Last week I talked about how to figure out what you want to do in life. I also admitted that the idea of helping someone else find his or her path seemed unattainable, since it took so long for me to figure it out myself. But I want to try.

Step three was about reflecting and analyzing. I implemented this step through an activity I call ‘The 3 Column Exercise’. It turns around the order of how we typically make decisions; starting with skills or lifestyle preferences. And instead starts with passions.

I took at least two weeks to thoroughly execute the exercise. Don’t rush it, but start.

Get out a piece of paper and walk through the columns with me. Try it out!

Column 1 is what you are passionate about, and what you love. For me it’s travel and animals. Think about the magazines that you read for pleasure, what you do for fun, and what you would do if you had 10 million dollars in the bank.

Column 2 is your skills and strengths. I have an ability with numbers. But it’s not just the ones that you have. It’s the ones that you enjoy employing. I can be extremely organized, but I don’t enjoy doing it. On the other hand, I have always been told that I’m able to take difficult concepts and make them accessible. And I love giving somebody that, “aha!” moment. So I want you to really expand the list of skills and strengths and then focus on the ones that you really enjoy employing.

Column 3, the last column, is all about lifestyle. Do you want to work from home? Travel? Work with a group? What type of culture do you want? Salary? All of those lifestyle aspects go here.

Once you have all three columns filled out you can think about the overlap between column one and two. What are the possible jobs that fulfill the passion and utilize skills you enjoy? Then use column three as a filter; which allow you to live the lifestyle you want?

I hope the three column process helps you. I can’t tell you what you want to do. It’s a journey of exploration and you might not get from where you are to where you want to be in one step. But find those steps along the way and move towards it.

Best of luck in your journey!