Why do so many of us have such a hard time answering this question? I have the great opportunity to talk to a lot of young people, and I always come away encouraged with the next generation. As a whole, I think there is so much more hope in the future than the mass media or statisticians like to lead us to believe.
And the one thing I always want to know from them is, “what do you want?” Not what do your parents want, or what do you think society wants from you, but what really makes you tick? It unlocks so many of life’s mysteries and struggles...all we have to do is establish it from the onset.
And even as older adults, we often have a tough time defining what we want. It gets even tougher the older we get, because we’ve probably suppressed so many of these feelings that they’re barely recognizable.
Yesterday, I told you that you still get to be the author of your own story. But in order to do that, you have to be able to see what the ending looks like...your happy ending. And that means really starting to define what it is today that will get you there...and it all starts with “What do you want?”
I promise...this answer is not always as easy or as difficult as it seems. If you think this is easy, take some time and make sure. If you think this is tough, reflect on things that you love or things that come natural to you that others find difficult.
But to start this journey, this is the first question that we have to ask ourselves. Everything else will flow from your response to this question.
So, again, “what do you want?”
See you tomorrow!
-ABB