If you are feeling lost in life, the first thing to keep in mind is that you are not alone.
Many people experience days where they are feel lost in life, lose interest in life, feel confused and frustrated at the same time.
While it’s good to know you are not alone in this feeling, the question still remains: What to do when you feel lost?
Here are 10 things to remember when you feel lost in life:
1. Recognize That It’s Okay!
As stressed above, it’s okay to be in a position where you need to figure out what to do when you feel lost. At the same time, recognize that there are times you need to be alone. If you’ve always been accustomed to being in contact with people, this may prove difficult.
However, learning how to be alone and comfortable in your own skin will give you confidence and a sense of self-reliance.
2. Acknowledge the Person You Are Now
Perhaps you are feeling lost in life because your life circumstances have taken you away from the persona that others know to be you. In those situations it’s understandable why you are telling yourself, I feel lost in life.
Learn to accept that people change over time. You might’ve liked the old you, but you are now in the new you. Learn to accept the new you, flaws and all. Realize that life is about change and how we react to that change. It’s okay that you’re not who you used to be.
3. Remember You Aren’t the First to Feel This Way
It’s quite common to feel as if you’re alone and no one else has ever felt this way before. You think this because, at the time of your distress, you’re silently observing others around you who are seemingly fine in every way.
The truth is, you can’t possibly know the struggles of those around you unless they elect to share them. We ALL have known this pain! As stressed at the start, even celebrities and people who seem to have “life figured out” could be feeling just as lost as you.
4. Keep Striving to Do Your Best
Often when you are figuring out what to do when you feel lost, you will develop a defeatist attitude. You stop caring about what’s going on and even your self esteem is low as a result of this.
When you reach this stage, remind yourself to never let this feeling take away your sense of worth! Do your best always and when you come through this dark time, others will admire how you stayed determined in spite of the obstacles you had to overcome.
5. Realize Loneliness Helps You Face the Truth
Being in the constant company of others, although comforting, can often serve as a distraction when we need to face the reality of a situation. And the reality is that we often bury negative emotions and deny their existence through indulgence of comforting emotions.
Solitude cuts straight to the chase and forces you to deal with the problem or negative emotions at hand. See the event of what to do when you feel lost as a blessing that can serve as a catalyst to set things right!
6. Use Your Loneliness as a Self-Directing Guide
Loneliness and feeling lost in life also serve as a life signal to indicate you’re in search of something. Telling yourself I feel lost in life, is a good first step as it can prompt action.
Because deep down, our strongest revelations don’t all stem from being around the constant company. It’s normally when we’re alone and in a place of relaxation.
7. Be Aware That You Have More Control Than You Think
Typically, when people feel lost in life or lonely, it gives them an excuse to view everything in a negative light. It lends itself to putting ourselves in the victim mode when the truth of the matter is that you choose your attitude in every situation.
No one can force a feeling upon you other than yourself! It is YOU who has the ultimate say as to how you choose to react.
8. Embrace the Freedom That the Feeling of Being Alone Can Offer
Instead of wallowing in self-pity – which many are prone to do because of loneliness – try looking at your circumstances as newfound freedoms.
Most people are in constant need of approval of their viewpoints. They seek validation and when they don’t it’s easy for them to be feeling lost in life.
Try enjoying the fact that you don’t need everyone you care about to support your decisions and ideas. This is easier said than done of course, but removing that need for validation can allow you to do things your own way and to think for yourself.
9. Don’t Forget That Time Is Precious
When we’re lost in a sea of loneliness and depression, it’s all too easy to reflect on regrets of past life events. This does nothing but feed negativity and perpetuates the situation of feeling lost in life.
Instead of falling prey to this common pitfall, put one foot in front of the other and acknowledge every positive step you take. By doing this, you can celebrate the struggles you overcome at the end of the day.
10. Ask for Help If the Problem Persists
Feeling lost in life is common to everyone, but typically it will last for a relatively short period of time. It’s a stark comparison to having mid-life crises.
If the problem persists longer than you feel it should, don’t ignore it. There is a reason for it. When your ability to reason and consider things rationally becomes impaired, do not dismiss the problem and think it isn’t worthy of attention. Seek help.