You wake up in the morning, get dressed, head to work, work, then go home, and lie on your bed only to find another day unfolding right before your eyes. It seems like everything is in order, but deep inside, you know you feel lost. Have you ever felt like this? As much as we want to tell you it’s okay, we know that isn’t enough to make the feeling go away.
The first step to solving a problem is identifying and defining the problem. So, there’s no better way to start your healing than to recognize and accept that you feel lost. Moreover, you have to understand where the feeling is coming from and be able to answer the question: “Why do I feel lost?”
The purpose driven life
by Rick Warren
⏱ 15 minutes reading time
🎧 Audio version available
You’re not pursuing your passion.
This is probably the most common reason for feeling lost. Some people were lucky enough to land their dream jobs. But life is not so easy for most people. Some of us didn’t get the opportunity to follow our dreams, so we end up in a job that may pay well but can never satisfy our inner soul.
And that’s when you start feeling lost. You question if what you’re currently doing is really worth it. You begin to wonder whether you would be happier if you pursued your passion.
And then you are torn between staying on the familiar path or starting a new one.
Well, muster your courage and follow your passion. The fact that you feel unsettled in what you’re currently doing is a sign that change is required. Now, you don’t need to dump everything all at once. This does not have to be an all-or-nothing situation. Make your passion a hobby or a side hustle at first. And slowly gauge whether this passion will help you thrive and be happy in life.
You want to do too many things.
Sometimes you feel lost because you’ve got too much on your plate. You’re good at numbers, but you’re also good at art. You also want to be an entrepreneur, you can cook, you’re interested in fashion, and you can write creatively. You are capable of doing so many things that you aren’t sure which you should focus on.
But how about we change that to: “You are capable of doing many things. You’re not a mess; you’re a multipotentialite.” Yes, that means you’re overloaded with potential and no, it’s not a made-up word. Multipotentiality is a psychological term that refers to one’s ability to have talents in two or more different fields.
If you’re a multipotentialite, you don’t have to choose a single path, you’re supposed to explore all those paths with enthusiasm. You’re destined to do many things, so take pride in it. Reframe your perspective and explore your potential!
You value the opinions of others more than your own.
A huge reason why people can feel lost is because they don’t see themselves as truly valuable, and rely on how others see them instead. For example, some people don’t chase their passion because those around them say it won’t be worth it.
So, they end up doing something they hate, but that those around them approve of. Which is terribly unhealthy. And the worst part is, even when you did what society dictated, society would still throw hurtful feedback at you. This leaves you feeling inadequate and in the end, the feeling of being lost returns.
Paying too much attention to what social media chooses to put in the mainstream is also something to avoid. Most especially, never try to measure your success and happiness based on other people’s definition of success and happiness. You must set your own definition.
You don’t have the right connections.
If you’re lost in the woods, you could either try to find your way out or wait for someone to help you out. The same is true if you’re lost in life. For the first three reasons, we’ve been talking about how to find your own way out, but the truth is you can’t solve every problem by yourself. Sometimes, you need a little help.
There are people and connections that add negative pressure to your life, like those we’ve mentioned in Reason 3; those are the ones you should avoid. Of course, there are also connections that you want to keep. Talk to close friends and family. For all you know, they’re also going through the same phase, or better, they may have gone through it and survived it. In that case, you’ll gain a mentor or a life coach that can help you find your way. On the other hand, do your best to identify and remove the toxic people from your life.
There’s also another powerful connection that you might want to build and strengthen. You see, faith in a higher power is a wonderful source of guidance. And we say this not only from a religious standpoint, but also a scientific standpoint. Doctors and therapists have found that integrating faith and religion for patients with psychological and emotional turmoil is highly effective.
You can’t find a purpose.
Lastly, you may feel lost because you haven’t yet found your purpose. In other words, you are suffering an existential crisis. It’s actually a good thing! Wondering what your true purpose is in this world means you desire to do something momentous. Deep down, you want to leave a mark… a legacy. It’s just that the “figuring out” stage is comprised of countless confusions that can leave you feeling lost or like you’re a failure.
There’s really no better way to face an existential crisis than to take a breather. It’s actually the pressure you’re piling on yourself that’s making you feel lost and restless. So, relax, be calm, your purpose will come to you. Keep waiting and exploring, and remove the pressure and fear of failure.
Still, with all these pointers, getting through this phase is going to be difficult. But it’s worth remembering that it’s “just a phase”. It will pass and you’ll find your way through. We know because you’re really trying. The fact that you’re here watching this video is proof that you’re taking steps towards freeing yourself from these moments of lostness.
What Is Snapreads?
With the Snapreads app, you get the key insights from the best nonfiction books in minutes, not hours or days. Our experts transform these books into quick, memorable, easy-to-understand insights you can read when you have the time or listen to them on the go.
