19 and no direction in life

[Rosie]

I'm starting to feel like I'm never going to find my purpose. Whenever I dream't about my future, I'd imagine myself working at a job I love, but now I'm not so sure. I've searched online at all the different careers, and none of them seem right for me. There's many jobs that I find appealing, but they aren't necessarily realistic. I'm not highly educated, and school isn't my "forte". If I could, I'd go to university for five years, and get a great paying job, but that's not going to happen. I'm more of a college person, and college programs don't necessarily pay as much. (I'm from Canada) I was thinking of becoming an elementary teacher, except that I have asperger's syndrome, and my social skills aren't that great. I'd have to speak with parents, fellow teachers, my boss, and I'm not sure I could do that. So I don't know what to do. Almost every job requires you to have good social skills. I'm a really creative person, and I wish I could find a job that I could be passionate about. Am I doomed to work a boring 9 to 5 job that barely pays enough to survive? I dread the thought of working as a cashier, or cleaner. If you have any advice/input, it would be really appreciated

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by Rosie

I'm starting to feel like I'm never going to find my purpose.

Ah, a common problem. Don't worry, you're only 19. Perhaps you're not meant to find your purpose until you're 21, or 35, or 50, or 65. and have had certain experiences in life first.

Whenever I dream't about my future, I'd imagine myself working at a job I love, but now I'm not so sure. I've searched online at all the different careers, and none of them seem right for me.

Naturally. You have to get a job, and transform it into something you love.

I was thinking of becoming an elementary teacher, except that I have asperger's syndrome, and my social skills aren't that great. I'd have to speak with parents, fellow teachers, my boss, and I'm not sure I could do that.

Actually you mostly have to speak with kids.

So I don't know what to do. Almost every job requires you to have good social skills.

If that is what you believe, then that shall be your reality.

[4Mind4Life]

Find your purpose through experimentation with different aspects of life.

I honestly think that no matter your current social skills, they can be improved through concentrated effort & hard work.

For improving your Asperger's, I suggest looking into things like daily fish oil supplementation, neurofeedback, & Neuro-Programmer 2 Professional. They all help to promote healthy brain function. A study on kids w/ Aspergers benefited from fish oil and displayed improved language skills and verbal functioning. I also suggest daily exercise because it causes neurogenesis (birth of new neurons in the brain.)

Set some goals of things you'd like to do / be / accomplish. Accomplish each goal to see if that area of life is right for you and move down the list. Don't let your Asperger's hold you back from accomplishing your dreams.

GOOD LUCK & BEST WISHES!

Originally Posted by Rosie

I'm starting to feel like I'm never going to find my purpose. Whenever I dream't about my future, I'd imagine myself working at a job I love, but now I'm not so sure. I've searched online at all the different careers, and none of them seem right for me. There's many jobs that I find appealing, but they aren't necessarily realistic. I'm not highly educated, and school isn't my "forte". If I could, I'd go to university for five years, and get a great paying job, but that's not going to happen. I'm more of a college person, and college programs don't necessarily pay as much. (I'm from Canada) I was thinking of becoming an elementary teacher, except that I have asperger's syndrome, and my social skills aren't that great. I'd have to speak with parents, fellow teachers, my boss, and I'm not sure I could do that. So I don't know what to do. Almost every job requires you to have good social skills. I'm a really creative person, and I wish I could find a job that I could be passionate about. Am I doomed to work a boring 9 to 5 job that barely pays enough to survive? I dread the thought of working as a cashier, or cleaner. If you have any advice/input, it would be really appreciated

[blackbdr]

If you could do anything you wanted by snapping your fingers: no disease, no concern about money, no concern about training, etc what would you do? I mean think "UNREALISTICALLY"..

i mean anything from a movie star, to a berry picker in mexico, a welder, a poetry reading tap dancing doctor who specializes in owning a dry cleaning business, ANYTHING. what would u pick? (remember, this is magic so dream big)

(if you cant think of anything, try to remember what you used to fantasize about being when you were alone with your toys in your room as a child)

after you think about it, think about why you picked that. take a second look at the obstacles and re-evaluate exaclty how "unrealistic" it is. unrealistic is irrelevant as long as its not impossible (and i cant really even think of an example for something impossible actually).

shrug.
its there. dont force it. it should be light and relieving.

[TheStrongerSelf]

Find your purpose through experimentation with different aspects of life.

I think this is so true, i wish i would act on this more often myself. How are you supposed to know that your passion lies in something if you have never been exposed to it.

Having said that, if your're really creative, what do you wish to create? Have you found and outlet for your creative energy yet? Like a hobby. Figure that one out and then try to either find a job that builds on that activity or create a job out of that ability (i.e. self employment). The internet is a great place to share your creative output with the world as long as its genuine.

This is a long process, and if you need money to support yourself then understand that taking a job that may currently not seem very purposeful to you is only temporary unless you chose to make it permanent.

I think a lot of really creative people tend to be socially awkward, i know i am. I tend to lose myself in my work, and there is nothing i can do to prevent that. I dont even want to prevent it as it makes me feel as if i am in a safe spot. It makes some things more difficult but there is always a way around, through or over an obstacle that is in your way, if you just look long enough

I think its great that youre looking to live your live with purpose this early in life. It may take a while, but i am sure you will find something to do that you deem purpose and joyful.

