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When your confuse about life, what do you do to make it feel more clear?

I don't know what job I want or do. I just choose the stuff I like to do. But I don't think the jobs I choose are right for me.

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Subject: Career question for you

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Sanya’s Answer

Here are some steps you can take:
1) Take a break and clear your mind: Sometimes taking a break from your routine can help you gain clarity. Go for a walk, spend time in nature, meditate, or do something that you enjoy.
2) Reflect on your values and goals: Reflect on what is important to you and what you want to achieve in life. This can help you gain clarity about the direction you want to take.
3) Write down your thoughts: Writing down your thoughts and feelings can help you organize them and gain clarity. You can use a journal or write a letter to yourself.
4) Talk to someone you trust: Talking to someone you trust, such as a friend, family member, or therapist, can help you gain a fresh perspective and clarify your thoughts and feelings.
5) Seek guidance from experts: Sometimes seeking guidance from experts, such as a career counselor, financial advisor, or life coach, can help you gain clarity about your life goals and the steps you need to take to achieve them.

Remember that gaining clarity about life is a process, and it may take time and effort. Be patient and kind to yourself as you work through it.
Thank you comment icon Thank you, Sanya! Josue
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Thank you comment icon I second these suggestions, particularly writing down your thoughts. Journaling daily helps me clarify my goals and figure out next steps. It also helps me work through interpersonal situations in both my personal and professional life. Maureen Cruzen
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SHAMEKA’s Answer

Josue,
Hey! First let me say congratulations to you for even attempting to think through your future! Second: Give yourself grace. It's 100% ok if you don't have everything figured out, it sounds like you're headed in the right direction. Here are a couple of questions to ask yourself:

1. What do I enjoy doing? (Write out a list)
2. What am I good at doing? (Write out a list)

If you tend to choose jobs based on things you like to do, guess what? That's ok! But now take that passion and turn it into a skill that can be applied toward a career. Take your list and research career's that are related to your interest. Don't feel completely qualified? Take a class, read a book, talk to someone in that industry. Every opportunity is a learning opportunity, and you have the power to make your tomorrow better than your today!

You're well on your way! Best wishes!

P.S. It's always ok to ask for help!
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Keith’s Answer

First, recognize that bills never stop. So even while you struggle to figure out what job will make you happy, you will want to make sure you keep the lights on. That aside, I stress to everyone, if you are so lucky as to find a job that 1) leverages your natural talents 2) something that comes easy for you (while difficult for others) and 3) you have a passion for...you have reached the pinnacle.

It may take you a few swings at the plate before you find that role/job that fills all those boxes. The average person changes careers 7 times during their life, so you have time to figure it out, but don't always think the grass is greener unless it really is based on the aforementioned criteria.
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Tyler’s Answer

There are so many great answers on this post. Find a trail or a back road. Turn off the car, the phone, the watch, all distractions. Clear you mind. Search for a passion or an interest. Lock it in, then set your goals. There will be obstacles, but as long as you keep a positive thoughts and positive speech, you will be able to turn those obstacles into small accomplishments. When I wanted to start in my current industry (telecom) I sent a resume a week for 3 months and made small edits to it each time. it wasn't until 1 month before graduation (4.5 months in)that I was lined up with interviews. Out of the 100+ applciations I sent out across 4 states I had 6 interviews and 6 job offers
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Nina’s Answer

Hi Josue, Great question!

First of all, you already have great potential and we all work to bringing that out and tapping into it. From my own mentor in life President Ikeda, he has great advice when you don't think you have special skills:
Without a doubt, you each have your own jewel, your own innate talent within you. How can you discover that talent? The only way is to exert yourselves to the limit of your ability. Your true potential will emerge when you give everything you’ve got to your studies, sports or whatever you take on. Discussions on Youth, p. 74
The key here is trying something new and do something great to get the wheels turning.
Here's a a good checklist for figuring out a career path?

These are some good questions to ask yourself when you’re stuck:

Is the career you’re thinking about something you enjoy?
Does it benefit society in any way?
Can you financially sustain yourself?

Maybe checking of some of these boxes might not be possible at this point. Daisaku Ikeda shares what’s most important to keep in mind:

The most important thing is to first become indispensable wherever you are. Instead of moaning that a job differs from what you’d like to be doing, become a first-class individual at that job. This will open the path leading to your next phase in life, during which you should also continue doing your best. Such continuous efforts are guaranteed to land you a job that you like, that supports your life and that allows you to contribute to society. Then, when you look back later, you will see how all your past efforts have become precious assets in your ideal field.

