Pretty much everyone wants to figure out their purpose in life, whether it’s to support your family or do something great. One crucial part of figuring out our purpose is first discovering who we are/who were meant to be.
But how do you go about finding yourself?
A quick Google of “discover yourself quotes” turns up a ton of suggestions. There are pages and pages of Google image quotes, some better than others. We’re talking everything from the actually pretty interesting/helpful, “If you ever find yourself in the wrong story, leave” by Mo Willems to the lackluster, “Find your own path” (as if that’s not the most obvious statement in the world).
I guess I thought I’d add my two cents into this clearly already lengthy and developed conversation.
It’s easy to get complacent when you’re comfortable. Maybe you’re turning into the best version of yourself or maybe you’re stuck in one place – it’s hard to know when you’re surrounded by the life you’ve been living for a while.
People are supposed to learn from their mistakes and previous actions. But how are you supposed to apply what you’ve learned from life if you keep on living the same life you have been? It’s so easy to fall into the same habits when you’ve been around the same people, places, and situations for a long time. That’s why I believe if you want to truly figure out your life and find yourself, well, you need to start changing things up.
Whether it’s for a few weeks, a year, or longer, it’s worth getting out of your hometown to discover what life’s like outside of your typical boundaries. I realize not everyone is able to do this, especially given financial restraints, but if it’s at all feasible, get out now. Book a flight to another country. Apply to a job in a different state. Heck, fill up your gas tank and go on a spontaneous road trip for a long weekend.
There’s no one way to go on this journey of self-discovery. All that matters is that you go on it.
Is it going to be a bit scary? Fuck yeah, it is. But isn’t that the point? You’re trying to break out of complacency, and the quickest way to do that is by doing something totally outside of your comfort zone. You have to push yourself at least a little. Otherwise you’ll just stay in the same place. I know the saying (the propaganda piece) is “Keep Calm, Carry On,” but is carrying on really all you want to get out of your life?
I sure as shit want a lot more. Keeping calm and carrying on may be one way to get through life, but my plan is to do more than get through. If the options available to you, I’d suggest you do more too. There may be a few of us who are able to push ourselves in our current situation, but for the rest of us, I encourage and implore you to expand your horizons and force yourself to go on a journey of self-discovery.
Don’t get stuck sitting at home – or your office desk. Go out and live your life. Experience some discomfort. Experience some adventure. Experience all the magic life has to offer. You’ll never get to live your best life sitting on your ass.
Author: Dani Howell
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