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- Herausgeber: novum publishing
- Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
- Sprache: Englisch
Do you know your dreams and goals? Do you know what values you want to live by? "Find Your Way" is an inspiring, interactive guide that uses a series of questions and exercises to help you identify your own values, dreams and goals. You are encouraged to clearly identify and pursue them by writing down what is important to you and what you want out of your life. This will help you to get a clear picture of your own personal path in life. There are no wrong answers, but each answer will bring you a step closer to your dreams and goals. Start taking control of your life now! Shape your future!
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Seitenzahl: 187
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025
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Any inconsistencies in the text are due to the fact that it was translated using computer-aided technology for a company-wide study.
© 2025 novum publishing gmbh
Rathausgasse 73, A-7311 Neckenmarkt
Dedication
For
all my students.
You were the inspiration for this book
and I hope that it will support you.
-
For
my children Robert and Luise.
You are wonderful and I hope,
that you will find your way.
Introduction
Hello, dear reader, welcome!
Whoever you are, whatever big and small successes you have already achieved in your life and whatever challenges you are currently facing - you are probably looking for what to do next in your life and have a desire for results. 1
With this book, I would like to accompany you on your further journey through life. It is important that you know where you want to go one day, how you envision your future life and what values and goals you are striving for, because:
"Only those who know their destination will find the way."
(Lao Tzu, Chinese philosopher, 6th century BC)
This book was born out of the desire to give you a tool to help you plan your life. I have been a teacher for over 20 years. During this time, I have spoken to many students about their future plans and have found that many of them do not yet know what they actually want to do after graduation. This often made me very thoughtful and also a little sad, as I was and am convinced that such unique and wonderful people, who have so much in them, should have a great life ahead of them that they look forward to and are curious about. All people should have the opportunity to live the life that gives them strength, joy and satisfaction. A life that really suits them,that they plan themselves and not a life that they are at the mercy of - simply their own personal life.
Over the last two years, I have read many books on the subject of planning for the future. Much of it has inspired me to write this book. My aim now is to pass on to you everything I have learned from the many questions in this book. The books I have read are listed in the bibliography at the end of this book.
Over the past few years, you have grown into a unique person who has already learned a lot and experienced a lot. You are unique and infinitely precious to your fellow human beings, your environment, society and, above all, you should be for yourself!
Perhaps you do not yet know where the journey of your life should take you. In order for you to really lead your own personal life, you need to recognize your dreams, wishes and hopes and find a way to make them come true. But first you need to know who you are in order to clearly define your goals. During this process, it is very helpful to repeatedly discuss your thoughts with your family, friends or other people who are important to you. They can often be a great help and give good advice because of their different perspectives.
This book is not just meant to be read, but is above all a book with many tasks to guide you towards your dreams and goals. It will show you in small steps how to clearly define your dreams, how to find your values and what you need to do next to realize them. We get further in life by asking questions, because then we deal with answers and solutions. The questions in this book are designed to help you find your own individual path. 2
The most important thing is that you enjoy thinking about your future! You should be curious to know where you want to go one day, how you imagine your life in 5, 10 or 20 years and what values and goals you are striving for.
In recent years, you may have spent a long time at school or university, completed an apprenticeship and learned a lot, or worked in a job that no longer fulfills you. Sometimes you may have learned things that you wondered why you needed to know them. Now it's it is time to ask yourself the questions whose answers will help you know where you want your life to go and make your dreams come true. This is not about what others think about you and your wishes, dreams and opinions, but solely about your own personal views. Be honest with yourself when answering the questions, otherwise the answers and therefore the book will not take you any further or even show you the wrong path. Only the right path for you will lead you to success and satisfaction.
At the beginning of almost every section there is a saying or quote that is intended to make you think. There are sayings from famous personalities from antiquity to the present day, as well as some from lesser-known people. They include philosophers, mathematicians, motivational coaches and poets (the masculine form here also includes all other forms). With their statements, they get to the heart of the matter in just a few words.
I wish you all the best from the bottom of my heart!
1See: T. Robbins: How small changes make big differences, FBV, 2017, p.5
2Cf. ibid., p.101 ff.
Your answers will get you there
"He who asks is a fool for a minute. He who does not ask is a fool for life."
(Confucius, Chinese philosopher, 551-479 BC)
On all pages of this book you will find questions that will encourage you to think about yourself, your values, goals, wishes and dreams. Take enough time for each question and answer it in writing. It does not matter whether you answer one, several or none of the questions each day. However, it is important that you keep at it and take enough time to answer them. Perhaps you can manage to set aside a time slot in the day or week to deal with the questions and topics in this book.
For each question there are printed lines to answer. Sometimes there will be enough space, but sometimes you will have a lot more to write down or want to write down. So take a blank notebook or pad with you to answer the questions. It is important that you write everything down, because then you can look up your thoughts later. You can develop them further or realize that you have changed your mind.
