Who are you? What do you want?

[bravebluemice]

I've been working with a few friends of mine who, like many of us, fallen on hard times. Working with them has enlightened me to a common problem, and I thought I'd share the insights.

How many of you have a garage full of things that fit any of the following descriptions:

1. I might need it someday.
2. Do you know what a deal I got on this?
3. I may never have one of these again.

The list goes on, and I'm sure you know what I'm getting at.

My Old Man's garage has overflown with 'things' that fit this description. It's gotten bad enough that my Stepmom is about to follow suit of my Mother, if you get my drift.

My buddy has a one bedroom apartment, and his living room looks like some sort of space laboratory. He struggles with social relationships, and has trouble holding down jobs.

My garage is full of parts to a broken racecar, a bunch of surplus PC equipment, a whole load of industrial equipment that I thought looked neat, and when I get the time and money, I'm gonna....

Hold it right there. I'm gonna what? I'm going to create another gigantic waste of time? Sure...

I'm finding that people no longer have a simple goal. There isn't a vision for the future. People don't know what they want.

By what they want, I don't mean their list to Santa Claus, I mean what they really want.

Here's a question, and we can discuss the answer, but put this question at the front of your mind: WHAT DO YOU WANT. What do you want such that obtaining that thing would be the be all and end all of your existence. For most of us, we'd say happiness, not wanting to get caught in that philosophical trap, but what exactly, would it be that would make you happy?

I'll give you an example: I'd like to spend my days writing Science Fiction. I'd like to live in a house in the country, and spend my evenings out on the river. (see my introductory post, it's a pretty clear picture: Greetings, Earth Creatures!)

This has simplified things to a level where all of the things that have frustrated me in the past have fallen away. I am no longer a slave to my possessions to the end of running out of garage space. I traded 60 outdated PCs that I was planning to build a cluster out of for an eight year old Mac Laptop (that I'm writing this on now. Works great for what I actually use a computer for!).

The more honest I am with myself about what I REALLY want, the easier it gets. I tend to dislike drama a whole lot (you know, the excitement of high school). As a result of aligning myself with what I REALLY want, all of that falls away.

It also makes decision making even easier. Just the other day I got an email from my Wife's Sister, asking me if I wanted a (rather nice) Laser Printer that her department at work didn't need anymore, and I was able to confidently reply that I needed no such thing; I can honestly say I haven't printed anything not work related for almost five years.

I owe all of this clear-mindedness to knowing without a shadow of a doubt what I want out of life. I know where I want to be and where I'm going.

Do you?

[tstesen]

Originally Posted by bravebluemice

I owe all of this clear-mindedness to knowing without a shadow of a doubt what I want out of life. I know where I want to be and where I'm going.

Do you?

Excellent, thought provoking post bravebluemice. I think a majority of people struggle with knowing what they want out of life myself included. I have been struggling with this very thing for 4 years now. It's almost as if I woke up one day and realized I didn't know who I was anymore or where it was I was going in life. A very scary realization indeed. Somehow through the years of climbing the corporate latter, tending to my husbands needs and starting a family I lost touch with who I am and the things I want out of life.

I look forward to reading others responses to this post. While I'm on a journey of self discovery now I still struggle daily with getting to know myself inside and out.

Tanya

[Dan.Linehan]

Sean: So what do you really want to do?
Will: I wanna be a shepherd.
Sean: Really.
Will: I wanna move up to Nashua, get a nice little spread, get some sheep and tend to them.

What do I want to do really? Develop and run my web domains. Learn Python a bit. Hike and camp more.

I don't need anything but a PC and a beater car for all that..

[Joely]

I really like this post, especially as a former shop-aholic.

I have very little stuff - I rent a furnished apartment and besides books and music, it's just me and my Mac laptop. I realised when I had no money whatsoever how little stuff made a difference in my life.

On the other hand, I do know where I'm going and what I'm doing (scared though I am). I've written twelve books and I'm not far off finishing my thirteenth. The first book has already been given the thumbs up by a major publisher, and I've had the chance to start writing full time already, even without a deal signed, sealed and delivered. We're also due to start podcasting Book One at the start of March. Everything kind of unfolds from there, I guess.

All I've ever wanted is to be a published author, so that's what I'm doing. Eventually, I'll emigrate to somewhere that rains less and is probably a bit deserty, or beachy, travel a great deal and live spontaneously.

[Guardian Angel]

For me, I want to have piece of mind. Not that I do not have it, but what I mean is that doing what you want and gaining a lot from it while helping others. These are the reasons why I blog and why my blog topics are about giving tips. I am not a marriage counselor, child psychiatrist nor a rich blogger. I am an engineer by profession but it was what I do now that makes me fullfilled and I know I not yet late to do it. Thanks!

[Ree]

I was fortunate enough to be diagnosed with cancer six years ago (almost seven actually!) and during my one year of treatment, I began a spiritual journey that is still ongoing and gets better all the time. One of the aha moments for me was when I put my priorities on paper in order of importance. From that moment on I have made all decisions based on that list of priorities and I have suffered no doubts, no fears and no regrets. It literally changed my life! When I'm invited (or asked or ordered or tempted) to do something that falls outside of those priorities, it's quite easy to say no, thus I don't spend half my time working on things that don't further my own personal goals. I cleared my life of a lot of clutter literally and figuratively speaking. While I don't recommend cancer as a life-changing event, I do recommend getting your priorities clearly in order