Why Feeling Lost In Life Is The Key to Personal Growth
“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” — Francis of Assisi
Feeling Lost Is a Good Thing
Everyone experiences moments of feeling lost at some point in their life. It’s that overwhelming sense of unimportance and lack of direction that can make you feel utterly pointless. However, here’s the twist: you need to be lost in order to find yourself. After all, who searches for something that isn’t lost?
When you understand that being lost is actually the gateway to discovering yourself, you start to accept it as a crucial part of the journey. Just as failure paves the way for success, feeling lost is the precursor to being found. This mindset shift can transform a seemingly negative experience into a powerful opportunity for growth and self-discovery.
Finding Your Advantage
The best way to begin finding yourself is to first change your mindset about it. Instead of feeling like you’re shackled to the floor, realise that you actually have ample opportunities ahead of you. You get to take your life in whatever direction you please — that’s your advantage.
Imagine the 40-year-old individual who lives a life they dislike. They would do anything to ‘feel lost’ again, with unlimited opportunities ahead of them. The benefit of feeling like you lack direction is that you get to play the mad scientist. You get to try, fail, try, fail, try, fail until you find who you are and what you want.
Don’t take this for granted because it’s rare to have the luxury of being able to steer your life in any direction you want again. The sense of being lost can be reimagined as a canvas, blank and ready for you to paint your future.
So, Where Do You Go from Here?
“F**k around and find out” might sound crude, but it encapsulates a crucial truth: take action. Create the best plan you can think of and execute it. The plan won’t be perfect, and it will certainly change along the way as you evolve and come up with better strategies.
The trick is to do something. Being lost and doing nothing about it is a one-way ticket to remaining lost. Conversely, taking action — even if it’s imperfect — puts you on the path to discovering your true self. Doing nothing guarantees that you’ll stay lost; doing something means there’s a chance you’ll find what you’re looking for.
By embracing action, you open the door to new experiences, learnings, and opportunities. You may stumble upon passions and talents you never knew you had. Each step, no matter how small, is a step towards clarity and purpose.
Actionable Next Steps
If you’re in that stage of your life where you feel lost and hopeless, take these steps to help you find yourself:
- Understand that in order to be found, you have to first be lost. No one is born into this world with a definitive purpose and a manual on how to execute it. Those who seem like they have it all figured out are likely faking it. Accepting that feeling lost is a natural part of the journey can relieve much of the pressure.
- Be grateful for the opportunity to mould yourself into whatever person you want to become. The possibilities are endless, and having the freedom to explore them is a gift. This period of uncertainty can be a time of great creativity and self-exploration.
- Start doing sh*t and figure the rest out along the way. Action is the antidote to feeling lost. The more you do, the more you’ll discover about yourself and what you want from life. Even if your initial steps are tentative, they will lead to greater confidence and understanding.
Engage in activities, take up hobbies, volunteer, or even travel. Each new experience adds a piece to the puzzle of your identity. Over time, these pieces will come together to form a clearer picture of who you are and what you want.
Embracing the Journey
Remember that life is a journey, not a destination. Feeling lost is just one part of this journey, and it doesn’t define you. By shifting your perspective, you can turn this challenging phase into a period of growth and discovery. Celebrate the small victories along the way and remain open to where the journey might lead you.
