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Filene Center > toolkit > self-exploration > Exploration and Decision-Making During College

Exploration and Decision-Making During College

"if you've always done what you've always done then you'll always be what you've always been."

Through experience and new knowledge, your ideas will evolve and change. As you try to connect new information with your own sense of purpose and strengths, it is helpful to have a process of reflecting on yourself and your experiences.

A. Morning Pages: Begin a practice of writing three uncensored pages a day, first thing in the morning and in longhand. This writing is strictly stream-of-consciousness. Do not judge or try to be meaningful, just write. Then, re-read your pages and either highlight or list any ideas or thoughts that truly engage or motivate you and that you may want to pursue further.

B. Give yourself permission to explore your possible interests in baby steps.
* Take "the next small step instead of skipping ahead to a large
one for which you may not yet be prepared." Julia Cameron

C. Let yourself experiment to validate your interests.

  • Test the reality of your choices by taking action (take the class, etc.)
  • Take the risk to go down the road and learn from the dead ends.
  • Follow any road that intrigues you. Don't worry where it may
    take you. Just go find out what it is.

    D. Get comfortable with not knowing (this is a tough one!)

  • Allow yourself to be in the process of gathering information and
    fully explore.
  • Don't force it to be something it is not ready to be by labeling, defining, make meaning, or categorizing too soon in the process.
  • Your core values are often revealed in stages. Trust that eventually it will all make sense.

    E. Find a community that allows you to be yourself and supports your
    authentic choices.

  • Find a circle of people who believe in you and can provide healthy support and constructive criticism.
  • get some distance from those who are negative.

    F. self-care: Make yourself and your health a priority. Bad habits can make you less alert, cloud your thinking, and limit your ability to engage in your life

  • Pay attention to the food you consume. Limit sugar and carbohydrates. Drink plenty of water.
  • Get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can make you depressed.
  • Turn off the T.V.
  • Further connect to your body through yoga, massage, exercise or simply a short daily walk.
  • Limit time with people and things that are distracting you from the
    things you really want to do.

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