Why You Feel Lost in Life & What to Do About It

      Do you feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or uninterested in life lately? 

        

               Maybe you’re no longer sure of the person you want to be or where you’re headed in the future. While being lost in life may sound and feel negative now, don’t lose hope; feeling lost can be a wonderful way to find yourself and get reinspired to chase your dreams. In this article, we’ll show you what you can do right away to cope with feeling lost, plus share the best strategies to find your way forward again. Above all, remember that it’s normal to feel this way at times; getting lost is all part of the larger journey!

What to Do When You Feel Lost in Life

• Acknowledge that you feel lost and ask yourself introspective questions to determine why you feel this way. Be honest and nonjudgmental with yourself.
• Celebrate your unique strengths and talents instead of dwelling on perceived shortcomings or flaws. Your abilities can help you find direction and excitement in life.
• Start new, healthy habits that make you more mindful, compassionate, and motivated. This includes asking for help when you need it.

How to Cope with Feeling Lost in Life Right Now

1. Acknowledge and accept your feelings.
2. Ask yourself why you’re feeling lost.
3. Show yourself compassion and make some time for self-care.
4. Do things that make you feel good.
5. Focus on your strengths and unique abilities.
6. Replace negative behaviour or habits with healthier routines.
7. Concentrate on your most important priorities.
8. Practice gratitude for what’s going well in your life.
9. Reflect on your true values and do something to act on them.
10. Try new things to get out of your comfort zone and find opportunities.
11. Spend time with positive people and distance yourself from toxic ones.
12. Decide to take action.
13. Work with a mental health professional if you’re stuck.

Why You Feel Lost

Life changes, loss, or major disappointments can make you feel lost.
There are a wide variety of reasons you may feel stuck, confused, or simply “over it” when it comes to the direction of your life. While every person’s life and circumstances are different, here are some of the most common reasons you may be feeling this way:

• You’re grieving the loss of a loved one.
• You’ve recently ended an important or long-term relationship.
• You’re experiencing a major career upheaval (like starting a new job, losing your job, or making a transition).
• You feel you’ve missed opportunities in your personal or professional life.
• You’ve had a major life change like moving, a medical diagnosis, or having a child.
• You’ve experienced hard setbacks in pursuit of your goals.
• You lack a strong support system to help you when you’re struggling.
• You’re faced with a major decision.
• You’re conforming to societal norms and pressures instead of living for yourself.
• You’re suppressing your feelings and leaving emotional issues unresolved.
• You’re experiencing major disruptions to your normal, comforting routines.

Signs That You’re Lost in Life

Feeling overwhelmed, uninterested in your hobbies, or frustrated with yourself are typical signs of feeling lost.
While everyone’s experiences are different, most people who feel lost or directionless experience a lack of enthusiasm about life or the future that can make your emotions unpredictable and your behavior or decision-making skills less controlled. Some other common signs that people experience include:

• Being blinded by your emotions or overthinking to the point that you don’t feel many emotions.
• Having mood swings, like crying without knowing why or getting irritated with those around you.
• Withdrawing from your loved ones or losing interest in things that bring you joy.
• Struggling to make decisions or not seeing the point in making them.
• Overreacting to situations without understanding why.
• Feeling like you’re just “going through the motions” or doing things because it’s what others expect of you.
• Behaving erratically or impulsively or engaging in risky activities.
• Needing constant external validation from others.
• Finding it more difficult to empathize with others.
• Thinking about most things in absolutes (like “good or bad” or “always or never”).

What does “feeling lost” really mean?

Feeling lost can mean you’ve lost sight of the person you want to be or what makes your life meaningful.
Often, feeling lost can be somewhat similar to having depression in the sense that you’re not sure what the point of life is; you no longer feel inspired or motivated by your hobbies, and you may struggle to recognise or feel like yourself.Overall, feeling lost means feeling directionless or like the path you’re currently on doesn’t lead somewhere satisfying or fulfilling.

• However, feeling lost doesn’t mean you do have depression (but it can certainly be a part of some people’s struggles). While some people may feel sharp sadness or misery, many others experience a general fog of boredom, disinterest, or dissatisfaction that makes them question what they’re doing with their life.

Is it OK to feel lost in life?

