When You Don’t Know The Next Step

Ifeanyi Omoike
Sep 3, 2018 · 2 min read
Photo by Hazzel Silva on Unsplash

You have goals you desperately want to achieve. You might have it all figured out and you know all the steps you need to achieve your dreams.

But for some of us, we don’t know the next step.

I talked with a friend recently who expressed his frustration about not knowing the next step to take.

This can be a frustrating phase because everyone else seems to have it all figured out. You could get into a state of depression or increased anxiety.

If you are in this phase right now, I want you to know you are not alone.

I know what it’s like to not know the next step. To feel stuck and not know the way forward.

I found myself in this position after my surgery. I had become engrossed in the operation I didn’t see anything after it. I was stuck at home for a while and it was hard to know the next step.

You’ve probably reached this point because you don’t want the life you are living right now. You might not be certain about the life you want but you know what you don’t want. It’s a great place to start — a place where you can build from.


I’ve learned two things during this phase that have given me clarity and direction:

1. Journal

Journal on your blog, in your diary, on Morning Pages or anywhere else you feel comfortable. Write your thoughts, experiences, fears, past successes, pain, loss. It’s a phenomenal way to gain clarity on what you want to do. The clarity might not come quickly.

It could take weeks or months but if you consistently write, it will come.

I used to journal in my diary but I don’t write quickly with pen and paper. So I tried other avenues. Sometimes, it’s simply Microsoft Word and at other times, it’s drafts on Medium.

2. Be patient

Don’t rush the process. Give yourself a chance to make mistakes, to grow. It frees you up to know and appreciate yourself more. In doing this, you gain a better perspective on what you want to do and who you want to become.


We have dreams and the journey to achieving them can be long and tiring. Confusion seeps in along the way. Frustration piles up like bile in our throats.

Life is filled with an abundance of knowledge and experiences and we should savor every moment. It’s so much more fun when we do.


The Post-Grad Survival Guide

We're confused twenty-somethings. We dish on our post-grad blues, successes, failures, and everyday life right here. Featuring topics related to work, relationships, travel, finances, and so much more.

Ifeanyi Omoike

Written by

Words from a girl who was too scared to dream but is living her dream anyway.

The Post-Grad Survival Guide

We're confused twenty-somethings. We dish on our post-grad blues, successes, failures, and everyday life right here. Featuring topics related to work, relationships, travel, finances, and so much more.

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