“What is my purpose or passion? Am I on the right path? Should I explore a different career?” These are thoughts that often swirl in people’s minds. But without firsthand experience, it’s hard to know for sure. Someone can describe what it’s like to play tennis, but until you pick up a racket yourself, it’s all just theory. Clarity doesn’t come from thinking, it comes from doing.
Be a Fascinated Anthropologist
The first step toward finding clarity is to cultivate curiosity without judgment. Approach your questions and doubts like a fascinated anthropologist, eager to discover more before deciding or acting. Ask yourself: What do I already know about this subject? What don’t I know, and how can I find out more?
This mindset of curiosity opens doors to new insights and perspectives. It’s like stepping into a dark room with a flashlight, you may not see the entire room at first, but with every step, more is illuminated.
Engagement Brings Clarity
Once you’ve explored more, the next step is to actively engage with what interests you. Instead of just thinking about it, take action. Volunteer to gain hands-on experience, ask to participate in a cross-functional project, or take on a contracting position.
Engaging in these activities does more than just provide new experiences, it opens up creative channels, helps you meet new people, and offers insights you wouldn’t gain by merely thinking about them. You might find that you’re enjoying a consulting project so much that you want to pursue a full-time role. Or you may realize that what truly interests you is a specific aspect of that job function, guiding your search for the next role.
The key is that you’re not going to figure out your path by sitting on the couch or by simply acknowledging that your current work isn’t fulfilling without taking any action to change it. Give yourself permission to experiment, dive in, and see what happens.
The Power of Experimentation
Take my own experience as an example. After working through some childhood trauma with a therapist, I found the process transformative. This sparked a thought: Wouldn’t it be fulfilling to help others in the same way? But instead of quitting my marketing career on a whim, I looked into a three-year master’s program in Counseling and Therapy, volunteered in human services, and spent six months at the Crisis Clinic every Saturday. Through this engagement, I realized that while the work was meaningful, it wasn’t the right full-time career path for me at that moment.
Engagement also helps build trust, not just in others, but in yourself. When you take on contracting projects or side gigs, you give yourself the opportunity to de-risk potential career moves. You get to know the people, the culture, and pick up on unspoken cues that help you assess whether this new direction is truly the right fit. You start to trust your gut feelings, observations, and ability to make informed decisions.
Once again, clarity doesn’t come from waiting for the perfect moment or idea to strike. It comes from taking imperfect action, stepping into the unknown with curiosity and a willingness to learn. Engage with your interests, test your assumptions, and trust that through doing, you’ll find the clarity you seek.
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