If you’re feeling lost right now — unsure about your next step in life, career, or anything else — I want to tell you this:

It’s not about finding your “passion.”

It’s not about chasing a vague idea of “purpose.”

Clarity is the most important thing.

When you’re clear — about what you want, what matters, and what next steps make sense — everything else becomes easier.

You don’t have to overthink or force it. You just need a process to hear yourself again.

Here’s the exact method I use whenever I need to get unstuck.

Step 1: Rapid Answers (10 minutes)

Set a timer for 10 minutes. No overthinking, no editing, no second-guessing.

Just answer these two questions, fast:

• If I had all the money in the world, what would I be doing — for life and work?
• What will I most regret not doing at the end of my life?

Answer honestly. Even if your answers feel messy or imperfect — that’s okay. You’re trying to access your gut instincts, not write a perfect life plan.

Step 2: Define Your Ideal Life (1 hour)

Now slow it down a little.

Ask yourself:

“My life is ideal when…”

And fill in 1–3 sentences for each category below:

• Health: (How do I feel physically and mentally in my ideal life?)
• Purpose / Work: (What type of work feels meaningful to me? What am I contributing to?)
• Environment / Home: (What kind of environment or city am I living in? What feels good to me?)
• Relationships / Community: (What kinds of people am I surrounded by? How do I feel in my relationships?)
• Fun / Hobbies: (What am I doing just for fun, creativity, and joy?)
• Education: (What am I learning, studying, or curious about?)
• Finances: (What kind of financial stability or freedom do I want?)

Important:

Focus only on the next 2–5 years.

You don’t need a 20-year plan right now. You just need to get clear on the near future you actually want to build.

Example:

Under “Work / Purpose” — “I am innovating in health tech and education through content, programs, courses, and apps.”

Step 3: Explore Options (1 hour)

Now that you have your ideal life mapped out, it’s time to brainstorm options you could realistically start in the next year.

1. Brainstorm 2–5 career or work paths you could pursue starting in 2024. Think realistically — not what sounds “cool” or “safe” — but what you could actually do next year.
   • Example: Founding engineer, indie hacker, contractor for mission-driven companies, content creator, early-stage startup employee.
2. Match each option to your ideal life categories. Go back to what you wrote in Step 2, and check:
   • Finances: Does this option help you meet your financial goals? (Example: If you become a founding engineer, you might take a 30% pay cut, which would slow down your savings goals. If you join a company like Notion, you might stay on track.)
   • Lifestyle: Does this option allow for the lifestyle you want — remote work, flexible hours, living abroad, etc.?
   • Learning and Purpose: Does it align with the kind of skills you want to build and the impact you want to have?

Once You Have Clarity…

You’ll be able to set tangible goals for the next year.

You’ll stop feeling frozen.

You’ll start making decisions you actually trust.

From here, you can break your goals down into manageable tasks and focus on small, clear next steps.

You don’t have to rush. You just have to start.