Don't know who I am

[Froztwolf]

I have been doing personal development for about 3 years now. Read a dosen or so books on the subject, listened to endless audiobooks and podcasts, watched lectures online and read umpteen thousand articles.

And yet I struggle with this simple question: What do I want?

Looking forward a couple of years I can picture a pretty pleasant version of my current life. Slight promotion at my job. A little passive income. A fitter, better looking body. I can't see anything that really inspires me though.

While continuing on my current path would lead to a pleasant and comfortable life I have tasted what lives lived with passion and fulfillment are like and I really want that!

I keep being told action is the key but uninspired action doesn't really help. I've started quite a number of projects, all of which I dropped in the first stages because I wasn't interested any more.

The problem is that I have no idea what inspires me or what I can get really passionate about. I feel I can't possibly progress in self-development until I have this worked out but I don't know how.

How do I figure out where my passion lies?

[UHF]

This is in fact one of the biggest questions in self development. I envy people who know from the age of 16 that they want to be a ... and throw their lives into it and become successful etc.

I don't think that embarking on a series of unsuccessful projects is a bad thing. If you're uncertain about something then you need more input in order to make a decision. In this case you need to try a number of things out and discard what isn't right for you. Along the way you'll find apects of things that you enjoy even if the entire activity isn't right.

I like the 30 day trial idea. Immerse yourself in something for 30 days and ditch it after that time if it isn't what you want.

[magi13]

^^, that is something only you can answer. ^^, you can always expose yourself to a number of experiences to find out what you really want. a few minutes time of visualization meditation ought to help you figure things out as you reflect on your thoughts.

[SimonaRich]

It is false to say that action is the key because it is not. The key is the right mindset, and if you have a positive mindset any action taking from such mindset will lead you to success.

Therefore you should firstly sort out how you feel and only then take action to achieve better results.

[Froztwolf]

Thanks for the answers guys I appreciate it.

Do you have any ideas for concrete steps to take in finding out what to do next? Any methods or techniques that have worked for you?

[RRR]

I suggest spending time only with yourself in the woods drinking only water and smoking Salvia Divinorum.

I've taken a lot of time to know myself, I've spent the last 2-3 years detaching from friends, school, work, and essentially introspecting figuring out who I am. I found recently that feeling intense anger really made my passion palpable, I could clearly sense where I wanted to go, what I wanted to do, what I wanted, almost as if what I hated, what I was angry about, lead me towards what I most strongly desired.

I smoked a good amount of Salvia Divinorum and had hallucinations of childhood experiences where I felt extremely angry, where I felt powerless, where I learned to be helpless. The amount of identity, passion, anger, and feelings repressed in childhood is huge for most people. You are bossed around and punished for showing any sign of individuality, its no surprise you don't know who you are or what you want.

I find that the more I get angry about my childhood, the more I fantasize about empowering my childhood self, the more powerful I feel in the present, gaining back the authority I had taken away from me as a child. You need to know you can achieve whatever you want, and then figure out what you want. There are a few major theories on this: The will to power - Adler, the will to pleasure - Freud, the will to meaning - Frankl, are good starts. As well the concept of meaninglessness is useful.

As far as a quick acting solution. I would go with a trail blazing self exploration. Go into the woods alone and get to know yourself. Experience the feeling of being truly alone and listen to what you have to say.

[magi13]

Salvia divinorum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

before deciding on using salvia divinorum, be sure to know more about it, since most of us are still unaware of it's long term effects.

[Froztwolf]

Thanks RRR for the advice. I'm not sure I'm willing to use hallucinogenics though.

[UHF]

Do you do things outside your normal comfort zone? This can often be revealing.

[magi13]

Originally Posted by Froztwolf

Thanks RRR for the advice. I'm not sure I'm willing to use hallucinogenics though.

Try watching youtube videos of salvia divinorum. I don't know if it's legit, but it's really alarming in a comedic fashion.

YouTube - Writing A Letter To Congress on Salvia

[Maguru]

Originally Posted by Froztwolf

I have been doing personal development for about 3 years now. Read a dosen or so books on the subject, listened to endless audiobooks and podcasts, watched lectures online and read umpteen thousand articles.

And yet I struggle with this simple question: What do I want?

Looking forward a couple of years I can picture a pretty pleasant version of my current life. Slight promotion at my job. A little passive income. A fitter, better looking body. I can't see anything that really inspires me though.

While continuing on my current path would lead to a pleasant and comfortable life I have tasted what lives lived with passion and fulfillment are like and I really want that!

I keep being told action is the key but uninspired action doesn't really help. I've started quite a number of projects, all of which I dropped in the first stages because I wasn't interested any more.

The problem is that I have no idea what inspires me or what I can get really passionate about. I feel I can't possibly progress in self-development until I have this worked out but I don't know how.

How do I figure out where my passion lies?

It will come easier from who you are being rather from what you are doing.

[timothydrake]

Either challenge yourself, i mean really challenge yourself. Or hit rock bottom.

Ever seen Jim Carrey's "yes" man movie?

[Some Random Loser]

Experimenting with some power plants may give you a "shift in perpective" (with some plants, this can be a dangerous underestimation, hehehe). Hell, even smokin' some ganj the first couple times changed me forever (though some may argue, for the worse, hehehe), and that stuff's tame as ****.

Tread with respect, with fear, and with absolute assurance.

If I were u I wouldn't try to interpret anything you experience. Chances are, if you're meant to know something, you'll just know it.

[sirkinm]

Hey Frotzwolf, I struggle with this question too, and I'm 31. I sometimes wish that I had that passion for something in particular. I've done some cool things in my life and I do OK, but I don't have that fire that drives some of the most successful people. I'm glad that I'm not obsessed to the point of fanaticism with any particular thing, but I certainly would be more productive if I didn't appreciate alone time and balance as much as I do.

[Inspirations]

Froztwolf,

The search to find true self is one of our most enduring characteristics....and it always makes me smile...

Generally, people deliberately push uncomfortable emotions inside, repressing them, but doing so dulls our ability to feel everything...

The ability to feel is necessary to feel your inner passions and heart's desires as I call them.

When you learn how to open to feel again, you will have access to your subconscious mind to resolve and release your fears, emotional wounds and beliefs, as well as your true self, where your passions and hearts desires are held..

You will be amazed at how your heart songs make you smile from the inside out...

I wish you all that you can dream for yourself..

[Talkofthatown919]

i used to struggle with this question when i was younger. I made up my mind when i was about 17 or 18ish that i wanted to be a successful entrepreneur. So i'm working a full time job coming home and making that dream come true. It all starts with you. There has to be something that you enjoy doing. So do it.

[supertom]

“Life is about creating oneself and not waiting to find it.” James matador

Different perspective if you like, I think finding oneself is just smart thinking by government and big bussineness to keep people lost and following orders because its impossible to answer so the society gives you an answer.

[Some Random Loser]

Originally Posted by supertom

smart thinking by government and big bussineness to keep people lost and following orders because its impossible to answer so the society gives you an answer.

Ever wonder why psychoactive power plants are illegal? It's literally a crime to alter one's perception from the norm!