I drank lunch with K today.  She has no idea what she wants to do with her life.

I told her about my brother.  How he works a ton and puts so much of himself into his job, but really does seem to enjoy what he does.  He seems excited about what he’s doing and working towards.  I tell her I want what I think my brother has.

K might not know what her passion is, but she at least believes that she has one.  It seems young people are more likely to hold the belief that they can, and should, be doing something that they are passionate about.  Somewhere along the way our focus changes to finding something that offers security and financial stability.  Here are three suggestions (all tested by yours truly) for those still or once again believing.

1.     Open up

I’m afraid people (you included) will think I’m being childish, unrealistic, or just plain lazy; however, people in my life have surprised me.  My friends look relieved that someone else is feeling the same way.  My brother said “I really have no doubt whatsoever that you will find something, keep going and you’ll get to where you want to be.”  My parents, bless them, are still pushing for financial stability.

Let the people in your life surprise you.  I created imnotanna.com because I opened up and realized that I am not alone.  Open up and let the positive feedback propel you forward.

2.     Ask big questions

A common recommendation of career “experts” is to ask yourself something like “What would you do if you won the lottery?” or “What would you do if you only had 18 months to live?”  If I had 48 million dollars or was about to die I’d probably travel, relax somewhere sunny, and write a book.  Imagine how you would like to spend your time, but don’t take your answer too literally.  I don’t plan to (immediately) travel, rent a villa in Spain, and begin composing my masterpiece, but my answer does present certain insights:

I don’t want a high-powered life in the fast lane. 

I don’t want to live in rain and snow (I do). 

I want to create something. 

In “Meet the Women Who Can Handle Anything,” Melody Barnes tells Glamour magazine that her motto is “What would you do if you knew you could not fail?”  She says that “[w]hen [she has] tried to live [her] life by those words, really exciting and wonderful things have happened.”

Ask yourself big questions and see what happens.   

3.      Glue yourself to your chair until you find your passion

Steve Pavlina offers decidedly frustrating (but effective) advice in “How to Discover Your Life Purpose in About 20 Minutes”.  The method has you sitting at your desk for 20 minutes (or two hours, in my case) answering the question “What is my true purpose in life?” over and over again until you get it right. 

After two hours of wanting to give up (or at the very least get up) I found an answer that resonated with me (albeit not necessarily “deeply”).  You won’t get an answer as specific as “My true purpose in life is to be a circus clown,” but I recommend Steve’s article nonetheless.

My final answer:  to acknowledge my potential, create something of value, and be an expression of God/nature/the world.

No idea what you want to do with your life?  This is your life.  Do something.

Get involved.  Leave comments.  Give advice.  Ask for advice.