Are You Where You Are Supposed to Be in Life?

Sometimes I get the feeling that I should be doing more. More what is the million dollar question. Do you believe you are where you are supposed to be in life?

There are many ways to determine if you are. Here is how you might feel if you are on the right path:

• You love your job
• Your intuition feels right
• You feel happy and fulfilled
• Your days feel more positive than negative
• You sleep well
• Your inner voice no longer questions your actions

Do any of these things resonate with you? I remember being in grammar school and feeling sure I would grow up to be a writer. This determination stayed with me through high school and college. My first job was writing radio ads and public service announcements for a non-profit. I loved it! But it was a tiny department, and I had no growth opportunities, and after two years, I moved on.

Where You Are Supposed to Be

I took a marketing job at Showtime/The Movie Channel mainly for the growth opportunities it offered. It was fun and exciting, and I became their national marketing manager within four years. But then they merged with MTV, and I was let go. They told me they chose Stu over me because he had a wife and mortgage. I was still young, so they knew I would land on my feet somewhere. It was devastating.

This tragic event pointed me toward a sales career. Regardless of mergers, if you could sell, they would keep you. And sell, I did! I had a true knack for sales. I eventually transferred my knowledge to sales teams and was Vice President of Sales for multiple technology firms. The money was flowing, and life was good. Until I got breast cancer, and everything changed.

What if I Pursued Writing?

Should I have tried harder to pursue writing? In retrospect, I wish I did. Would I have become a novelist or a best-selling author? How cool that would have been! Instead, I followed job openings that presented themselves, and my career unfolded before me. What if I sought out opportunities, took the wheel, and drove my career in my desired direction? What if I hit the bullseye? Embarrassingly, I was ignorant of that option.

The good news is that our children will not let this happen. We have raised them to believe they can accomplish anything they desire. Not settling has become a trend for future generations. As a sales executive, I worked long hours and traveled extensively. Seeing this, both of my children have no intention of joining corporate America. Erin wants to serve others (non-profit), and Michael intends to be an entrepreneur (plumber). They are both at the beginning of their paths, but based on this current world, I am confident they will continue seeking their original goals.

Did Cancer Put Me Where I Was Supposed to Be?

There is certainly a case to be made that cancer got me back on track. Perhaps I needed to become a sales executive before a writer based on God’s plan. I am unsure, but I believe I am on the right path. Yet, I have a nagging feeling that I should be doing more. How confident are you that you are on the right path? If you’d like to know, read the article “15 Signs You Are Exactly Where You’re Supposed to Be.” https://medium.com/sincerely-madison-e/15-signs-you-are-exactly-where-youre-supposed-to-be-a494796ff3fd.

Reading the article mentioned above made me feel good. While I couldn’t relate to all signs, I relate to most. My favorite sign is:

#13. You’ve taken responsibility for your life and introduced new intentions to your behaviors.

Even though it is difficult, you do what is necessary to support your long-term goals. You have realized the importance of self-care and are putting yourself in the best position to achieve your life’s dreams.

Out of the 15 signs listed in the article, what one feels most relatable to you?

How Can I Be Sure I’m Where I Am Supposed to Be?

If relying on your gut intuition is still not enough for you to feel confident you are on the right path, ask yourself the following questions:

• How did I get to where I am today?
• What did I always think I would do professionally?
• Do I like to do anything that I am also good at?
• What do I want?
• What do I value in a job?
• Are there certain types of people I enjoy?
• What do I want to accomplish by the end of my life?
• Does anything make me lose track of time?
• What have I not tried?
• Is there a problem I could solve?

These questions are courtesy of https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/what-should-i-do-with-my-life from the Indeed website. Following the link, you can read each question in detail. You can use the list as a worksheet to help you uncover your actual goals. The terrific thing about this list is that it is ageless. This list can be used by a recent college grad, a millennial that doesn’t feel “right” about their path, or even a retired person looking for a complete change.

Knowing you can pivot is the true beauty of being conscious of whether you are on the right path. By seriously pondering this, you can change course or feel great about being right where you should be. Please comment below on what you discovered about yourself.