On many occasions, especially when I was a young adult, I started feeling lost in life. This came from many factors.
We generally see life as having some pretty important purpose for us, don’t we? I know I see it that way. At the same time, I go through days where I feel lost and unable to understand that purpose.
This is common, I do believe, and I think we’ve learned to live with life’s uncertainties, to a degree. Because, after all, we cannot control everything.
The truth about feeling lost in life and how to find your path
There’s not just one way to feel lost in your life. On the contrary, you can feel lost in all sorts of situations. Maybe your job has become just that, a job with no bright future. Or it could be that you feel lost living in your surroundings.
Sometimes, we simply cannot decide between the many ideas that float around in our heads, the ones that represent goals and purposes.
For instance, are we meant to stay in an uncertain situation and be strong, or are we supposed to get away from that situation? Are we supposed to follow our dreams of becoming a successful writer?
Maybe we’re just supposed to delve into permaculture and learn how to be self-sustainable? At times, our purpose becomes extremely clouded, and guess what, we end up feeling lost in life.
1. Get to know yourself
One reason why you’re feeling so lost in life right now is that you don’t really know who you are. I know you think you do, but if you’re basing what you do, what you wear, what you say, and how you feel according to other’s opinions, then you aren’t there, they are. You are a consolidation of everyone you associate with.
So, here’s what you have to do.
On a regular basis, spend time alone. Don’t just spend a few minutes. Spend hours getting to know how you feel. Discover what you like and don’t like about different things. This time that you spend alone is invaluable.
You’ve lost yourself over time by always being around others, and now it’s time to appreciate your alone time. Try this and you’ll be surprised by what you learn about yourself.
2. De-screen
I know we love media and technology, but we’ve forgotten what it truly means to be alive because of these things. When we spend most of our time on social media or movie streaming sites, our purpose gets put on the back burner. We become others, and even the characters we watch.
Here comes the truth: as long as you keep watching television or scrolling through the news, your priorities will fade a little more each time. It will be almost impossible to pull away. Your goals will be so unimportant that you might not even remember them. The good part is, it’s never too late to step away from the screen and look at something else.
3. Push yourself
I used to do so many things. I painted, spent hours outside, played the piano, and even wrote poems. As I did these things, I felt such a strong pull toward something so much larger than myself. Although I wasn’t yet sure about the feeling, it was shedding layers for me. I captured hints of its truth.
Then suddenly I fell into complacency. My health declined, and with every health problem, I made excuses to not do the things I used to enjoy. I was always saying, “I feel bad”, “I’m depressed”, or “not today… maybe tomorrow”. I was feeling as if I lost something in my life.
What I had to do in order to get out of my self imposed cage was to push. Every morning calls for this great push toward motivation, did you know that? It can be harder some days than others.
The objective, however, is to make this push, which is generally a mental part of your morning routine. Over time, it will be second nature to push yourself out of bed and get started right away on some wonderful step toward a purpose.
4. Help someone else
When I was 22, I sought the help of a clinic that aided young mothers who were poor. I was pregnant, and I knew that I couldn’t afford to raise my baby on my own. So, this wonderful charity helped me with everything I needed in order to grow as a mother to be, and then later, as a mother. I will never forget that.
And you know, as I’ve grown older, I remember them still and even think about giving back to the clinic. Instead, I ended up working with young children in education. But my point is, if you are feeling lost in life, one of the best things to do is find someone to help. Either through a charity or even on your own.
The feeling you get is magnificent, and it helps you to mature in knowing you made a difference, no matter how small. This maturity often clears the tangles from your path.
5. Optimism does help
I know I’ve written quite a few articles about how pessimism isn’t all bad, but when you feel lost, being optimistic does help. If you’re feeling lost in life and you don’t have a clue about your goals and purpose, then try your hardest to see the light.
It is definitely a good thing. I understand that situations or relationships may be incredibly hard for some of you, but there’s good somewhere in your situation.
The task is this: Search for every tiny sliver of goodness, every ray of light, and every positive word until you find your answer. Then latch onto that little bit of positivity and don’t let it go.
After a while, as the darkness surrounds you, your light will be able to push it back. Finding your purpose requires a positive attitude in order to pursue the goal.
6. Deal with death and the past
I am not the best person when it’s time to grieve for lost loved ones, but I’m working on it. When it happens, I want to shut down. But eventually, I get up and try again.
After a while, I catch myself reading old letters and looking at old photographs, and then I accidentally fall into the past and dwell there. This is what you cannot do.
Losing someone that you talked to every day, or someone who spoke with you on the phone for hours is beyond hard. When they were alive, your path may have seemed a bit clearer, but now, it’s become clouded by “what ifs” and “whys”.
Some stories are unfinished, and as hard as that is to swallow, we must push it down with a big glass of reality. We have to properly deal with loss by making peace with it. Then we can move ahead. Until then, we are lost.
If you are feeling lost in life, the path is there, even if you can’t see it yet
Some of you cannot find your purpose in life, and this keeps you wandering lost and without motivation. I do this at times. I wallow in procrastination, and I tell myself…”I will do it tomorrow”.
The truth is, no one is promised tomorrow, and our goals and dreams are waiting for us. So, let’s not stay lost on this beautiful earth. I say, let’s sail out of risk and intuition, discovering how truly needed we are.
We all have a purpose, so let’s find it.
References:
This writing of yours reminds me of the song which most clearly defines much of my life. The song is “Here I Go Again” by Whitesnake. It’s about not knowing the direction of your life, always searching for something, walking the lonely streets of dreams – then telling yourself things will change, but tomorrow comes and it’s ‘here I go again’.
Oh, how that song rings true. I really don’t understand what I am supposed to do sometimes, and it can be so frustrating.
Thank you for reading, Don