There are many good reading materials that can help you probe the answers to these questions and to many more. One such book is "What Should I Do With My Life?" by Po Bronson. In this book, Bronson includes stories about people who’ve succeeded, and people who are still trying to figure it out. He offers a great deal of insightful perspectives. It’s a good read for those who are still struggling with the question of what to do with their life and whether to make a change.

Another good choice is "I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was: How to Discover What You Really Want and How to Get It," by Barbara Sher. Or "Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career" by Herminia Ibarra. Just look through the Internet or browse the local bookstore to find a rich assortment of knowledgeable resources.

Once you've come to some conclusions, go back to your list of values. Really examine and weigh your answers. You may think that insecurity isn't stopping you from moving on, but why do you choke every time you consider owning your own business? You might think that money isn't that important to you - yet for some reason you need to buy a yacht just like your neighbor's, or decorate your house with expensive paintings. While you're evaluating your needs, look around at your house. Do you have lots of "stuff?"

Look at your use of time - do you find yourself always busy - never having time to slow down, yet as soon as you try to sit still, you get right back up again? Maybe you like to be busy. Or on the opposite end of the spectrum, do you tend to procrastinate, to swim lazily in the pool for hours on end while the dishes pile up? Maybe then, you value your time. Is your time spent drawing, reading, writing, cleaning, cooking, building or working on cars? Evaluate where your natural tendencies seem to gravitate. What inspires you the most? Learn to dig really deep into your psyche, to listen to the voices that consistently go unheard. It is very helpful to have a pen and paper handy when thoughts come to mind. Writing about your needs and values will dig up other needs and values that you may not have considered.

Number your needs in order of importance. Determine which ones you want to pursue, and which ones you could live comfortably without. Sometimes, while pursuing the next step in your life, you have to forego the comforts of money or material possessions, or even security. Knowing what you can and can't live without will help you tremendously to move forward. Allowing yourself the space to give up some things will open you up to receiving something else, and that may be worth more to you in the long run than you could even imagine.

After you've finally laid some groundwork, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do I need to own my own business?
• Do I need to work from home? Do I need a creative career?
• Do I need to be perceived as successful?
• Do I need to help others in my life?
• Do I need to have a large savings?
• Do I need to retire early?
• Do I need to travel?

Notice how I didn't say "want." I used the word "need" because there is a huge difference between wanting something like a kid in a candy store, and needing something for long-term growth and self-fulfillment. Those long-term nagging suspicions should be addressed. Formulate all of your self-discoveries into a paragraph or two, a coherent examination that could be read by someone else, similar to a business plan. This will make it that much easier for you to understand.