Are You Living Someone Else’s Life?
5 Ways to Tell
Steve Jobs (co-founder of Apple Computer) said in his commencement address at Stanford University on June 12, 2005¹:
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”
But how do you know if that’s what you’re doing, or if you’re somehow conforming to someone else’s idea of what your life should be like?
Sometimes it’s not all that clear cut.
Here are some clues to help you out.
Your life looks a lot like your mom’s or your dad’s
Sometimes kids take over the family business and love it. That’s how a lot of small farms and hometown restaurants have managed to stay alive in today’s market.
There’s no doubt about it — our parents are big influences in our lives. If you’re doing what you know will make them happy, but you’re not particularly happy, chances are you’re living their idea of the good life, not yours.
When you have a quiet moment, ask yourself: “Am I doing this for me, or for them?”
You have to drag yourself into your day
When we’re following our dreams, we typically have a lot of energy, we’re happy, and we can’t wait…
