Learning how you want to live in life can be challenging.
We are constantly bombarded from different sources -- telling us to do this and to do that.
At first it is our parents, then our education, and finally (and always) our culture, those around us and the media that we consume, grabbing our attention and swaying us in one direction or another.
To listen to our hearts, the guide that shows us our true path, can be challenging when we are surrounded by so much noise.
Some of us found our paths with ease -- but for those of us who haven't -- there are things you can do to help.
First and foremost -- be conscious about the information you absorb.
I myself love learning -- and am always reading / watching content. On the surface this might seem beneficial but it can become a hindrance -- when you oversaturate your mind with possibilities you make it more challenging to decide.
We have to be aware of how much content we consume on a daily basis. When it becomes an unconscious habit we are no longer gaining anything but rather giving our attention and time to these tiny devices.
Next, we have to create time and space to ponder. The brain solves complex problems by relegating them to the subconscious mind (our processing center) and then giving them time to stew, to ponder and to understand. Without free time, without rest and leisure we are never able to really ramp up our subconscious processing. That is why going for walks can be so stimulating.
It is critical that we intentionally take "no-time" (time when we are doing nothing) so our minds can rest and have those opportunities to ponder the ideas that we can't solve as easily.
Step away
Sometimes we have to get away from it all in order to really come to a conclusion about things. Some problems, especially figuring out what we want to do in life, are tough to solve. Therefore we must be equally tough with ourselves and environment to create an opportunity for them to be solved. Our ancestors had a name for this -- Vision quests. They would send young men (primarily) out into the wilderness for days at a time. Stuck in their own isolation they would be forced to stay in the wilderness until they had a vision and then could return to the tribe.
If you think about it they are
It is in fact a recipe for personal evolution and discovery -- hence why it was such a prominent part of many cultures "coming of age" activities.
I had my own experience during a 10 day vipassana retreat. 9 days of silent meditation will do something to a man -- I came out of that experience very clear about what I wanted to do.
Sure I wasn't stuck in the wilderness but it was a similar experience -- isolation, focus and a lack of distraction. These things add up and the result is startling clarity.
