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Something’s not quite right.
You’re not sure what it is, exactly, but something’s got you searching for “what to do when you are feeling lost”.
Feeling lost in life is a common problem.
Most people will deal with those feelings at some point in life.
I’ve definitely been there more than once.
But even if you’re feeling lost, all is not lost!
If you’re wondering what to do when you feel lost in life, here are 3 empowering steps you can take.
What to Do When You Feel Lost in Life: Identify Why You Feel Lost
The first step to take when you feel lost in life is to identify what’s got you feeling lost in the first place.
(Duh, right? Just. Bear with me. Most existential crises are actually just our brains overcomplicating things.)
Odds are, it’s not your entire life that needs adjustment; it’s just a particular area or two that aren’t clicking with your life goals.
So, what is it about your current life that doesn’t feel quite right?
Take a look at the different areas of your life, and start asking questions.
Questions to Ask Yourself When You Feel Lost
- Am I happy in my career?
- Does my work give me a sense of meaning?
- Is it important to me that my work does give me a sense of meaning?
- Do I have healthy relationships that meet my basic needs of being seen, loved, valued, and cared for?
- Are there toxic relationships in my life that are weighing me down?
- Am I being the kind of person I want to be in each of my relationships?
- Do I have hobbies that I enjoy? Am I spending enough time on them?
- Do I need a creative outlet? A way to express myself?
- How am I spending my time?
- Am I prioritizing real self care for myself?
- Do I know where I want to be headed in the future?
- Is there something I want or need to do that I’ve been putting off for too long?
These are just a few questions that can help you identify why your life might be feeling “off”.
Here are 101+ more questions to get you thinking about your ideal life!
What to Do When You Feel Lost in Life: Finding Direction
The next step for what to do when you are feeling lost is to find direction!
(Yeah, another “well, duh” moment. But as obvious as this step sounds, it’s not always easy!)
So you’ve identified the areas that feel “off”, but where are you going to take those areas? Where are you headed next?
That’s right – it’s time for more introspection!
Introspect
It’s time to take a long, hard look at your life.
The things you discover about yourself will act as a guide to finding new direction in life.
So, what are your personal values, or passions?
Do you have a good grip on who you are, or who you want to be?
If not, take a seat, and spend time really getting to know yourself.
Take Time to Reflect
Feeling lost in life is a strong indicator that you don’t have a clear vision of the person you want to be, and the life you want to live.
Look into lifestyle design, and map out the kind of life you want to live.
This is a great time to make some tea, get out your favorite journal, and do some real reflecting.
One of my favorite things to do when feeling lost in life is to imagine my perfect day.
What do I do when I wake up? What’s my morning routine look like?
What do I do for work? Where am I going? Do I meet up with friends later in the day?
Daydreaming about a day in your ideal life is a great way to find the true direction you want to take your life in.
But, if after all that introspection, you’re still feeling a little lost, you can always ask for help!
Ask For Guidance
Is there someone you look up to, who’s living the sort of life you want to live?
Reach out and ask them how they got to where they are!
You can also model parts of your life after celebrities or fictional characters. Role models don’t have to be people you know IRL!
If you’re a spiritual person, dive into that for more guidance.
Pray, meditate, seek counsel from spiritual leaders…
I like to break out the tarot/oracle cards every now and then.
I’m not sure I believe they hold any supernatural powers, but I do believe they’re a great tool to get me connected to my own intuition.
Spend as much time as you need on this.
There’s no rush. Life is a journey, not a race.
But once you’ve found your path, you’d better make sure you set out on it!
What to Do When You Feel Lost in Life: Changing Direction
Now that you’ve done some soul-searching and realized what direction you want to take your life in, it’s time to take action and change direction!
What about your new life path doesn’t match up with your current one?
Is it time to pick up a new hobby? Go back to school? Start a new career?
Do you need to talk with your partner about moving, or having (more) kids? Are you ready to put yourself out there into the dating world and find meaningful connections with people?
Making changes in life can be scary. Especially if they require an investment in time, money, energy, or other resources.
But don’t let yourself get stuck!
It’s never too late to change direction in life, and you owe it to yourself to live life to the fullest!
Also? Stop Overthinking It!
Sometimes, your life is just plain fine–maybe even great!–but you get caught up in your own thoughts.
Social media is especially great at making us feel like there’s something we’re missing.
(In that case, it may be time to set some social media boundaries for yourself.)
But is your life really lacking, or are you just letting society tell you that you’re “doing life wrong”?
You’re not living for them – you’re living for you!
Don’t let anyone convince you that your life is missing something. If you’re content with the life you have, then it’s enough!
And remember: life is a journey, and there’s no set destination.
The purpose of life is to live it.
There’s value in your life no matter what you’re doing, and taking time to appreciate the beauty of life itself is one of the best ways to embrace the journey.
It’s great to look to the future and make plans, for sure.
But don’t get so caught up in what you think your life should be that you forget to appreciate what your life already is.
With that mentality, you can never truly be lost.
Sincerely,
Thirsty for more self-discovery? Check out this handy guide and dive into the fullest expression of YOU!
If you’re searching for what to do if you feel lost in life, there’s a chance it’s because you’re not truly living for yourself.
Do you have your own ideas of how to handle feeling lost in life? Drop ’em in the comments below and share your wisdom! ⬇️⬇️⬇️
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