I don’t know what to do with my life: how to face this feeling?

“I don’t know what to do with my life, I’ve been feeling lost for a while and I can’t find meaning in almost anything.”. Who has not ever been in this same situation? If you are currently experiencing this uncomfortable emptiness, take a deep breath. It is a normal state that you can deal with using appropriate tools.

We live in a society in which no one seems to have the right to doubt, to error, to vulnerability. It’s as if doubting yourself at certain stages of life is seen as a sign of weakness. Do not believe it. It is time to stop to reflect and connect with yourself in a more healing way.. Take note of some strategies to regain control and well-being.

Keys you can follow when you don’t know what to do with your life

You may need to reformulate your purposes. Maybe you need to make a small change or, perhaps, start a whole personal revolution. When you feel stuck and you tell yourself “I don’t know what I’m doing with my life,” the most important thing is to stop.. You need time for yourself in order to know what is happening and how to act on it.

We assure you that you will be well again. To achieve this, it is necessary to apply new changes and make decisions. Lean on your environment and become aware of something very simple. Crises are common in human beings, but they are also great opportunities to shape enriching changes. Take note of some keys that will help you in that purpose.

1. Analyze where you are now

To know where to reorient your life, start by clarifying your current situation.. It is time to make contact with your present in order to discover what is happening inside you. You will not be able to change your reality for the better if, first, you do not analyze the origin of your discouragement and that feeling of emptiness. It is obvious that you are going through a crisis, but what causes it?

To clarify, we suggest asking yourself the following questions:

“How do I feel?” “Am I doing what makes me happy?” “Do I feel good about the people around me?” “Do the activities I do make sense to me?” (work, studies, hobbies…)».«How do I see myself in 5 years? Does that future perspective satisfy me or should I change it?

2. Clarify your values ​​and purposes

Your values ​​and purposes need to be updated from time to time. Over the past few years, you may have experienced complex and challenging circumstances. The experiences you go through can vary your belief system and meanings. The fact that this happens is normal and therefore it is necessary to reflect on this matter.

As pointed out in Heliyon magazine, clarifying one’s own values ​​and vital meanings is a marker of well-being. Therefore, No Do not hesitate to ask yourself what spheres are the ones that give you meaning and significance right now. The answers you get will be valuable keys to change.

3. Remember what inspires you

Look beyond your closest reality, your routines, the people around you in your immediate present. Do this to ask yourself the following: What motivates you? What areas, hobbies, activities and people spark your enthusiasm? Think about this as you answer a series of new questions:

Who inspires you? What makes you feel alive and excited? What changes would you need to feel good? Ask yourself what activities interest you and you would like to try. Think about what kind of work would make you happy and feel fulfilled.

4. Set new short and long term goals

When you’ve been telling yourself “I don’t know what to do with my life” for a while, set new goals on your horizon.. With them you will awaken your dreams, your behavior will be guided towards renewing objectives and you will establish new habits and routines. Take note of some keys that will help you in this regard:

Visualize your future: Imagine where you would like to be in 5, 10 or 20 years. This will allow you to define your long-term goals in a more clear and motivating way.Set SMART goals: Use the SMART approach to define your renewal goals. That is, they must be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.Break them down into smaller steps: Long-term goals can be overwhelming, so it’s best to break them down into smaller, more manageable steps. This makes it easier to see progress.Align your goals with your values: Make sure your goals are in line with your values ​​and what defines you. Also, try to make them realistic and not too high. Sometimes, by setting very high goals and not achieving them, discomfort appears and self-esteem weakens.Review and adjust goals: Evaluate your progress and don’t hesitate to adjust your actions and deadlines if necessary.Stay motivated: Once again, don’t forget to focus on your sources of inspiration and motivation and celebrate achievements, no matter how small.

5. Value your talent

You have excellent skills in multiple areas. We know that you have your own talents, skills that distinguish you from the rest and that allow you to enjoy a good sense of self-efficacy. What happens is that sometimes you forget your potential and negative self-talk tells you that you are not as good as you think you are.

This affects your mood and self-image, to the point of making you think that your life is losing its direction. It’s time to change this approach and remember your personal strengths. (empathy, creativity, resolution, sensitivity, trust, etc.). All of them are nutrients that will give you temperance in times of insecurity. Do it, recognize your talents and worth.

6. Meet new people

By meeting new people, you gain different life perspectives that enrich you. Maybe it’s time to expand your social circle, to listen to new ideas and opinions. There is nothing like building new friendships to see reality through another, brighter filter.. Something like this will give you new ideas and purposes.

7. Work on the person you want to be

If you don’t know what to do with your life, reflect on what you want to do with yourself. It’s not a play on words, it’s a challenge. Sometimes, life crises have a purpose, and that is to reformulate you, to become someone better.. As soon as you strengthen your self-image, you will find the motivation to generate the changes you need. Take note of how to get started:

Cultivate your strengths.Practice self-care.Detect your fears and overcome them.Develop new skills.Learn from people who inspire you.Be more patient and empathetic with yourself.

8. Open yourself to new experiences, you have a whole world to discover

You may have spent many years steering your life in a certain direction. But is it the one that makes you happy? Maybe it’s time to change tracks, to take another train. The world is full of possibilities, new experiences to try, occupations that can give you authentic professional and personal meaning. Dare to discover new realities.

9. Psychological therapy

When you say to yourself, “I don’t know what I’m doing with my life,” there may be something more than a specific crisis. If you have been feeling empty for a long time and cannot find motivation, it is best to ask for specialized help.. Psychological therapy will allow you to recover your psychosocial functioning and well-being.

In these cases, the cognitive-behavioral model may be the most suitable for you. Works published in Frontiers in Psychiatry point out that this is the approach that has scientific support. Taking the step will be the best decision to find the change you need.

Conclusion

Life is a blank canvas where you can sometimes find yourself lost. You don’t know what to paint in it, what colors to choose and what to fill that immense void with. What you should always remember in these cases is that it is normal to go through these experiences.. Don’t punish yourself or encourage self-criticism. Instead, be compassionate with yourself and reflect on your needs.

Well-being and happiness comes when you dare to make new decisions that are right for you. So do it, clarify your goals and values ​​and begin to place new objectives on your near horizon. Day by day, exciting paths will open before you. They are bridges to your new existence, the one you deserve and that will make you feel better.

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