this post was submitted on 26 Jan 2026
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I'm trying to plan my life, but I feel like I'm putting together a thousand-piece puzzle with no picture on the box

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[–] mrmaplebar@fedia.io 2 points 22 hours ago

What do you value in life? What do you want?

Figure out what you want, and then go for it.

  • If you want to make money, then be determined to focus on a career white-collar that will make you money. Get the education that you need for your career, and then work on the career.
  • If you want to focus on relationships, then spend quality time with people as much as you can, build friendships, find love, start a family, etc. Meet people and do things as often as you can.
  • If you want to be an artist, musician, chef, or any other crafts-person, then find ways maximize the time and energy that you spend on your craft. Start making things now, start hanging out with others who share your passion.
  • If you want to do something meaningful, try to build a life around the idea of helping people, animals, or generally leaving the world a better place than it is toady. Volunteer, get licensed for social work, etc.
  • Only worry about things that you can act on tomorrow. Worrying about things far in the past or future is nothing more than anxiety, and it's not helpful.

I don't think we can really plan our lives, and even trying to do so is probably a fool's errand because things rarely, if ever, go as planned. (Of course we all need to work and take care of things on a daily basis to make ends meet, and such...) But I think the best thing you can do for yourself during early adulthood is determine what you value most in life and what you want to do with your time on this Earth.

Likewise, do yourself a favor and internalize the idea that you don't need to do what other people want you to do or live anyone else's dreams. Everyone is going to have their own values and opinions about what you should be chasing in life, but chances are they they are not compatible with your way of thinking.

I think life is really about attempting to do whatever you want. Think about the Greek philosopher Diogenes and consider that you don't have to do anything at all if you don't want to...

Once you know what you want to do, then you can simply focus on taking the steps to needed to do that thing.