There is a very simple but powerful exercise that you can use to find the main themes of your life. You need to do the next 6 steps:
1. Determine what you like/dislike to do?
Take a piece of paper and divide it into two columns. On the left side, list all the things you have enjoyed doing in the last 12 months. On the right side, write down all the things you have not liked in the past 12 months.
You can take a period of the last 6 months, 12 months, 5 years or your whole life. Spend no more than half an hour and write down everything that comes to mind, don't edit or throw away your memories.
These questions will help you make up your mind:
- What things have given you a sense of extra energy?
- Which tasks were very easy for you to do over and over again?
Do the same for the right side, where you list things you didn't like. Take advantage of the leading questions:
- What kind of things have you been putting off all the time?
- What did you always have to fight to finish the job?
Write down everything you can remember, guided by the rules of brainstorming: do not throw away any ideas, do not reflect on them and do not criticize them.
2. Determine what you are doing well/bad
The next step is similar to the previous one. Take another piece of paper and divide it into two columns. This time, list in the left column all the things you did very well.
A few auxiliary questions:
- What achievements are you very proud of?
- What projects have brought you real benefits (money, connections, etc.)?
You can also include cases that other people have commented very positively on, even if you may sometimes have doubts about how well you have done them.
In the right column, list all the things you did wrong:
- What can't you be proud of?
- What things could you do better?
Again, spend no more than half an hour on this step and continue to follow the rules of brainstorming
3. identify your strengths/weaknesses
Now take another piece of paper, divide it into two columns and set the timer again for 30 minutes.
In the left column, list all your strengths. These can be qualities of character, skills, and talents:
- What are the most obvious advantages you have?
- What resources or connections do you have?
In the right column, write down all your weaknesses:
- What are your obvious disadvantages?
- Why do you often criticize yourself?
This step ends the period of brainstorming.
4. Analyze your ideas and supplement them
Keep thinking about your lists. Carry these lists with you for the next two weeks, wherever you go. Take them to work, read them while you eat, take them on trips and keep them handy at all.
If there are any new ideas coming up, write them down or cross out what seemed like a hasty conclusion. Often during this period, you will discover very deep thoughts about yourself, your abilities and limitations.
5. Find topics that describe you
At the end of two weeks, take your lists, 5-7 colored pens or markers, and find a quiet place where you won't be disturbed. Now, browse through all the items on your list and group them into a few common themes, highlighting each with a different color.
Do not select too many topics - 5-10 points will be enough. Each of them is the truth about you and an important "theme" in your life.
6. Identify "star themes"
If you have more than five "themes", look at them and add a star to the ones that resonate most with you. Which of them has the greatest meaning and influence in your life?
Finally, write down your stellar "themes" on a separate sheet of paper and see if they fit who you really are. If you are comfortable with these new truths, it means that these are the most important "themes" of your life
Opening your dream job: What to do with the "themes" of your life
Now that you have completed a full exercise, you are in a truly unique position. You had to get some powerful clarity in what specific "topics" give you the energy that makes you happy and what kind of work you do exceptionally well. From here you must compare relatively easily the profession of your dreams with this result.
If you are very satisfied with your work, you will realize that more than 50% of the "themes" of life, one way or another, are reflected in your profession.
If you are unhappy with your current job but do not intend to change it in the short term, this exercise will help you find areas in your occupation that still correspond to some of the "topics" of your life.
If your current work reflects only a part of the "themes" of your life, you can realize another part in the side activity. For example, if one of your "themes" is that you like to help people, do volunteer work or philanthropic projects.
If your profession does not correspond to the "themes" of your life at all, or if you are only at the beginning of your journey, you now have guidelines that will help you make the right choices in the long run.