What does it mean to discover your journey?
Think about the last time you introduced yourself to someone. When they asked you questions about what you do for a living, or what you are passionate about, were you confident or enthusiastic to describe who you are and what is important to you? Dreams, personal values, talents, and even your personality traits may not always seem to matter much in the rush of daily life. In fact, we tend to spend more time and energy comparing ourselves to others or to a perceived societal norm than we do asking ourselves what’s important. Awareness of your own characteristics, dreams, values, and talents can provide plenty of insight into your inner self – and it has the added benefit of countering the tendency to compare to others. Regardless of where you may find yourself on the journey, there is always opportunity for self-discovery that can lead you closer to your goals.
Self-awareness is key to sustaining energy, focus, and attention on your goals – health, work, creative, and personal goals. When we are crystal clear on our values, goals, and aspirations, we navigate daily life more effectively – we can say no without guilt to things that aren’t important, we make better self-care choices because we see self-care as a means to achieving our goals, and perhaps most importantly, the daily choices we make become sustainable because they are anchored by our values and dreams.
Self-discovery might sound like a big, intimidating concept, but it’s really just a process of:
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- examining your life through reflection
- figuring out what’s most important to you
- taking steps toward fulfillment
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There’s no better time for self-exploration than the present, so here are some tips to get you started.
- Start by visualizing your ideal self; it is okay to not have a full or clear picture! The journey to self-discovery is all about unpacking this little by little. A starting place could be to ponder questions such as:
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- What’s most important to me?
- What do I want from life?
- Where do I see myself in 5 years? 10 years?
- What do I regret?
- What contributed to instances where I felt fulfilled or proud of myself?
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- Explore your passions or interests. Think about the things that excite you and bring joy to your life. Are you currently doing anything to embellish your day-to-day activities with the things about which you are passionate? Even interests like music or sports can lead you to insightful discoveries about your passions. Taking time to explore your passions and interests can help to discover ways to enrich your life.
- Try new things- If you could not think of anything that you are specifically passionate about, do not fret! One way to figure this out is by trying out something new and totally different than you have done before. Afterall, you won’t know that you enjoy something until you experience it! You could check your local library or community center for opportunities such as adult education classes to learn a new skill or learn from a friend/loved one if they are experienced in a hobby in which you are interested.
The path to self-discovery is an ongoing journey, but never forget that YOU are in charge of the journey. The more ground you cover through self-exploration, the more you’ll discover about yourself and the more self-aware you’ll become. You know yourself the best, so pay attention to the things that align with your values and that make you feel fulfilled. As you follow the things that drive you to be the best version of yourself, you will be more confident in knowing what your purpose is in life.
Our WellCats theme for this year is Discover Your Journey. There are numerous ways to live a fulfilled life and the WellCats team is here to support you on your journey. We will be bringing you lots of information and content this year to support you. Please let us know how we can best support you to live your best life. Happy journeying!
References:
9 Tips to Help You Kick Off Your Self-Discovery Journey
How to know your life purpose in 5 minutes | Adam Leipzig | TEDxMalibu