Life is full of ups and downs, decision making, and unknowns. So how do you know you are making the right decision when life comes to a crossroads? When you have no idea what the future might hold, how do you make the next right step?
We've all been there many times. Whether you are in high school trying to decide which college is best for you, or you're in college trying to decide what major is right for you, or you're a young adult now trying to decide between different career paths and new cities, we all find ourselves at the crossroads more frequently than not.
Weighing the pros and cons can help some, but most of the time, what can help the most is finding your passion and pinpointing your end goal. You have to know where you want to ultimately end up to decide which direction to go and when- but normally the timing seems to work itself out just perfectly.
To find your passion, ask yourself:
What am I really good at?
What would others who know me best say I am good at?
What do I enjoy doing?
What matters most to me?
To pinpoint your end goal, ask yourself:
Where do I hope to be a few years from now versus a decade from now?
What do I want to look back on my life and say that I've done?
What would I be most proud of at the end of my life?
What do I want people to remember about me?
I know it can be hard to think long-term versus short-term, but starting at the imaginary finish-line can provide the motivation you need to get in the race. For example, maybe you have a great business idea that you are excited about, truly believe in, but are hesitant to start because of the short-term risk. You'd have to take out a loan, and what if it flops? But you must also consider, what if it didn't? Some things may not seem like the best decision now, but will it be the best decision in the long-run?
All majorly successful ventures began with some type of risk. Many people get lost weighing the opinions of everyone around them. It is good to take advice, and even better to consider criticism. But, ultimately, you get to decide if the risk is worth the reward.
You get to decide the next step you take in life. Sure, sometimes that can feel like a lot of pressure. But the ability to choose what's best for you, to recognize the opportunities that are always changing, and to find the doors that are open to walk through is what makes life the most exciting adventure you will ever be on.