I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was: How to Discover What You Really Want and How to Get It

Let me take you on a gentle walk through the hidden landscapes of your mind, where old voices echo and invisible maps guide your every step. Why do so many of us feel lost, even when we seem to have everything going for us? The answer, as we’ll discover, lies not in a lack of ambition or talent, but in the silent instructions we carry from childhood. These are the scripts written by loving parents, hopeful teachers, and a culture that means well but doesn’t always see us clearly.

Imagine a young person, full of curiosity, being told both to stay close to home and to conquer the world. Or perhaps you remember a time when you were praised for being careful, yet scolded for not being bold enough. These messages, sometimes spoken, often silent, become the hidden maps that direct our lives. We follow them, rebel against them, or get stuck trying to satisfy them all at once.

For example, one person may have been expected to be a lawyer like their father, while also being told to never outshine their siblings. Another may have been urged to be both wildly successful and invisibly humble. It’s no wonder so many of us end up feeling paralyzed, unable to choose any direction for fear of disappointing someone we love.

But here’s a surprising twist: when we share our wildest dreams with strangers—raising dogs in the Himalayas, becoming a poet in Paris—we often find encouragement and curiosity, not ridicule. Strangers, unburdened by our history, see only the spark in our eyes and wish us well. Interest is the sincerest form of respect, and sometimes it takes the perspective of an outsider to remind us that our dreams are valid.

As you reflect on the hidden maps guiding your life, take a moment to ask yourself: Whose voice is it you’re trying to please? What impossible combination of wishes are you attempting to fulfill? Recognizing these patterns is the first step to freedom. In the next section, we’ll explore how to move beyond these invisible scripts—not by fighting them, but by gently noticing them and beginning to act in new ways.

So, let’s step forward together, leaving the crossroads and heading toward the next chapter: the power of action and why movement, even in uncertainty, can change everything.