We are half way through the year… but it doesn’t mean you have to wait for January for a fresh start.

Not everyone just knows what it is they want to do. It can be a source of major stress for people who aren’t certain. Asking yourself a list of big, clarifying questions can help lead you to the career of your dreams.

1. What am I interested in? Interests are a great place to start because most people are aware of the things that they find interesting, even if they don’t know how to make money doing them

2. How do I like to work? Be realistic here. Sure, we’d all love to work on a beach, but let’s bring in a dream with a touch of reality. There are going to be jobs that involve more time on your own and jobs that involve more interpersonal interaction and collaboration. It’s important to know whether you like working alone or with others so that you can pick a job that leans heavier on the way you prefer to work.

3. If nobody got to have any opinions or judgement about my job, what would I do? Sometimes we are clear on what we want, but we convince ourselves that we can’t really trust our passions based on those around us. Maybe your mom told you that being a writer doesn’t pay well, so you put your dream of being an author out of mind. Maybe an old teacher told you that you’d never be a good public speaker, even though you know you love teaching. Releasing yourself from the limitations others put on you can be the most empowering decision you can make around finding your dream career path.

4. Do I want adventure or stability? Working at a start-up and working at an established corporation are very different. Do you thrive on the unexpected and love doing whatever it takes to grow something fast? Or do you prefer a predictable, stable job where nothing unexpected ever happens? Knowing whether you thrive on variety or routine is important in picking a job that will play to those strengths.

5. Does my dream job have real meaning? Why is this important? Dr. John Chuback, author of Make Your Own Damn Cheese, says that it’s unlikely the job will remain a dream if you don’t feel that you’re somehow making a difference in the world. “You don’t have to cure cancer or achieve world peace but you do need to make a contribution in some way” in order to make the career sustainable, he says. “Making kids smile by twisting balloon animals at birthday parties may be all it takes, but if you’re not serving someone somehow, the dream probably won’t last.