Your Childhood Leaves Clues

This is a picture of me at three years old taken by my father. It is my favorite picture of myself because it captures my personality to a tee.

I used to think that we are made up of the experiences in our life but lately I have been exposed to some overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Watching my one year old stomp around my house with his own little distinct personality has led me to believe that we come 85–90% formed. Our experiences make up the rest of it.

You can tell from my picture above that I am and always will be a thinker. I am one of those people who tends to be consumed with my own inner world more than what is going on around me. I have spent most of my life trying different vocations and experiences in my life but I should not have swayed too far from this picture.

I have finally come to a point in my life where I can comfortably say that wherever life takes me, I will always be happiest in a music filled room filled with the following ingredients: books, a moleskin, pen, an internet connection, and my thoughts. This is when I am at my best and this is what I am here to do.

If you have read this far, there is a good chance that you are trying to figure out what you are here to do with your life. The answer lies in your childhood.

Were you a physical child that loved the outdoors? Then how the hell did you end up with a desk job? No wonder you are so miserable. Maybe you are more introverted like me and have a job where you are constantly having to interact with people. That goes against your nature, my friend. No wonder you come home exhausted and have to spend the entire weekend in a state of rehabilitation.

We run to hot industries with good benefits that completely neglect our natural tendencies and wonder why we are not getting promoted.

I want you to think back to some of your best memories from your childhood and think about what made them so good. Who was around? What was the environment like? Didn’t it seem as natural as breathing?

This is your sweet spot. You have forgotten what makes you special. Hopefully this post will help. If you are having a hard time with this, I encourage you to reach out to parents, old teachers, and the kids you grew up with. Ask them to describe what you were like and what you were always the best at doing. Most of the time these people will remember things about yourself that you have long forgotten.

For better or worse, we are who we are.

There is this interesting, dynamic kid that lives in all of us.

It’s time you get reacquainted with them.

Look to your childhood.

It will show you where to go.