[Pazzo01]

Hi

First, I would like to clarify that this may sound like an insignifcant problem, but I ensure you - the struggle is real. I am 100% sure that a depression's next if I do not resolve this problem soon.

Okay, so.. I'm having an extremely hard time deciding what to do with my life.
Now the thing is, I have so many opportunities - everything is possible. Well, except becoming an astronaut perhaps.

Let me give you some background info:

• I'm 22 years old.

• Finished high school last year (I'm about to embark on my second gap year).

• I received very good grades, altough I am not very happy about school.

Immediately after finishing high school I got a job as a salesman (very prestigeful, company car, iPhone, laptop etc.) and I was so happy, because I believed it was just the thing for me, since i had been a great telemarketer up until this point. I had it all planned out - become a salesman, sales manager, sales director and finally CEO. But, it didn't go as planned. I was no longer the best, and I got really stressed, and decided to quit after 3 months.

Subsequently, i suffered a severe existential crisis. What should I do with my life now? I had always pictured myself as a salesman, so i told myself that it was just because it was the wrong place for me.
So, I got a job as a part-time sales manager and yet again i was so excited (first management position at 21 years - yeah!). Well, once again i got completely stressed and ended up dreading going to work even more, and once again quit after 3 months. Now, the existential crisis was back - with increased strength!
During this, I have kept a part-time job as a telemarketer which i slowly have started dreading going to for some reason, altough i have loved it for 3 years.

Now, half a year later, after quitting both jobs I have still not moved on and found either another job, or an education.
This is stressing me out completely! I have considered ALL options out there: dentist, lawyer, doctor, businessman, policeman, the army, entrepreneur, artist, live a self-sufficient life in a tree-hut in the jungle and the list goes on.

I guess the problem is that i lack passion, and have no real interests, nor any unique skills. Furthermore, I'm having an existential crisis - I'm used to being the best, succesful, smartest, funniest etc. - and all of a sudden I feel that I look into the abyss, towards a future as an unemployed loser. Moreover, I have heard that it is a bit of a stereotype that the cool kids in high school becomes losers later in life - which only supports the fear of my future.

I have no idea what to do, and no idea how to even find out. Please, help - I am desperate!!

[falsememory7]

Well, Pazz, there are most likely some hidden passions that you've yet to discover. I think that you should look at all the job opportunities in the area, and explore each one. Even if it's something that you think you won't like, you never know... it just might be the thing you're looking for if you give it a try good luck!

[Rohag]

Hello & Welcome, Pazzo01.

Selling is a unique skill. Only a minority of folks excel at it.

If I understand you correctly, it was not necessarily the stress of the jobs that repelled you, it was the stress - quite real in a sales environment - of not being the best. Is that correct?

Kudos for exploring a range of vocational options. That is one way to find your calling in life.

[Frankbtl]

Hi Pazzo01, it might not be as much that you're lacking passion or real interests into where you want to go in life, but maybe more so that you haven't looked into options enough to bring out/foster that passion/interest???
Maybe finding out a bit more information about different career options might help, talking to people in different careers (bound to be some online on different sites ) might help as well or you might find some related documentaries. For some careers there may be "open/recruitment days" where you can go along and find out a bit more or employment agencies might be able to give you some more details.
And maybe have a think about some of the things you really liked about the jobs you had when you had them, or apart from those what your priorities would be in the job you may end up in e.g. involving more or less communicating with others, working with more or less people, helping others or making targets...............
But don't rush yourself, it might take time to build up an enthusiasm, particularly if you've been feeling down. Which is maybe something you could think about separately if it's holding you back..........you know the kind of thing...........any thing you could be doing that may make you feel better in/about yourself???
And you know, don't worry too much if the career you choose/start to pursue doesn't grab you as "the vocation of your lifetime, what you were born to do". It really doesn't always happen like that, sometimes it can take time doing a job, sometimes it can take several different changes of job...........and for some people they might not ever find that career but that doesn't at all mean that they can't be just as fulfilled/satisfied/content/happy in different areas of their lives/in different ways.
And besides your personal identity is going to be in much more than a job, so take from the strengths you have, hey?

Alison

It turns out that our calling in life is whatever we do at every given moment.