else has. You owe it to yourself and to others who may benefit to figure out what that special something is.
For me, word art and sharing these reflections to help others was the thing in the middle of my piece of paper. Identifying and then pursuing this has changed my life.
I look forward to seeing what you come up with!
Love to all -
Pick a hobby
From Air & Water: A ThoughtPose Poetry Collection | 11/7/2018
Hobby roulette
Not-too obvious intent
I find my goals get lost
Before they’re known,
Nevermind properly set
I’d probably be better off
Sharpening focus instead
But I’m more open-ended
Than closed off, I guess
I share thoughtful word art and short reflections on life, death, and what actually matters in between. One short note every week or two. No pressure. No noise. Unsubscribe anytime. Visit the website for more.
Thanks and we’ll talk again soon -
Drew