10 Questions to Understand What to Do in Life
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade
Having a purpose in life is like having an internal compass: it allows you to overcome any obstacle, helps you understand what is important, and identifies what is stealing your time and energy. It enables you to find motivation even on the darkest days when you feel paralyzed by apathy.
What do I want to do in life?
Maybe it happened just before choosing university, maybe it was at the end of an important love story, or perhaps you do it every morning before locking yourself in the office for a job you hate. It doesn’t matter. Many of us have asked ourselves the fateful question at least once: “What do I want to do in life?”
“The answer is within you, but it’s wrong,” by Quelo
I am a bit more optimistic: if you haven’t found the answer to this question yet, it’s because you haven’t looked hard enough. The 10 questions to understand what you want to do in life are for this purpose. Grab paper and pen or open the note space on your smartphone.
Remember: there are no right or wrong answers; there are only your answers. Write them down spontaneously; don’t let your rational side take over. Some of the answers you find may not be news to you, but others could really light a bulb.
Here are the 10 questions I’ve prepared for you.
1. What are you willing to suffer for?
Admit it, you didn’t expect a start like this. Para-gurus always asks us to think about what will make us happy, what will make us feel good, and what will give us pleasure. These are simple questions. Instead, ask yourself what you are willing to suffer for, to make sacrifices, to fight with nails and teeth because these are the things that truly matter in your life.
As someone aspiring to become a screenwriter, I grapple with a dream in an industry where success is scarce, often hinging more on connections than a writer’s skill.
2. How do you imagine your life in 5 years?
We are so caught up in our daily routines that we never take the time to visualize (and build) the future of our dreams. Take 5 minutes and write in detail what your life will be like in 5 years.
- Who are you?
- What goals have you achieved?
- What obstacles have you overcome?
- Who is by your side?
- Where do you live?
- What emotions do you feel?
- What is your typical day like?
Define your new reality and then, every day, visualize yourself reaching it.
“If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll never get there,” by Lewis Carroll.
3. What would you do if you weren’t afraid?
Fear is an evolutionary mechanism that has saved our butts many times over the millennia. But today, when we no longer have to fight against wild beasts or other dangers of nature, fear often proves to be an irrational brake that doesn’t allow us to fully live our lives.
4. What would you do if you were sure of success?
Among the fears that paralyze us, the fear of failure is one of the most powerful. What would you dive into right now if you were sure you couldn’t fail?
5. What are your 3 greatest talents?
“Earn with your passions,” “Turn what you love into your source of income,” and “Make money with your hobbies”: the internet is plastered with ads that claim to help you create passive income through your passions. “The purpose of your life is the intersection between your greatest passions and the greatest needs of the world.”
It’s not enough to be passionate about something to make it the purpose of your life; you must also demonstrate an objective talent in what you want to do. So, ask yourself what your greatest talents are, in what others recognize your unusual abilities, for which of your unique skills a person would be willing to pull money out of their wallet.
6. If you had one hour of life left, how would you spend it?
Scrolling through Instagram? Seriously? I wish you a long life full of satisfaction (and come on, stop poking around!), but the truth is that each of us walks around with an invisible label stamped with our expiration date. Maybe it’s an unpleasant image, but as much as you might be annoyed by it, you can never change this simple truth. Becoming aware of it, on the contrary, can help you understand what you really want to do with your life. If you need another push, I recommend reading Seneca’s letter to Lucilius.
7. When was the last time you felt alive?
Can you remember what you were doing the last time you felt an irrepressible feeling of happiness? If you haven’t found your direction in life yet, these moments of pure enthusiasm are the “breadcrumbs” that will help you find the right path. A piece of advice: in my personal diary, I have a special page where I’ve been collecting the happiest moments of my life for years. Rereading them from time to time has helped me understand what I really wanted to do in the years to come.
8. What are the 5 most important things to you?
You know those post-apocalyptic movies where Earth has been hit by a virus/asteroid/alien attack and the few survivors find themselves living like cavemen? Well, if that really happened, what would be the 5 things you would miss the most? These 5 things are most likely the constants in your life: whatever you decide to do, keep them in mind.
P.S. No, Nutella is not among the acceptable answers.
9. Who is the person you admire the most in the world?
Each of us has our role models, people whose lives are a constant source of inspiration. These role models can tell us a lot about who we are and who we want to become. Try to understand what you admire so much about this person, and you will understand what you really want to achieve in your life.
10. What job would you do even for free?
I write screenplays in my free time, without earning a single penny: this is because money, as much as I may love making it, is not the only motivation that drives me.
What job would you be willing to do every day, with sacrifice, if you knew there was no paycheck waiting for you at the end of the month?
This question is the best answer I can give to all the people who are tormented by the infamous “I don’t know what job to do.” The same goes if you are a student and don’t know which university to choose: ask yourself which subjects you are willing to study for 10 hours a day, on weekends, and when your friends are having fun at the beach.
The journey to discovering your life’s purpose is a deeply personal and introspective process. The 10 questions provided serve as a roadmap, guiding you toward a clearer understanding of your desires, values, and aspirations. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers — only your authentic responses that will illuminate the path ahead.
Life’s purpose is not a fixed destination but a dynamic, evolving concept that aligns with your growth and experiences. Embrace the process, celebrate the moments of revelation, and be patient with yourself.
It might take time, but with patience and self-reflection, you’ll find the compass within, pointing you toward a life rich with meaning and purpose.