The goal is not to work through all the points in a few days or weeks. The goal is for you to set out to find out what you really want, what you are really passionate about and where you see yourself in one, five, ten or twenty years' time. This process takes time, i.e. months, maybe even longer. It also depends on how important the topic is to you and how much you want to deal with it (in terms of time). The important thing is that you keep at it!
There will always be questions that you would answer differently at a later date. This is part of personal development. Perhaps you will also read questionsto which you do not know the answer at that moment. Then move on and come back to this question at another time. Some questions have to work within you before you know the answer to them.
Some questions also appear more than once. This is because they deal with a particularly important topic or because your answers may "grow" as you work through the book, i.e. become more specific or change slightly.
And now I wish you lots of joy, fun and a great time on your journey of discovery to your future!
Leonore Schagen
Part I
Get to know and assess yourself
1. Introduction
"It is often the small steps, not the big leaps, that bring about the most lasting change."
(Queen Elizabeth II, former Queen of England, 1926-2022)
To get to know yourself better, you need to ask yourself questions. These should encourage you to think about yourself. You may discover something about yourself that you have never thought about before, but which is important for your future path. The questions show you who you are and where you currently stand. They also encourage you to think about who you would like to be and what you are still missing. The answers also show you where there is still potential for development.
2. Where does your potential lie? 3
"If you don't know your possibilities, you don't know your strengths."
(Monika Kühn-Georg, German writer, *1942)
Only those who know and recognize their own potential know where their personal path can lead. There are many ways in which you can shape your life. If you dwell on your weaknesses, unpleasant feelings such as dissatisfaction or shame are automatically awakened in you and you sacrifice your energy to your problems. However, if you focus on your strengths and concentrate on building on them, you direct your energy towards something positive and immediately feel better. You should focus on your strengths, especially when you are facing a difficult situation. This builds you up internally and you move further in the direction of your goal(s).
Imagine you have to give a presentation and all you can focus on is the fact that you are excited and afraid to speak in front of others. This makes the tension before your presentation even greater than it already is. However, if you concentrate on the fact that you find the topic of your presentation very interesting and you want to arouse the interest of others in this topic, the focus will be on something completely different, namely your passion for your topic. This allows you to go into your presentation with a pleasant level of excitement. I am a music teacher myself and have therefore given many concerts. I used to get very excited before concerts with my school orchestra, until I decided for myself thatitwas not me, but the pupils and the music that were the focus of the concert. This turned my excitement into anticipation. Anticipation to show how well the pupils have worked over the past six months.
As many people find it difficult to name their own strengths, it is also helpful to think about what other people appreciate about you. Answer the following questions without making a judgment and write everything down. You can always add to the answers. Use your notebook if there is not enough space.
What do your fellow human beings love about you?
In which areas do others ask you for advice?
In which areas are you better than others?
What do you find very easy?
What is normal for you that is not normal for others?
Which hobbies are you good at?
Look at your hobbies. What strengths can you derive from them that you have within you?
3
Success
"Success means liking yourself, liking what you do and liking how you do it."
(Maya Angelou, poet and civil rights activist, 1928-2014)
Everyone strives for success. This can be on an interpersonal level, such as starting a wonderful family or helping as many people as possible, or on a professional level, for example if you have a particular job in mind. Success can also be seen in earning a lot of money or owning certain things (house, car, jewelry, etc.).
Success also involves being outstanding in a certain area. To be outstanding means to stand outthrough quality, talent, inventiveness and/or performance. Here too, each person understands or can understand something different by being outstanding. It depends on what you yourself consider to be important in this aspect.
Imagine you are asked to describe someone who is successful. What characteristics and external circumstances do you consider to be part of this?
Is there a position in society or at a professional level that is the absolute goal for you and above which there is nothing higher? This could be the head of a daycare center or a company boss, but it could also be a political office.
Which ones?
Why did you choose this position?
Assuming you have achieved one goal, do you then immediately strive for the next one or do you enjoy your success first?
Why do you act like this?
What is the highest financial goal for you? This can be a sum of money, a salary or an item of value.
Are you ambitious?
Not at all/Very much
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Competition
"Competition stimulates business."
(Proverb)
Competition is a competition. We are all constantly in competition with others.It can be about prestige, power or affection, for example when it comes to receiving an award for something or about demeanor and appearance.
How would you define competition?/What do you understand with competition?
How important do you find competition?
Not at all important/Very important
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Do you like to be in competition with others?
No/Yes
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
What feelings do you associate with the word competition or what does it trigger in you?
When it comes to competition, people often think of work or measurable performance. Do you enjoy working?
Not at all/Very much
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Why?
Do you work a lot?
Little/Much
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Why?
4Cf: A.D. Fischer: Richer than the Geissens, AF Media, 2016, p.63 ff.
Willingness to take risks
"Nothing happens without risk, but nothing happens without risk."
