What Should I Do With My Life? A Real Guide to Figuring It Out

Mar 8, 2025

By Will Moore

Feeling stuck and uncertain about your future is more common than you think. At some point, everyone questions their direction—whether they are just starting their career, considering a major life change, or feeling unfulfilled in their current path. The overwhelming number of choices, societal expectations, and the fear of making the wrong decision can leave you feeling paralyzed.

But here’s the good news: you don’t have to figure it all out at once. With the right mindset, a structured approach, and small, intentional steps, you can gain clarity and start building a future that excites you.

I know this firsthand. My life was a complete mess.

During my early college years, I was completely lost—drowning in family struggles, identity issues, and bullying. My mother was an alcoholic, and my life felt meaningless. At one point, I was even arrested after a heated argument at home. I had no direction, no clarity, and no will to go on.

Then, one day, a professor casually mentioned How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Desperate for any help, I picked it up. That book changed everything. It shifted my mindset, made me realize I wasn't doomed, and helped me take control of my life.

Fast forward to today—I turned things around completely. I built a seven-figure business, developed a clear life purpose, and now, after 25 years of studying psychology, habits, and fulfillment, I help others do the same.

If you're stuck wondering, "What should I do with my life?"—you're in the right place. This guide will help you find clarity using proven techniques, psychology-backed strategies, and real-world experience.

Upgrades You'll Earn From This Blog:

Clarity on Life Direction: By exploring six deep questions, you'll uncover insights about your passions, values, and strengths.
Strategies to Build Long-Term Discipline: Learn how to form habits that stick, making long-term success inevitable.
Techniques to Overcome Mental Barriers: Overcome procrastination, decision-making paralysis, and the fear of failure.

What Should I Do With My Life: Step-by-Step Guide

1. Develop a Growth Owner Mindset

Cultivating a Growth Owner Mindset is essential for accepting challenges and viewing them as opportunities for growth. As James Clear emphasizes in his book 'Atomic Habits,' small changes in behavior, fueled by a growth mindset, can lead to significant transformations over time.

This mindset shift can transform how you approach obstacles, helping you to see them as integral parts of the equation of life rather than setbacks.

In my journey, developing this mindset was a game-changer. My formula, aka the equation of life, has guided my transformation.

Your beliefs + actions + time = the person you become.

This formula helped me shift from feeling like a victim to becoming a successful business entrepreneur.

When I was building my own business, Doorstep Delivery, I faced numerous setbacks. From having our business plan stolen to being robbed by our general manager, the journey was filled with challenges. However, I realized that these obstacles were temporary roadblocks. By adopting a growth-owner mindset, I took ownership of my journey instead of playing the victim.

This mindset allowed me to pivot during tough times, merge with Bite Squad, and ultimately sell the company for $320.

Not only business; this mindset helped me to thrive in making meaningful relationships and replace my bad habits with successful habits in all core areas of life. Hence, changing the way you think is the first step to live the life you want.

"Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right― Henry Ford

Find Out Different Growth Mindset Activities for Kids to Develop Growth Mindset

Actionable tips:

Identify a recent challenge and reflect on what you learned from it.
Think about how that experience can help you in the future.
Reframe setbacks as learning opportunities instead of failures.
Remind yourself that every step, forward or backward, is part of growth.
Set small, realistic goals that help you improve over time.
Break big goals into smaller, manageable tasks.
Track your progress and celebrate small wins along the way.

Related Article: Question About Growth Mindset

2. Identify Who You Are and What You Want

Finding your purpose starts with self-awareness. Research from Harvard shows that people who reflect on their values, strengths, and aspirations are more successful and fulfilled. Envisioning your future requires a clear strategy to get there, setting achievable steps, and aligning your decisions with your ideal life and long-term life goals.

In my journey, I found that focusing on five core areas of life—Mindset, Career and Finances, Relationships, Physical Health, and Emotional Health—was essential for achieving balance and growth.

These five core areas are the pillars of a fulfilling life. Ignoring any one of them can significantly impact your overall quality of life.

For example, neglecting your physical health can impact your energy levels and overall well-being, which in turn can affect your relationships and career. Similarly, not nurturing your emotional health can lead to stress and burnout, making it difficult to maintain a positive mindset and productive career.

To help you identify these core areas in your life, I created a 2-minute Core Values Quiz. This quiz can help you establish a quick baseline of where you currently stand in each of the five core areas and what you need to fix to level up.