Discussions on Youth, p. 77

What you're doing now is creating your future. There's meaning to everything we do, but we have to put that meaning into it.

Another question that comes up as well is what if I thought I knew I wanted but then changed my mind?

No worries. We might have many different passions that can lead us to amazing opportunities. Daisaku Ikeda also shares about this point:

There is a saying that urges us, “Excel at something!” It is important to become trusted by others wherever you are, to shine with excellence. Sometimes people may dislike their job at first but grow to love it once they become serious about doing their best. “What one likes, one will do well,” goes another saying. Growing to like your job can also enable you to develop your talent. Once you have decided to work at a certain place, it is important that you pursue the path you have chosen without being discouraged or defeated, so that you will have no regrets over making that choice.

Discussions on Youth, p. 78

What do you enjoy is a good question to ask yourself.

Take a few moments to write down what you enjoy and challenge your own limits. Keep researching career paths that can be linked to areas you enjoy. The crucial point is that wherever you are right now, is a great place to start and you have your whole future ahead of you.
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Shanne’s Answer

I make a list of my personal and professional long-term and short-term goals, as well as things that I am passionate about or have an interest in learning. This helps me put a plan and timeline together to work on those goals. I have also found it's very important to ensure that I maintain a good balance between work and hobbies so I have time to regroup in between activities and obligations.
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Kathryn’s Answer

I would try volunteering. Make note of your hobbies. Are there any opportunites in your area for your hobbies? Talk with your guidance counselor or your favorite teacher about places you can volunteer. Once you are volunteering, pay close attention to the world around you. Who is doing what? What appeals to you? Ask that person if you can speak with them when they are free. Talk to them about what they do and the path they took to get there. If you are still interested, ask if there is anything you can do to learn more. The key is to keep trying until you find what feels right to you.
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Phillip’s Answer

Selecting a career path can take weeks, months or even years as you continue learning what you want and need in a job. It’s important to note that you may have the option to change your path multiple times in your life, making the ability to choose a new career a valuable life skill. Here are a few things you can try:

Perform a self-assessment. what do you like and do not like doing
Identify your must-haves. Money, culture, benefits, paid time off
Make a list of jobs to explore.
Research jobs and employers.
Get training (if you need it) and update your resume.
Find and apply for jobs.
Continue growing and learning.

After you’ve explored jobs that seem interesting, start researching each one to create a short list of serious career possibilities. The goal is to arrive at one or two career paths that you’re excited about. You can use the following steps as a guide for your research:
“Day in the life.” To get a better idea about whether a certain career might be a good fit for you, look into what the day-to-day of each job looks like. One way to get a bit more detailed information on jobs is by browsing career paths. Get example job descriptions and common tasks and responsibilities. You might also consider asking if you shadow people in your network with jobs on your list.
Salary. Whether you have a specific salary requirement or not, it might be helpful to learn about average compensation for the jobs you’ve identified. Salary trends is a tool that let you see the trends in compensation for specific jobs in different locations. Enter a job title and you’ll see the salary range in various cities and with different employers.
Job requirements. Before choosing a career, you will need to know what certifications, degrees, training or other credentials are required. You might decide that fulfilling certain requirements aren’t a good fit for you, thus narrowing down your list to careers that are more suitable.
Growth opportunities. It’s important to know if there is an opportunity for growth in your chosen career. This means the availability you’ll have in the career to advance, gain skills and take on more responsibility. Read job descriptions carefully to learn about job requirements.
Job outlook. Another key piece of information is how your selected job stands in the labor market. This includes data like hiring trends and job growth. Search for news stories about the industry or job title that interests you. You will want to give favor to jobs that have steady hiring and growth.