(Walter Scheel, former Federal President, 1919-2016)
When you take a risk, you are aware of the possible disadvantages of an action. For example, there is always a risk in quitting a job before you have been offered a new one, or if you have to give a presentation and you do not prepare thoroughly for the topic.
Are you prepared to take risks?
Not at all/Very much
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Why?
If you are more willing to take risks, you may also be putting your popularity with others on the line. How important is it to you to be popular?
Not at all/Very much
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Why?
What do you do when you realize that someone does not like you?
Be strong
"Strength does not come from physical strength - rather from an indomitable will."
(Mahatma Gandhi, Indian lawyer and pacifist, 1869-1948)
Being strong can have different meanings. On the one hand, it says something about the strength we possess, and on the other about our performance and assertiveness. You do not have to be loud to be considered strong. Rather, it is about perseverance and not allowing yourself to be influenced too much by other people or circumstances, about sticking to your convictions and acting on them. 5However, strength can also mean that you give in and rethink and change your convictions because you have noticed that other views are better.
How much do you see yourself as an opinion leader among your friends?
Not at all/strongly
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
How much do you see yourself as a leader among your friends?
Not at all/strongly
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
How good are you at initiating and tackling new ideas? For example, do you like to rearrange furniture or try out a new restaurant, etc.?
Not at all/strongly
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
How good are you at engaging and inspiring people?
Not at all/very good
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
How would you describe your role in your circle of friends or in the club? For example, are you more of a person who calls the shots or are you more in the background?
Do you like taking on responsibility?
No/Yes
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Why?
Status symbols are also a sign of power and therefore also of strength. We want to show the outside world which group we belong to, and at the same time we want to consciously set ourselves apart from others through status symbols, i.e. we want to emphasize our individuality.
What are status symbols for you? Put a cross in the box!
Icon
Yes
No
Company car
Car of a luxury brand
Luxury bag
Tailor-made clothing/shoes
Precious brand watch
Precious jewelry
Private employees
Prestigious office
Expensive smartphones/tablets etc.
Expensive credit cards
Valuable paintings or antiques
Expensive villa
A yacht
Private airplane
Luxury vacation
Pedigree dogs and racehorses or exotic pets
Membership of the right clubs (golf, tennis, fitness)
Personal doctor or cosmetic surgeon
Which of these do you find desirable? Mark them!
Which three status symbols are most important to you? These can also be other than those mentioned above.
1
Why?
2
Why?
3
Why?
5
Power and prestige
"My job is not to make it particularly easy for people. My job is to make them better."
(Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, 1955-2011)
To gain prestige and power, you have to work hard, sometimes for years. Many people put their personal needs second. For them, the focus is then on something very specific, to which everything else must be subordinated.
Do you demand a lot from yourself?
Yes/No
Why?
Do you demand a lot from others?
Yes/No
Why?
What do you think of when you hear the word "power"?
Reputation goes hand in hand with high esteem. What do you think of when you hear the word "esteem"?
What do you think of when you hear the word "superiority"?
To continue on your path, you need certain skills. Many of these are interpersonal skills.
How much can you rejoice or suffer with others?
Not at all/Very much
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Why?
How much do you like to be admired?
Not at all/Very much
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Why?
How well can you adapt to others and their needs?
Not at all/Very much
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Why?
How easy is it for you to talk to strangers?
Not at all/Very much
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Why?
You do not get recognition from others just like that. Do you like to make an effort?
Not at all/Very much
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Why?
How much do you let the strengths of others unsettle you?
Not at all/Very much
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Why?
What do you do when you feel insecure?
3. Analyze your current situation
"You never realize what has already been done, you only ever see what remains to be done."
(Marie Curie, Polish, French physicist, Polish chemist, 1867-1934)
In order to develop yourself further, you need to analyze your current situation. This will help you to recognize what is already going well in your life and what you would like to change or improve. The following questions can give you a direction as to where your life should take you and which adjustments you need to make in order to lead the life that makes you happy.
Feelings
"What a heavenly feeling it is to follow your heart."
(Joh. W. von Goethe, German poet, politician and naturalist, 1749-1832)
Feelings, emotions or emotional movements take place in our psyche. They describe a movement within us and are triggered by the conscious or unconscious perception of an event or situation. Different people can react very differently to the same situation. The experience we carry with us also plays a role. For some people, rain alone can have a very negative effect on their mood. Others see rain as a wonderful necessity for nature and therefore welcome such weather.
Do you often feel bad?
Often/not at all
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
If you ever feel bad, why?
If you do not feel comfortable in your own skin, you are often much more sensitive towards others.
Do you often criticize others for the slightest reason?
Often/not at all
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
When you criticize others, in what situation is this taking place?
Criticizing others is often not difficult at all. However, it is much more important to look at your own actions if you want to get ahead.
Do you often make mistakes?
Often/not at all
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
If so, why? In which situation?
Name the most common mistakes you make.
Are you cynical or aggressive in conversation?
Often/not at all
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Do you avoid dealing with certain people?
Yes/No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Why? What kind of people are they?