Yes, it’s OK and normal to feel lost sometimes; it may even help you in the long run!
Think of being lost in life like being lost on a road trip. Sure, it’s frustrating right now, but it doesn’t mean you’ll never reach your destination or figure out where you are. In fact, getting lost sometimes is a great way to experience new things and learn about yourself in the process. Some of the unexpected benefits of feeling lost can include:

• Finding a deeper sense of who you are. What interests you? What are your goals? Feeling lost forces you to confront these things in order to find a way forward.
• Improving your problem-solving skills. Tackling the root causes of your feelings takes deep introspection, analysis, and plan making.
• Boosting your self-confidence. When you overcome obstacles that make you feel directionless, you’ll feel more assured and capable of handling future challenges.
• Sparking your curiosity. Feeling lost forces you to look at everything in a new light and find the “why” or “how” behind your feelings, choices, and actions.
• Going on an adventure. To find direction, you may end up traveling, meeting new people, learning new skills, or trying things you never thought you’d do.
• Looking forward to something better. Feeling lost is just part of the journey to your destination, so stay optimistic! In fact, feeling hopeful about the future can boost your overall mental and physical health and may even help you live longer.

How to Find Your Way Again

Attend inspirational events or find a role model to emulate.
Sometimes, an example of what you want your life to look like can be the spark that gets you into action and reminds you what you’re passionate about. Go listen to a motivational speaker, see an exhibit or lecture that inspires you, or stop by a networking event to reinvigorate your lust for life.

• Meeting like-minded people at events like these can make you feel less alone or “othered,” plus the positive energy in the room can feel like a breath of fresh air.
• Think about celebrities, artists, colleagues, family members, or people in your community you admire. Consider how they might tackle a challenge or pick themselves up when they’re down.
• You don’t have to live your life exactly the way your role model does; instead, just use their qualities or behaviours you admire as inspiration for what to do in your own life.

Find a community that understands your purpose and lifts you up.
Often, the company you keep can reflect your inner feelings and ambitions. So, form a community with like-minded people who support and encourage you. Your community can include your friends and family, an online following, a social or professional group, or any collective that gives you a sense of belonging or direction.

• If you’re not sure whether you’re part of a supportive community, ask yourself these questions about the people around you. If the answers aren’t inspiring, it may be time to connect with some new folks:
• What do you have in common with these people?
• What are these people trying to be or do?
• What impact will they have on the world, and is it a positive one?
• Are you able or willing to join them in making an impact?
• What do they need from you, and are you able and willing to provide it?

Rekindle your child-like sense of awe and curiosity.
Awe is a complex emotion; it’s a sense of wonderment you get when you experience something that makes you feel like a small piece of a vastly larger whole and challenges your “normal” understanding of the world. It might seem counterintuitive to make yourself feel small, but studies show that feeling like you’re connected to something larger than yourself can be the foundation for finding a sense of purpose.

• “Awe experiences” can be big or small. Start by getting curious about the ordinary things around you. You might go for a walk and look at the complex patterns and colors of leaves, take in all the sounds of the city around you, or listen to someone who inspires you.
• For a bigger awe experience, try traveling somewhere new, watching a virtuosic musical performance live, looking at amazing art or architecture, or experiencing surreal natural phenomena like the aurora borealis.

Start taking steps towards your goals, no matter how small they are.
You might be craving a single, drastic action to catapult you toward your goals, but you’ll find sustainable success (and learn more about yourself in the process) by making gradual, consistent progress. So, break down your overarching goal(s) into smaller, more easily achievable steps.  Every time you cross one step off your to-do list, use your sense of accomplishment as motivation to keep going!

• Keep your action plan flexible; if one route to your goal isn’t working, regroup and try another way. Consider each obstacle as a lesson in what to do better on your next try.
• Remember, tiny steps lead to huge progress in the long run!

Get to know the real you and what you stand for.
Often, you think of your “true self” as the version of you that behaves in socially acceptable ways and builds a good reputation. For example, imagine you snap at a coworker one day (something not so acceptable); you might later say, “I wasn’t feeling like myself” when you apologize since the “true you” would never do that. However, if you only view yourself through the lens of how you want to be perceived, you might miss out on your own unique sense of self.

• Instead, get to know yourself when you’re left with only yourself, your immediate environment, or your closest friends and family. How do you act, and what do you think of yourself in those scenarios?
• To be more yourself, make an effort to speak your mind more, be more spontaneous, express yourself through your creativity and individuality, and do things that you’re afraid to fail at.

Be patient with yourself.
Remember, no one has it all figured out all of the time. How would you treat a loved one if they were in your shoes? You’d probably tell them not to be so hard on themselves, to take time to rest, and enjoy the journey instead of fixating on the destination. So, treat yourself with the same compassion!

• When you’re feeling impatient or stuck, try to look at your situation objectively. Prioritise making progress (no matter how small) over being perfect every step of the way.

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