HJ: Sometimes our path in life gets cloudy and uncertain. In times like these, it’s invaluable to have tools and practices that give you clarity and help you find direction when you feel like your lost and not sure what to do next. It can be a bit scary and unnerving. The pressures of living in this world at your back — bills, a family to support, rent, car payments, etc… and in them midst of it all, you are trying to find your way. So how do you get clarity NOW, when you need it most?
Well, one tactic is to think outside of the box. After all, what worked to get you where you are is probably not going to be what gets you to where you want to be (especially if you find yourself stuck, lost and confused). Or maybe you have the right mindset, idea and strategy, but simply lack direction. No matter which of these situations you are in (or if your circumstances are totally unique), I’m pretty sure that the technique outlined below in this fantastic article by Kathryn Hall will give you some clarity and insight.
After all, when you know where you are headed, the journey becomes less overwhelming. Even when you feel stuck and confused, you can see it for what it is–a temporary course correction and opportunity to learn a new lesson or skill or whatever it is the universe is trying to teach and show you at the moment.
So read on and learn how to get clarity on the direction for you in life that is in alignment with your passions, joy and ultimate life purpose.
– Truth
How to Find Some Direction When You’re Feeling Lost
By Kathryn Hall | The Change Blog | The Business of Introverts
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“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” – Maria Robinson
Miserable. Confused. Lost.
Just a few of the words I’d use to describe how I felt in my career a few years ago.
Waking up on a Monday morning knowing I had 5 whole days ahead of me in a job that drained my energy and sucked the life out of my soul was, quite frankly, horrendous.
I used to drag myself out of bed, fighting against the little voice in my head that was telling me to climb back into the warm safety of the bed covers before calling in sick.
But I just carried on. Getting dressed. Walking out of the door. Turning up to the vast open plan office where rows and rows of desks and telephones sat waiting for their workers to arrive.
I knew I had to get out of that job. I knew that the environment, the procedures, the office politics…it was all weighing me down. But I just didn’t know what to do.
Unsure of what I wanted, what I was good at or what I could do instead, I felt like I was standing at a crossroads with a hundred possible options and no map. I was completely and utterly lost
Fast-forward a few years however, and the scene is a little different.
I found my map. And it allowed me to figure out what I wanted, how I wanted to live my life and which direction I wanted to head in.
These days I now run two businesses, get to work where I want, when I want and am very much living life on my own terms.
With more freedom than I ever thought possible waking up on a Monday morning is now a joy (a sentence I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d be able to say).
So, how did I find my direction?
Well it all started with one simple action that you too can do right here, right now.
I grabbed a pen and a piece of paper and I wrote down what my dream life looked like.
Sounds easy, right? Well that’s because it is.
But don’t go thinking that because something’s easy it isn’t immensely powerful.
Regularly thinking about what you would do if money were no object can be a hugely helpful activity.
It allows you to put all the practicalities to one side and work out what’s really and truly important to you so you can begin to take action and turn that dream into a reality.
This one simple activity changed the way that I moved forwards with my life. It allowed me to get to the heart and soul of what I really wanted and was the first step to finding my direction and creating positive change.
So now it’s your turn.
If you’re feeling stuck and don’t know which way to turn, this exercise is the perfect starting place for gaining some clarity and figuring out which direction to head in.
Just do the following:
1) Grab a pen and some paper
2) Imagine you’ve won the lottery and money is no object. What does your dream life look like? Write it down in as much detail as possible.
Think about…
- Where you live
- How you spend your days
- How you feel
- What your perfect day looks like
- Who you spend time with
TIP: If you’re more of a visual person you could instead try drawing pictures or creating a mood board by tearing inspiring images out of magazines. Just do whatever works for you.
3) Close your eyes and imagine how this life would feel if you were living it. Allow the energy of these positive thoughts to engulf and inspire you.
4) Now look again at your dream life. When it comes down to it, what do you really want in your life? What type of activities do you really want to be doing? And what could you start working towards today? Pick out what’s most important to you and set yourself a goal…something to work towards and action.
Hey presto! You’ve just made the first step to finding some direction!
Working out what you want to do with your life and how you want to earn a living is an ongoing process that develops and changes over time.
However I truly believe that everyone has the power to create change in their lives – it’s just a case of getting started.
Are you feeling lost in your career? I’d love to know what you think of this post. Try out the dream life activity and then come back here to let me know how you feel.
Kathryn Hall is founder of The Business of Introverts, an avid writer and mentor to individuals across the globe who want more freedom, solitude and creativity in their careers. She’s big on helping people to embrace their introversion in all its glory, while creating a life they love. Sign up here to join the tribe and receive her free audio series ‘How to create a life of freedom’.
