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Tuesday, 2 October 2018

11 life questions to answer before you turn 30


We browsed Quora threads where people have shared the most important life questions to think about as a young adult.
  • P
Which life dreams should you be chasing?play
Which life dreams should you be chasing?
 (Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture and Design/Flickr)
  • By the time you turn 30, you should be able to answer some important life questions.
  • Those questions include, "Who inspires me most?" and "What is my definition of success?"
  • Once you come up with some answers, you'll have a better idea of the kinds of jobs and relationships to pursue.
Over on Quora, there are multiple threads devoted to existential quandaries everyone 
should be pondering.
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We're not talking, "What's the meaning of life?" so much as, "What do I want
 to achieve in mylifetime?"
Some of these questions — none of which have easy answers or right answers — 
are key to consider during young adulthood.
Below, we've highlighted 11 questions you'll want to start thinking about today. 
They'll help you gain clarity about the kinds of jobs, relationships, and life dreams you 
should be chasing.

If I were to die tomorrow, would I feel satisfied with my life?

If I were to die tomorrow, would I feel satisfied with my life?play
If I were to die tomorrow, would I feel satisfied with my life?
 (Flickr/Yudis Asnar)
At this point in your life, you may assume you've got decades ahead. Hopefully, you're right.
Still, that's no reason to put off personal fulfillment until later. Make the necessary changes today.
As Quora user Matthew Jones writes, "If you're dissatisfied with your life as it is
 right now, spending time re-evaluating how you manage your time is important. 
There are no certainties in life and there may not be a tomorrow, so while setting
 long-term goals and planning for the future is important, you need to find a way to 
soak up life."

What is my unique value proposition?

What is my unique value proposition?play
What is my unique value proposition?
 (Flickr/Thomas Leuthard)
Nicolas Cole writes: "This is the fancy, adult way of saying, 'What can only I do?' 
In business, there is always a lot of talk about 'value proposition.' What are you proposing
 and how much value will it bring?"
It's similar to a question from Fred Landis: "Is there anything I can do easily that others 
find hard?"
Once you uncover your unique value proposition or talent, you can work on becoming an
 expert in that area. As A.J. Agrawal writes at Inc.: "Have three to four news outlets
 that specialize in your value proposition, and make sure you take time to read them every day. Start sharing articles on your social media, and then begin blogging or writing articles about 
the subject. Over time, more and more people will recognize you as an expert in your field."

Who inspires me most?

Martin Luther King, Jr.play
Martin Luther King, Jr.
 (Wikimedia Commons)
Sanchit Jain highlighted this question, originally featured in Relevant Magazine:
“Think about the one person you most want to emulate. Who is it? Now what is it
 about their story or character that draws you to them? Write down the words that come
 to mind. The person you want to be like the most tells you a lot about who you hope to 
become.”

Why do I get up in the morning?

Why do I get up in the morning?play
Why do I get up in the morning?
 (Phalinn Ooi/flickr)
This question, posed by Ariel Banayan, is another way of asking: What’s your purpose?
You may not have an easy answer, but you definitely have a purpose — and the sooner you find it, the sooner you can begin dedicating all your energy toward fulfilling it.

How much did I learn today?

How much did I learn today?play
How much did I learn today?
 (Flickr / Robert Couse-Baker)
"When you are in 20s, your learning curve should be so high," writes Raja Reddy Poreddy
"Learn a lot every day. Make sure you write a diary of what you have learned each day."
This daily habit is a good one to hold on to, even as you progress into your 30s and beyond. 
Your goal should be to learn something new every day, so that your view of the 
world is constantly changing.

Who do I love, and have I told or showed them lately?

Who do I love, and have I told or showed them lately?play
Who do I love, and have I told or showed them lately?
 (Tech Hub/flickr)
This question comes from Adam Rifkin, cofounder of PandaWhale.
Don’t assume your friends and family know how you feel — let them know you care about
 them. It’s especially important given that a Harvard study found close relationships are
 key to happiness and longevity.

What is my definition of success?

What is my definition of success?play
What is my definition of success?
 (Reuters Pictures/Kim Kyung Hoon)
"This is one question that significantly improved my life," writes Irene Enriquez,
 in a since-deleted answer.
"We all have preconceived notions of success: power, fame, money. But success isn't 
limited to these things. Success can mean having peace of mind, or being in an environment
 that nurtures your talents.
"You have to define what success means to you. Doing this can be your guide when
 making decisions."
Need some inspiration? Find out how super-achievers like Richard Branson 
and Arianna Huffington define success.

Where will I be in five years if I continue down my current path?

Where will I be in five years if I continue down my current path?play
Where will I be in five years if I continue down my current path?
 (visulogik via flickr)
In contrast to an aspirational "five-year vision," Sim Campbell recommends 
something more realistic (his answer has since been deleted).
"A lot of people have this notion that 'things will get better'. Things won't get better
 if you don't do anything to change them. If you're a good place right now, great. 
Keep going. If you're in a bad place, redirect the ship. You're the one steering it."

Would the 5-year-old me be proud of the current me?

Would the 5-year-old me be proud of the current me?play
Would the 5-year-old me be proud of the current me?
 (Flickr / WalkingGeek)
This question, from Deepak Mehta, is a clever way of checking to see that you've stayed true to your core values. Here's one point to consider:
"Your younger self wasn't afraid of dreaming big. He didn't care if something was un-achievable or unrealistic. What about you now? Have you compromised on those dreams?"
It's similar to something Gretchen Rubin told Business Insider: Before you switch careers, remember what you liked to do for fun as a kid.

Imagine yourself being a very famous person 10 years down the line.

 What do you think you might have achieved that made you famous?

Lupita Nyong’o accepts the award for best actress in a supporting role for "12 Years a Slave" during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, March 2, 2014, in Los Angeles. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)play
Lupita Nyong’o accepts the award for best actress in a supporting role for "12 Years a Slave" during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, March 2, 2014, in Los Angeles. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)
 (John Shearer/AP)
Asparah Achar writes that, whether your answer is "I'd be a novelist" or "I'd be an
 entrepreneur," it'll give you some clarity as to what goal you should be pursuing.
Then, she says, you can start asking follow-up questions such as, "Am I doing enough 
today that I'll achieve what I aspire to become?"

What's the thing holding me back?

What's the thing holding me back?play
What's the thing holding me back?
 (Getty Images)
"What is that main thing that is keeping you from moving forward and who can help 
you to cut the chain?" writes Vinita Punjabi.
Maybe it's a general fear of failure; or maybe it's something more specific 
and easily surmountable, like not knowing how to write a solid cover letter. 
Whatever it is, identifying the issue will bring you once step closer to getting rid of it.

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