The 6 Deep Questions to Discover Your Life Purpose:

Here are six questions to ponder if you are struggling to find your why:

What are my passions? What activities make me lose track of time?
What are my core values? What principles drive my decisions? (e.g., freedom, creativity, impact)
What are my strengths? What am I naturally good at?
What impact do I want to have? How do I want to contribute to the world?
What experiences have shaped me the most? What moments in life felt most meaningful?
What kind of lifestyle do I want? What does my ideal day look like?

Answering these questions can help you gain a clearer understanding of who you are and what you want out of life.

3. Set Goals That You’ll Actually Stick To

Once you have a better understanding of your passions, values, strengths, and desired impact, it's time to turn these insights into specific, actionable goals.

As Antoine de Saint-Exupéry said, 'A goal without a plan is just a wish.'

The SMART goal framework (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) provides a powerful tool for translating insights into actionable steps.

For example, when I was building my food delivery business, I set a SMART goal to transition from my previous job to focus full-time on the new venture.

The goal was: "Within the next six months, I will leave my current job and fully dedicate myself to Doorstep Delivery by securing $50,000 in funding, developing the initial business plan, and establishing partnerships with at least five local restaurants."

This goal was specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound, providing a clear path forward.

In my experience, setting clear goals in alignment with the five core areas of life—Mindset, Career & Finances, Relationships, Physical Health, Emotional Health, & Giving Back—has been crucial to achieving balance and success.

Actionable Tips to Set SMART Goals:

If you feel stuck, set a goal to read one personal growth book per month and apply one new strategy from it to your daily routine.
If your job feels unfulfilling, apply to three relevant job openings each week and attend two networking events per month to transition to a career that aligns with your passion.
If you struggle with exercise, commit to 30-minute workouts three times a week by joining a gym and signing up for enjoyable classes like yoga or spinning.
If mental health is a challenge, practice mindfulness meditation for 10 minutes each morning and attend a weekly stress management workshop for the next three months. Learn more about clearing your mind for meditation.
No matter what you're struggling with, break it down into small, specific steps that are easy to follow and track.

4. Form Habits to Support Your Goals

Integrating supportive habits into your daily routine is crucial for long-term success.

A study by Phillippa Lally et al. at University College London found that, on average, it takes 66 days for a new behavior to become automatic. This reinforces the importance of consistent practice in building habits that support your goals. They provide the ongoing momentum you need to stay on track, echoing Jim Ryun's words, 'Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.'"

The Moore Momentum (MM) System's 3 Momentum Boosting Methods can help make this process enjoyable and effective.

To form lasting habits, it's essential to design your environment and routines in a way that supports your goals.

Here are practical examples of how to implement each of the 3 momentum-boosting methods:

Make it Obvious:

Design your environment to make cues for desired habits prominent. For example, if you want to work on skill development, place your learning materials or books on your work desk. Similarly, you could put a journal on your bedside table to remind you to write daily reflections.

Make it Easy:

Break down complex tasks into smaller, manageable steps. Use habit stacking to ease into new routines. Habit stacking involves pairing a new habit with an existing one, making it easier to integrate into your daily routine.

Example Exercise: Spend 10 minutes reviewing development materials after your morning coffee. Practice deep breathing exercises right after you brush your teeth each morning.

Make it Fun/Rewarding:

Enhance habit formation by making it enjoyable. Use temptation bundling and celebration techniques to associate positive emotions with your habits. Temptation bundling involves pairing a less enjoyable task with something you enjoy.

Example Exercise: After an hour of focused work, reward yourself with a short break to read your favorite book or listen to music. After completing your daily journaling or meditation session, treat yourself to a relaxing activity, like a warm bath or a favorite snack.

Actionable tips:

Set up calendar reminders to allocate time for your goals.
Use project management tools to track your progress.
Use apps that send daily reminders and track your streaks, or set up nightly reminders on your phone to log your thoughts in a journal.

Read More: How to Track Habits

5. Find People Who Push You Forward

Support systems are crucial when you feel lost or stuck. They help you navigate self-discovery and find your life purpose. Research by Kathleen Milkman et al. at the University of Chicago suggests that social accountability can significantly boost goal achievement. Mentors, life coaches, or supportive communities can provide that accountability and act as sounding boards during challenging times.

Look for individuals or a life coach who can offer step-by-step guidance, especially during times when you feel uncertain or confused. Reach out to them through professional networks or local meetups. Engaging with these support systems can open new possibilities and help you overcome other responsibilities that may be holding you back.

For example, if you're considering a career change, find a mentor in the new field who can offer practical advice and support. Or, if you feel stuck or need help with core values, professional coaches or therapists can provide tailored strategies and support.

Actionable tips:

Identify potential mentors or supportive communities related to your goals.
Reach out and engage with them to build a network.
Spend time reflecting on the advice and feedback you receive to incorporate it into your action plan.

