[Blah nlah]

I need to take time to think about my interests, values, and passions. Interests that make me happy and fulfilled are journaling, self help, psychology, nature, Michael Jackson, Japan, France, running, integrity, maths, doodling, meeting people, exercise, etc.
My short term goal is to get over my depression and anxiety disorder. My long term goal is to get a job.
I need to try new experiences, hobbies, or career paths to discover what resonates with me, but I don’t know how.
That is why I come here to talk to people for guidance and perspective.
It’s hard to be patient
Finding my path can take time, and I think I should make changes along the way, but I don’t know what to change right now.

[CANDC]

@Blah Nlah I hope that you feel you are already finding something to do with your life by being here.

You said "My short term goal is to get over my depression and anxiety disorder. " My experience is that I do not get over my mental health issues. I learn to cope with them.

I find they fade into the background when I involve myself with life. That is probably an over simplification of the situation, but it may suggest a way to go.
@CANDC

[birdyblues]

@Blah nlah, I can definitely relate to not knowing what to do in life or how to even begin to find out what to do. If you look, there will be lots of opinions over formulas and the "right" way of going about finding your purpose or mission in life. I think a lot of people believe that they should always know what they want to do and be able to take a straightforward path towards that goal. However like it or not, life is unpredictable and almost never goes the way we think it will go (for better or for worse). As far as your goals for anxiety and depression, I've never met anyone who was able to just get over it. But I know a lot of people who learned to live with it just in the same way someone with a chronic physical disease or illness would. My advice is this: There is really no right or correct way to go about it. One beautiful thing about life is that it's all about experiencing everything, good and bad. As long as you're doing that, you're doing it right. Start anywhere, you could even write down a list of things you know you want to try and just draw from a hat until you get there. Additionally, there is absolutely nothing wrong with taking your time in finding out what you want to do, despite societal or other pressures. It can also be inspiring to read up on success stories from other people. Because there are plenty of people, including myself, who've felt lost about what they want to do in life. Good luck

[Blah nlah]

Even though it’s disheartening to think I may never be able to “get over” my depression, perhaps that’s the wrong goal. It could be that perfectionism in trying to recover does more harm. I was putting too much pressure on myself. Being average is okay… I need to tell myself that it’s not cheap to be average, it’s better. Being the best at everything is probably not possible. Reality can be tough.

[birdyblues]

In my opinion, there's nothing at all wrong with being average. Depression and anxiety are a human things to experience, of course. So is being "average". But it doesn't mean that you can't be happy or recover from depression/anxiety. In fact, I know several people who've dealt with depression & anxiety disorders in their life and now lead happy, successful lives. When it comes to finding out what to do with your life, I think it's something you are meant to discover for yourself. While I won't deny that there could also be a good deal of discovery here as well, treating depression and anxiety is complex and has more to do with science. Things that make you realize what you wanna do in life can also pop up when you least expect it. When I was in high school, my teacher had us do a Purpose 101 class from a website called Heroic which was unexpected, but insightful for me. It's true that reality can be tough, but recovery is possible.

[Knickerbocker]

If you want a wide variety and your anxiety allows, you might try signing on with a temp agency. Different short term jobs might help you discover things you never thought of or eliminate things you don't want to do. Volunteer work could also provide you some options. Sometimes just being productive and moving helps with depression and anxiety.

My best advice is to not take anything too seriously if you're just starting out. You don't have to have everything figured out yet and mistakes can be the best teachers.

[Travelinglady]

Originally Posted by Blah nlah

Even though it’s disheartening to think I may never be able to “get over” my depression, perhaps that’s the wrong goal. It could be that perfectionism in trying to recover does more harm. I was putting too much pressure on myself. Being average is okay… I need to tell myself that it’s not cheap to be average, it’s better. Being the best at everything is probably not possible. Reality can be tough.

I believe some people get over their depression. It's a matter of getting a good counselor and the two of you figuring out why you are depressed. Then deal with it accordingly. I have overcome depression with therapy and antidepressants. I also had to deal with my perfectionism.

[Blah nlah]

Wow, Travelinglady that is so hopeful to hear!