Choosing a Career

My career, or rather my non-existent career, is something that crosses my mind most days. In fact at the moment, every day. I'm not the only one with severe life-planning dysfunction, but sometimes I feel like I am. I've thought on and off about 'where I fit' since I was about 16. It started to dominate my thoughts post-graduation, which I now realise was 3 years ago. I'm no closer to choosing a career and I've lost that fresh optimism and fearlessness that comes with a shiny new degree. It's not quite as powerful as I once thought.

I suppose I have developed in the sense of knowing a few more things that I definitely don't want to do. But I'm a procrastinator and I've got to the point where I'm scared of thinking. Because I'm worried I won't find an answer.

I'm hugely competitive, which is probably what made me a good student. But life maps itself out as a student, you work as hard as you can, get the best grades you can, go to the best university you can and get the best degree you can. With a  first from Cambridge University it is now not just about choosing between the bifurcation of 'yes' or 'no', there's a plethora of options and nobody to guide me.

Things that are annoying me: I'm looking at really diverse options, and I don't know if that's good or bad. I don't know what is important to think about. I'm frustrated that I'm trying hard, but not getting any answers.
Self-help guru style....'so far I've learnt...'

i. It's OK to make a mistake. In fact, it's usually pretty helpful.I made a mistake in choosing a PhD after university for all the wrong reasons. I wasted a fair bit of time, and have a 'I quit' on my CV. But, I picked myself back up, dusted myself off, and hey, worst things happen. And I learnt somethings about myself.
ii. Do it for yourself and nobody else, this is intrinsically linked to number 1 for me.

iii. Choose something you enjoy, your career is 40 years, so it has to be something you enjoy, are motivated by and/or care about

iv. There is no dream job, and if there is they don't dish them out to fresh-faced young graduates. Perhaps a bit opposing to number 4 but sometimes you have to see the bigger picture

v. Try things out, I for one don't care until I'm a bit involved in something

Some really annoying 'careers advisors' and self-help style career books ask stupid questions like 'what are your skills', 'what motivates you.....' . Actually, it's hard to answer questions like that. Or I, for one, am very good at giving answers I think I should be saying. But I have to try to find the answers. At the moment I feel like my life is standing still while I try to find out the answers. But the world is going on around me, and I just missing my 20's.
 
By the way I tried, 'what colour is your parachute?' and thought it was a complete load of tosh.
Edward de Bono's The Thinking Course however is really good if you're not very good at making decisions.
In conclusion something has to change. And soon.