Being willing to fail, it takes time to find the perfect job, Took me 6 or 7 jobs to finds my dream job at Verizon. Make sure you find passion and something you like doing. Start small and Dream big!
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Silvia’s Answer

Hi Josue - I would say think about what sparks you and what are your strongest skills. This does not take away from trying something that you did not see yourself doing and going out of your comfort zone. Also finding a mentor or someone you see as a great example to learn from their success and as well as their mistakes. I thought I wanted to be an accountant because I was good with numbers but ended up being a telecommunication engineer. Never thought I would be fit for it but gave it a shot and found the sense of accomplishment aka "spark" on it. So think about what motivates. Do you like to be challenge, do you like to make changes and see the impact right away. Just a few ideas, hope it helps!
Good luck in your search.
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Bruce’s Answer

Hi Josue - searching for what job or career type will feel challenging at times but try to focus on what you like to do and what you feel you are good at doing. There are several assessment tools online and the "Glassdoor" has a good set of tools and suggestions. I recommend these tools for anyone whether you are 18 or 50 years old. It is always good to go through these exercises to maintain clarity and focus.

https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/guide/how-to-figure-out-what-you-want-as-a-career/

Here is some information (YouTube video) regarding the same subject from Indeed as well -
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/how-to-figure-out-what-you-want-to-do
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Jen’s Answer

You'll know what is right for you when you feel accomplished in what it is you're doing and how it is effecting people. It's okay to not know what you want to do, don't get discouraged. It's normal to not be set on what you want to do and don't be hard on yourself if you change your mind and fall in love with something else that wasn't your original plan.
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Lucius’s Answer

Hello Josue! There are many different things that you can do when you feel confused in life. A lot of the time, you have to try multiple things to figure out what works best for you as an individual. For me, when I am confused and looking for some direction and guidance I have a tendency to stop, reflect, and meditate. I believe that confusion is really just your brain weighing different options and therefore you need to take the time to really think through the aforementioned options and decide which will yield the most positive and beneficial results. As someone else mentioned, sometimes it also helps to write out your thoughts. Sometimes just the act of writing out your thoughts or the ability to see them on paper allows you to view them more clearly in your mind. Hope this helps!
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Adam’s Answer

I will say just start with something. then try to learn about different jobs/career either by meeting people in different fields. also try to volunteer
and extend your professional network . little by little you will find what you like. good luck
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Jada’s Answer

Hey Hey Josue ,

Not all paths are meant for us. My recommendation is to stay motivated and continue to apply for things that interest you. When it is the right job for you then it will happen. The hardest thing to do in the meantime is stay positive and keep yourself motivated.

Take some time to focus on you, go work out, pick up a new book. Try any thing that makes you uncomfortable or that you are scared to do at least once a week... Use this time to develop new hobbies.

However back to not knowing if it is right for you... you have to try them and experience them to know what you do not and do like. It is apart of the process.
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Shirley’s Answer

I have had more than one career field I have been fortunate enough to experience, so think out of the box.
Explore the opportunities life has to offer.
Roadblocks happen in all walks of life, so know that going in and be prepared to listen and learn.
Talk to someone you trust.
Resource your friends and family. There are some great careers out there you may not know even exist without talking to others
Volunteer in an industry you are interested in.
Follow your instincts and listen to your inner-voice when you are interviewing professionals in an industry you are interested in.
Measure the opportunity and determine your growth potentials. A dead-end position could become a weight around your neck and pull you down.
LOVE what you do. Stay positive.
Mostly.. ENJOY
Thank you comment icon Shirley, thank you! Marisol
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Gary L’s Answer

Hi Josue - I was in the same situation. Look at the items you are passionate about and see how you can develop skills for those items that you can make into a career. Be open to adjusting along the way and do not pass up on any opportunities to learn and broaden your skill set.

Gary L recommends the following next steps:

Make a list of everything you would like to do.
Focus the list down to your top 3.
Research what is needed to be successful in a field of your choice
Make a plan and go after it.
Thank you comment icon Gary makes great suggestions! I would add to this that you can look for people who work in the field of choice and get a preview of what a day in the life is like. Or, ask questions about the work when you participate in job interviews. Charity Bell-Burke
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shontaa’s Answer

Hi Josue. One of the best practices that I find to help me when I am confused is journaling. Write down your thoughts and the things that you like to do. Remember to go to school or take a job that's in the field you are most passionate about When you do what you love, it doesn't feel like work. What is it that you love to do? What's something that brings you joy?
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Edwin’s Answer

Hello,

The best thing to do is a two-step process.

Step 1 slow down your thoughts and try to do anything it suits you to slow down.

Step 2. Reflect on things and play the scenes in your mind with different perspectives. if its hard for you, take a help from a friend to give you a new perspect.
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