it sounds stupid, but the book what color is your parachute? has helped me to identify patterns in my interests and identify my strengths. i know it's more of a job search tool than anything else but it made me feel good somehow to see that i was better at more things that i thought. part of my problem with finding direction is that as soon as i decide i want to do something i convince myself that i'm an idiot loser who sucks at life and could never be good at whatever i'm considering.