What Should I Do with My Life…

… And How Do I Get There?

I’m giving a speech in April to a group of postdoctoral scientists at a career forum. The steering committee for the event asked if I could cover the question, “What should I do with my life and how do I get there?”

Sure, I said, I can easily cover this in an hour!

(I’m being facetious, of course… I told them that I’ll do my best, but to have realistic expectations of what I’d come up with.)

This is a question that I’ve been contemplating for a few decades. It’s on par with that other ultimate question, What is the meaning of life? These two questions – What should I do with my life and What is the meaning of life – are related, I think.

But I want to ask you this very question.

Do you know what you should be doing with your life?

Whatever the answer, what are some of the clues that you’ve found along the way, or guide posts, that led you to your answer of “yes” or “no”?

Why do we ask such a question about what we should do with our lives? Is there meant to be an answer? According to philosopher Rudolf Steiner we’re supposed to be the originator of our own answer. Is this question, then, really an answerable one?