6. Celebrate Your Wins and Keep Moving

Celebrating your progress is crucial for maintaining motivation and reinforcing positive behaviors. As Walt Whitman said, "I celebrate myself, and sing myself," acknowledging your achievements, big or small, is a powerful tool for self-motivation. By gamifying your life, you can turn your goals into an enjoyable journey with rewards and milestones.

Actionable Tips to Reward Yourself:

Treat yourself with small rewards after completing tasks, like a snack, a short walk, or time for a hobby.
At the end of the week, reflect on your progress and enjoy a reward like a movie night or dinner out.
Celebrate bigger milestones each month with something special, like a weekend trip or a fun outing.
Use a habit-tracking app to monitor progress and set reward milestones to stay motivated. Check our detailed blog on monthly Habit Tracker to help you track activities.

Conclusion: What Should I Do with My Life

Finding your life's purpose can seem overwhelming, but with a structured approach, it's achievable.

By adopting a growth-owner mindset and focusing on the five core areas—Mindset, Career & Finances, Relationships, Physical Health, and Emotional Health & Giving Back—I found true fulfillment.

Start by developing a Growth Owner Mindset, which transforms challenges into opportunities for growth. Identify who you are and what you want by reflecting on your passions, values, strengths, and desired impact. Set clear, actionable goals that align with these insights and establish supportive habits to achieve them. For helpful tools and resources to guide you through this process, visit this resource page.

Remember, the most important business you own is your life. Managing your life with the same dedication and strategic planning as a business can lead to incredible results. Your beliefs + actions + time = the person you become. This formula helped me shift from feeling like a victim to becoming successful. By applying these principles, you can also reinvent your life.

Take the Next Step Toward a Clearer, More Purposeful Life

You've taken the first steps by exploring how to find your life's direction and build success habits. Now, it's time to make real changes and create a future that excites you.

The Moore Momentum System is here to guide you through implementing these strategies, helping you gain clarity, build strong habits, and overcome mental barriers that hold you back.

The system is designed to help you:

Discover and clarify your true life purpose
Build long-term success habits tailored to your goals
Overcome mental barriers and boost your confidence
Achieve holistic growth and happiness in all areas of life

Start by taking the Core Values Quiz, which will help you identify your strengths and areas for growth.

Visit the Coaching Page to learn more and take the first step toward lasting transformation. Let's build momentum together!

FAQs - Finding Purpose

What Do I Do With My Life?

If you find yourself asking, "What to do with my life?" don't stress about having it all figured out at once. Begin by identifying what makes you feel fulfilled—whether it’s a career path, creative pursuit, or helping others. Experiment, learn new skills, and remain open to change. Growth and clarity come with time and experience.

I Don't Know What I Want To Do With My Life—How Do I Figure It Out?

If you feel lost, take a step back and assess your passions, strengths, and what excites you. Journaling, talking to mentors, and trying different experiences can help. Instead of waiting for a grand realization, take action on small things that interest you. Over time, patterns will emerge, leading you toward finding purpose.

How To Figure Out What To Do With Your Life?

Discovering the right path involves a mix of exploration, self-reflection, and taking risks. Ask yourself: What excites me? What problems do I enjoy solving? Don't be afraid to try different things. The key is progress, not perfection. Even small steps toward your interests can lead to unexpected opportunities.

How Do I Go About Finding Purpose In Life?

Finding purpose isn't about one perfect path—it’s about creating meaning in the things you do. Focus on what makes you feel fulfilled and contributes to others. Engage in activities that align with your values, build meaningful relationships, and keep learning. Purpose often grows from experiences rather than being discovered overnight.

How Can I Do Best In My Life?

The key to excelling in life is continuous growth. Set realistic yet challenging goals and be willing to adapt when needed. Surround yourself with people who inspire and support you. Take care of your health, build strong habits, and stay consistent. Success isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up every day and making small, intentional improvements.

What To Do With My Life At 40?

Your 40s can be a powerful time for reinvention. If you're feeling stuck, reassess what brings you joy and fulfillment. Whether it's changing careers, pursuing a passion, or improving personal relationships, give yourself permission to explore new paths. Growth has no age limit—many people find their true calling later in life. The most important thing is to take action rather than dwell on what could have been.

Do Choices Matter In Life?

Every decision, big or small, shapes the direction of your life. While not every choice will be perfect, taking intentional steps toward what aligns with your values will lead to a more fulfilling future. The good news? You always have the ability to make new choices. Learn from past decisions, stay open to growth, and keep moving forward with confidence.