How to Decide What You Want from Life

Throughout your life, people want to know what you're going to do with your future. As a little girl, everyone asks, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Then they want to know what you're going to study at college and what you think about having a family. Sometimes it feels like you have to pick a solid life plan and run with it without deviating from its path. You don't have to have your entire future mapped out in front of you. However, it can help to motivate you in life if you have a clearer vision of your future. Deciding what you aspire to isn't easy, though.

M Yashna

Rethink What People Tell You
Everywhere you look, there are people telling you what should matter to you. They tell you what your future should look like, and some people accept it without question. But what if you don't want what they say you should? Perhaps you're not interested in money, a lifelong career, or children. You're the one who gets to decide your future, and it doesn't have to fit the rules that other people set. It's equally acceptable if your vision of the future involves a big house, a high-flying career and two perfect kids. Just make sure you think about what you want, not what others want.

What Makes You Happy?
One of the important questions you need to ask yourself is how to achieve happiness. However, instead of looking at happiness like a permanent state, you should view it as an emotion like any other. Sometimes you'll feel happy, sometimes sad, mad or bored. But if you spend your life doing things that make you feel joy, you can have more happiness in your life. Thinking about what makes you happy now makes more sense than trying to decide what will in the future. If something changes, you can adjust your plans to suit. But it may be a mistake to aim for something only to arrive and discover you don't want it.

Who Do You Admire?
Sometimes thinking about people that you admire is a good way of working out your future. It could be a celebrity, or it could be someone you know in everyday life. If there's a famous person you love, you can read about them on Celebrity Net Worth to inspire you. If you have a friend or family member you want to be like, you could talk to them about how they got where they are.

What Matters to You?
Deciding what matters to you in life seems difficult, but it could be easier than you think. No one can tell you how to feel about anything, whether it's money or friends. It's up to you to look inside yourself and work out how you feel about the things that could be in your future. Do you care about having lots of money or getting an education? Do you want to be surrounded by friends and family? Maybe making a difference in the world is important to you. Think about what you want your role in life to be.

There's no rush to make huge plans for your future. However, if you do wish to create a life plan, remember that you can always change it.