Do What You Gotta Do

“Make a radical change in your lifestyle & begin to boldly do things which you may previously never have thought of doing, or been too hesitant to attempt. So many people live within unhappy circumstances & yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, & conservation, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, & hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new & different sun. If you want to get more out of life, you must lose your inclination for monotonous security & adopt a helter-skelter style of life that will at first appear to you to be crazy. But once you become accustomed to such a life you will see its full meaning & its incredible beauty.” — Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild.

It’s the year 2010 and you still don’t know what you want or what you want to do.

It was one of those afternoons and I was on YM with a friend from the other side of the world. We were gabbing about you know, what browsers we use and why breakfast is the best meal in the world, the usual stuff, when it hit me. It really isn’t about what you do, if it’s in or not. It’s how much you want it.

Is it to write novels? Make clothes?

You see, the greatest change can only come to the people who are deeply passionate for what they do, both for self and work. If you do want to have the change you’ve been dreaming of, it’s time you get off that chair and consciously and deliberately act out your plans.

You dream of being a freelance writer, a TV star, a modern jazz dancer, or a rockstar, and yet, you choose to slave away in that thing you do, and remain to be a daydreamer. If you’re looking for the reason why you hate waking up in the mornings, or why you can’t wait to dash out into the door the moment the clock ticks 5:00, then this is for you.

How do you jumpstart your most fabulous life doing what you really want?

1.

Find out what your passion is

. For sure there were many moments when you’ve daydreamed, since the beginning of time, some sequence with you and your dream job involved. Was it one with you on the red carpet as an actress? Did it include you cooking up some amazing dish for a five-star hotel? It could be something you’ve talked about millions of times. Dig, and thou shall find.

2.

Find out what your strengths are

. If you’ve been told by your boss that your Photoshop skills are rad, or if your girlfriend says you have an amazing knack for fixing electronics, don’t let it just be another compliment. Unconsciously, you may be doing very well on what you like to do and that may just be the universe telling you that this was what you were meant to do.

Cristina (Scarlett Johansson of Vicky Cristina Barcelona) didn't know what she wanted either, but her talents told her.

3. What’s your value?

Finding the intersection between what you’re good at and how much people are willing to pay you for is tough. If you can’t find a way to get paid to do what you love, the other stuff doesn’t really matter. As my friend J always tells me, you have to be more assertive when it comes to pricing your outputs.

4. Commit.

The biggest mistake we make after dreaming is forgetting (or maybe deliberately forgetting) to commit to it to makes sure it happens. Mindsets such as “I don’t know…” or “Maybe someday” ruin the whole purpose of you wanting to be something and won’t lead you to your passions.

5. Let go.

There is merit in learning --- as well as un-learning. Let go of old patterns, bad habits (you know you do know which ones) and myths such as “It ain’t work if it’s fun.” It’s not at all easy, but it’s worth it.

6. What will you give up?

There is only 24 hours in a day and while thinking you want to be productive does not exactly translate to actually being productive, it’s best that you prioritize your passions and work toward each one at a time. Do you absolutely think that going out each night adds to your value? Think again.

7. Say yes to yourself.

As soon as you’re decided to become a teacher/coach/painter/astronaut/mathematician, give yourself the license to call yourself such even if you’re still on your way to fulfilling it. If there is one thing we haven’t been accustomed to is that we never really own something. So own your passion completely and unreservedly then see yourself nearer and nearer to it.

No one holds the key other than you. Source

Of course, there is more to the journey towards what you love doing than these steps. However, it is usually the first step that’s the hardest but a clear mind and lots of commitment help. As they say, there is nothing you can’t get if you want it that bad.

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