[Rosie]

Thanks for the advice I always look forward to the comments on this forum, as everyone is so nice and helpful. I will definitely take what you've said in to consideration!

[homeboy]

I went to a 4 yr college and I can tell you that there is always a good and bad side to every experience, except sometimes the good ones outweigh the bad and sometimes the bad outweigh the good. But there is always one thing that you find that will always make you smile and that is your interactions with other people. You might find that you are shy and timid but that is because you haven't tried it. This is fear... to put it bluntly. You're also afraid of ending up in a dead end job, but as you will find in life, there are many people who are doing those jobs and yet they seem happy. They seem happy because they like the people they meet there.. their co workers or their customers. Especially during the holiday season, you will find workers smiling more often. You will find a purpose in life, and if not who cares! you will love the life you live and the people in it. Go out there and find out! A dead end job is not the end of the world, it gives you the chance to meet new people and gain valuable experience. I hope this has helped you, but I know from personal experience that reading something on a forum is not the same as doing it yourself. I believe this is why Steve emphasizes that you try things out for yourself.

[TeresaGirl]

To be honest, I felt just like you and I spent a year working a boring job and nearly went insane. I ended up forgetting about getting ahead in life, and since I wanted to travel, I put on a backpack, took my $500 and headed to mexico for an adveture. I was able to spend 5 months there, then I had to come back, work a job for a month, I managed to save $1000 and then off I went again to another third world country where I could live for a while, I managed to make that last about 8 months (after the plane fare took a big chunk). Then I came back, worked a boring job for about 2 months and saved up $1700, and that bought me more time to be a free wanderer.

That was what I did when I was 19, I discovered that you can live cheaper if you traveled in third world countries with your backpack, didn't mind roughing it a little, and it gives you lots of time to find out who you are, what you really want in life, and gives you some worldly wisdom. I encourage you to forget about getting ahead for now and just be a free wanderer until you know what you are really meant to do. Don't waste your money going to school until you know what you're really meant to do.

I enjoyed Christine Breese's talks on youtube about this kind of thing, and I also enjoyed the course on Life Pupose at Unversity of Metaphysical Sciences at Life Purpose, Purpose Driven Life, Purpose of Life, Purpose In Life, Living Life

[yossarian]

I felt exactly the same way when I was 19.

Eventually I was forced to get a crappy job just so I could eat. I saved up all my money for 4 months, then quit working until the money run out. I was able to make that money last for over a year by being frugal and in the meantime I developed a strong sense of purpose.

So consider early retirement, where you don't worry about the future and just do whatever you find enjoyable

[Billy]

Rosie I suggest that you try as many different jobs as you can get yourself into, and thats because so many people take on a career path early on in life and then progress in that field which takes some years usually to do then find that their job is no longer fulfilling but it is virtually impossible to break out of because they have progressed to a point where the money cannot be replaced by going into most other jobs where training and seniority must be earnt all over. Take as many positions as you can get till you find the right one for you, you will also become more experienced in life and probably have heaps of fun meeting new people.

[AlmostGone]

Find something that really makes you burn and do it. You might have to do it for a while without pay. Hopefully, before long, you can began earning money for your efforts. Given a choice of making a living doing something I hate or really roughing it while getting started doing something I love, I'd choose the latter. Actually I did. It can be done.

[Andreas]

Originally Posted by TeresaGirl

To be honest, I felt just like you and I spent a year working a boring job and nearly went insane. I ended up forgetting about getting ahead in life, and since I wanted to travel, I put on a backpack, took my $500 and headed to mexico for an adveture. I was able to spend 5 months there, then I had to come back, work a job for a month, I managed to save $1000 and then off I went again to another third world country where I could live for a while, I managed to make that last about 8 months (after the plane fare took a big chunk). Then I came back, worked a boring job for about 2 months and saved up $1700, and that bought me more time to be a free wanderer.

That was what I did when I was 19, I discovered that you can live cheaper if you traveled in third world countries with your backpack, didn't mind roughing it a little, and it gives you lots of time to find out who you are, what you really want in life, and gives you some worldly wisdom. I encourage you to forget about getting ahead for now and just be a free wanderer until you know what you are really meant to do. Don't waste your money going to school until you know what you're really meant to do.

I enjoyed Christine Breese's talks on youtube about this kind of thing, and I also enjoyed the course on Life Pupose at Unversity of Metaphysical Sciences at Life Purpose, Purpose Driven Life, Purpose of Life, Purpose In Life, Living Life

Wow, TeresaGirl. Thank you for sharing this story! Right now I'm in an environment of people who think actions like that are crazy, irresponsible, and selfish. It's great to know that someone has the guts to follow their dreams.

By the time I set off for adventure, I'll probably have over $3000 saved. Excited!

[odiaseo]

You may not know what your path is in life, but it lies within you. You either discover it yourself or someone with experience and foresight identifies it and draws it out of you. You do not necessarily have to take every job that comes your way in a bid to discover what is best for you.

Make a list of you strengths, your likes and the kind of environment you are comfortable working in. Armed with that list you can easily filter opportunites and then identify the one that suits you.

You mentioned that you are creative, I would say dwell on your strenghts and your creativily! You do not necessarily need an education to make it in life you need wisdom.

If after listing you strengths you are able to identify the kind of person / job you desire, find a mentor, someone that is what you want to be. let him mentor you to success