Write an article based on this "Ask yourself about the legacy you want to leave. Make a list of options. Narrow down the list. Identify barriers preventing you from being who you want to be. Accept the confusion."
Instead of asking yourself, "what do I want to do?," start asking yourself, "who do I want to be?" That answer will provide you with insight on the type of work you will most likely find fulfilling. Imagine that someone is delivering the eulogy for your funeral. What do you hope that person could say about your life and your accomplishments? {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/05\/Find-Fulfilling-Work-Step-01Bullet01.jpg\/v4-460px-Find-Fulfilling-Work-Step-01Bullet01.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/05\/Find-Fulfilling-Work-Step-01Bullet01.jpg\/aid3872686-v4-728px-Find-Fulfilling-Work-Step-01Bullet01.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class="mw-parser-output"><p>License: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/">Creative Commons<\/a><br>
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<\/p><\/div>"} Write down a list of possible careers and career fields. Do not be afraid to get wild and creative with this initial list. The idea behind the exercise is simply to brainstorm; you can narrow down the list to a more productive one later on. Let yourself daydream. Come up with half a dozen or more "ideal" images of the future. Even if the work you are doing in those images seems silly or unrealistic, mark the idea down. It could provide you with some insight on ideas that are more achievable while still being fulfilling. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d7\/Find-Fulfilling-Work-Step-02Bullet01.jpg\/v4-460px-Find-Fulfilling-Work-Step-02Bullet01.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d7\/Find-Fulfilling-Work-Step-02Bullet01.jpg\/aid3872686-v4-728px-Find-Fulfilling-Work-Step-02Bullet01.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class="mw-parser-output"><p>License: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/">Creative Commons<\/a><br>
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<\/p><\/div>"} Ask yourself what others thank you for. If you want to do work that is fulfilling, ask yourself why your loved ones, peers, and colleagues are grateful for you. The actions you naturally take that enrich the lives of others can provide you with clues on how you can figure out career paths that are enjoyable for you and meaningful to others. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a1\/Find-Fulfilling-Work-Step-02Bullet02.jpg\/v4-460px-Find-Fulfilling-Work-Step-02Bullet02.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a1\/Find-Fulfilling-Work-Step-02Bullet02.jpg\/aid3872686-v4-728px-Find-Fulfilling-Work-Step-02Bullet02.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class="mw-parser-output"><p>License: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/">Creative Commons<\/a><br>
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<\/p><\/div>"} Look for patterns in your past. Think about the tasks you have enjoyed doing in the past, even if they are not tasks you do often or are not things that you would usually include among your list of passions. As long as you found some fulfillment in the work before, mark it down as an option of something you might be fulfilled working on in the future. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d6\/Find-Fulfilling-Work-Step-02Bullet03.jpg\/v4-460px-Find-Fulfilling-Work-Step-02Bullet03.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d6\/Find-Fulfilling-Work-Step-02Bullet03.jpg\/aid3872686-v4-728px-Find-Fulfilling-Work-Step-02Bullet03.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class="mw-parser-output"><p>License: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/">Creative Commons<\/a><br>
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<\/p><\/div>"} Once you create your initial list, take a closer look at it. Begin knocking things off that do not seem realistic or appealing and prepare to focus in on the options that may actually lead you to fulfilling work. Exercise a little realism. At this stage, you need to seriously ask yourself whether or not something you would like to do can be accomplished. Be honest with yourself about your limitations. For instance, if you would like to create a sanctuary for feral cats but have a severe allergy to cat dander, you might want to consider crossing that option of your list. Balance your values and talents. One thing to think about points at which your values and talents intersect. You might love art, but your artistic skills might be mediocre at best. As such, a career path in which you survive solely on your artwork could be a bad idea. On the other hand, you might also love taking care of children and may have a talent for interacting with kids. You can aim for work that involves taking care of children, and as a bonus, consider options that would also allow you to occasionally exercise your love for art. Get advice from those who know you. Ask the people around you where they believe your talents lie. Obtain a range of options and compare these to the ideas you came up with on your own. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/54\/Find-Fulfilling-Work-Step-03Bullet03.jpg\/v4-460px-Find-Fulfilling-Work-Step-03Bullet03.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/54\/Find-Fulfilling-Work-Step-03Bullet03.jpg\/aid3872686-v4-728px-Find-Fulfilling-Work-Step-03Bullet03.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class="mw-parser-output"><p>License: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/">Creative Commons<\/a><br>
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<\/p><\/div>"} Figure out what, exactly, stands in the way of you becoming who you want to be as things are right now. Consider which barriers are impossible to tear down and which can be removed with enough effort. Get comfortable with the idea of taking risks. Your own fears are probably a greater barrier than anything else. Understand that the risks you take should be calculated rather than being blind and reckless, but get used to the idea of taking them. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6e\/Find-Fulfilling-Work-Step-04Bullet01.jpg\/v4-460px-Find-Fulfilling-Work-Step-04Bullet01.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6e\/Find-Fulfilling-Work-Step-04Bullet01.jpg\/aid3872686-v4-728px-Find-Fulfilling-Work-Step-04Bullet01.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class="mw-parser-output"><p>License: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/">Creative Commons<\/a><br>
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<\/p><\/div>"} Set the disappointment of others aside. Maybe your parents have their heart set on you taking over the family business, and telling them that you plan to do otherwise might lead to some disappointment. If you want to find work that is personally fulfilling, though, you need to accept that those you care about may not understand or be as happy about it as you are. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/cb\/Find-Fulfilling-Work-Step-04Bullet02.jpg\/v4-460px-Find-Fulfilling-Work-Step-04Bullet02.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/cb\/Find-Fulfilling-Work-Step-04Bullet02.jpg\/aid3872686-v4-728px-Find-Fulfilling-Work-Step-04Bullet02.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"<div class="mw-parser-output"><p>License: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/">Creative Commons<\/a><br>
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<\/p><\/div>"} In all likelihood, the process of finding fulfilling work will not be an easy one. Figuring out how to balance reality with desire can be difficult, but no matter what else you do, you have to commit yourself to the process.