The Dreaded Questions: Personal Strengths, Life Direction & Blank Stares

Blank Stares . . .

One of the annoying parts about being a young person is having adults ask you what you want to be when you grow up or what your future plans are. That is, unless you already have such things perfectly mapped out. When I was 17 years old I was trying to choose between being a teacher, an archeologist or a graphic designer. Obviously, I chose D, none of the above and became a therapist.

Personal Strengths & Life Direction

Some young people have difficulty really identifying their strengths and what makes them unique. It may be far easier for them to figure out where they don’t measure up or where they have failed. Try asking a teenager, “What are you good at?” or “What are your personal strengths?” Their answers are likely to be interesting.

Even tougher than answering these questions can be the task of looking into an unknown future and trying to discern what possibilities exist for them. This can be either frightening or exciting and possibly both. The helpful intentions and best advice from adults can sometimes fail to translate into something meaningful for adolescents, even if they are open and receptive.

“The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time.”

– Abraham Lincoln

I recently asked my Facebook Page community what  young people need most to develop a vision for their future. A few people mentioned encouragement, support and strong role models. In this context, one useful tool for teenagers could be using a personality test to help them to learn about themselves and give them ideas for their future.

A good personality test has the ability to both confirm what a teenager already knows about themselves and also remind them of character traits that they possess, both positive and negative. Making a list of the best aspects of their personality can be a strong boost for their self-esteem, especially if they are nodding their head in agreement and not rolling their eyes.

Here is an online Personality Test that also includes a list of occupations and educational institutions that may be most suitable for certain personality types. Take a look. It might be interesting for you and maybe you can share it with your teenager as well.

What else do you think would help adolescents to answer the dreaded questions about their future? What helped you find your life direction as a young person?

Photo credit: makelessnoise