How to Figure Out What to Do With Your Life

Our values change over time. It's not self-evident unless we self-assess. We self-assess by ordering our values and identifying which projects best satisfy them.

Once you uncover what you should truly be doing—and you can wholeheartedly justify it to yourself—there's really nothing more empowering.

For many, that list will include Knowledge, Adventure, Fame, Power, Money, Exercising Talent, and Human Connection.

It's uncomfortable to commit to a long-term project unless we first do two things: 1. Weigh the pros and cons until we're convinced our ROI is very high. 2. Rule out everything else.

The Personal Values exercise Write down the values you passionately care about when pursuing projects.

Don't forget to think long-term: value Knowledge and Exercising Talents while lessening the importance of Money.

Remember that it's okay if your values change in the future. For now, just focus on:

We universally lack the discipline to halt our inertia to ask, Should I still be doing what I'm doing?

Order those values from most to least important today.