I think these prompt questions came timely for me, personally as it met me at a point where I'm too busy thinking about what others expect or want me to do than what I really want to do and how I plan to go about doing them even if others don't see the sense in it. So I'll answer honestly.
Is your life a reflection of other people’s opinions, parents, family, friends? Or have you actually done what you’ve wanted and dreamed of?
First of all, I'd want to be clear here that there's hardly any choice or decision made as a human among other humans that wasn't influenced by another in one way or the other. So yeah, I don't believe there is anyone who's life isn't a reflection of others opinions. But some have learned to navigate these opinions to have their own lives.
Personally, it took me years of my life to really come to understand what it means to live above what others think or expect of me. I'm not saying I have totally stopped listening to others opinion, I have just come to a level in my life where they don't define me as much as before anymore.
Up till now, I won't say I've done much of what I want or dream about but for the few I've done recently, since I understood who I am better, it's been fulfilling and full of lessons too. While my life still feels and look like it's a reflection of others' opinions, I have also become awakened to do the things I want to do, control what I can.
How many times have you asked yourself why you’re here in this world, or what your purpose is?
In controlling what I can, that is my mind and my thoughts, it has led me to ask more times now than before, what my purpose in life could be. I've had discussions about this with people I admire or people who inspire me, it's one of the most important conversations I've had in my entire life and I'm always grateful for the feedbacks I get.
Sadly, I didn't get to ask the "purpose in life" question early, until recently but gladly, it has become a question that has been making me take actions I wouldn't have usually, out of fear. One of the main steps I did as I began to question my purpose in life was figuring out who I really am, grateful for the great headstart I had.
Right now, I'm having this beautiful but still unclear purpose in my life and that is "To See Life and everything around me as a GIFT from God to me". It changes everything for me really, I begin to see things in the way I never would have seen them, especially the difficulties things. It's not consistent yet, I still feel doubts but it gets better.
Images used are mine.