Do you feel as if you have lost the energetic and joyous component that completed the you that once you knew? You may not fit in the depressed category, but you do feel stuck, unproductive, uninspired, dull, unmotivated, unable to finish a project – just going through the motions of life without zest. Feeling apathy rather than excitement about life in general. Experiencing a loss of interest in your hobbies and bodybuilding goals. If you were honest, you might say, “I’m feeling lost and can’t find my way.”
Suffered a Great Loss
You may have experienced a great loss – someone you love, a job, an opportunity that you thought would be yours. Perhaps you lost the opportunity for professional advancement during the Covid shutdown. Many young adults feel that they lost two years of advancement and may have missed out on financial growth during that time.
Whatever the reason for your feeling of loss, acknowledge it. Grieve it. But do not linger there. The sun still comes up each morning. The joy of life and the longing for a satisfying lifestyle and loving relationships is still within you just as is a heartbeat. Accept the current situation, stop playing the blame game, and do not linger there. It is time to move on.
Your Future is Bright and You Can Get Unstuck
Perhaps the future that you had painted will have a slightly different color due to your recent experiences. If you were honest, you might say, “I’m feeling lost and can’t find my way.” But you are full of promise, of gifts as yet unused, of plans to prosper that God has for you.
The future is bright. It is time to claim your place. It is time for personal growth. It is time to allow yourself to be appreciated and blessed. It is time to live life to its fullest. There is so much to amaze us; so much to accomplish; so much to contribute to the betterment of us all.
It is time to flourish rather than languish. When we languish, energy, motivation, and excitement are missing in our lives. To flourish is right the opposite. There is purpose in living, joy in the promises, and energy in stepping forward. It is in finding our way again, rather than groping in darkness and feeling lost. It is in following the path to joy in living that we are promised when the Lord Jesus said, “I have come that you may have life and have it abundantly.” What a wonderful promise and an uplifting and encouraging word. Step out in faith – don’t miss out on living – today is the day.
10 Ways to Find Yourself Again When You Are Feeling Lost
1. Acknowledge your feelings.
You may deny your feelings of being lost and languishing by avoiding friends who seem to be doing well. Perhaps you are avoiding going out or attending group meetings. You feel like a loser – that you have nothing to contribute. Your energy level is depleted. You have withdrawn. If you were honest, you might say, “I’m feeling lost and can’t find my way.”
2. Accept the fact that this is not the real you
This is not the enthusiastic you of the past. Acknowledge the fact that you must make the effort to get out of this slump. It is time to flourish. And commit yourself to do what it takes. The sooner you make a concerted effort to get back on the joy trail, the sooner you will feel alive, motivated, and filled with life.
At this point, I will add that if you are feeling truly depressed and anxious, or experiencing extreme sadness find professional help.
National Suicide Prevention Line 1-800-273-8255
3. Take positive action.
If you have become a couch potato, hop up, go for brisk walks – breathe deeply. Let the cobwebs in your brain blow away. Listen to the sounds of children playing, voices singing, spirits soaring. Inhale enthusiasm. Claim your right to the gift of joy and vibrant living. You have only one life to live – live it to the utmost.
4.Get adequate rest.
No more binge TV shows. Clean every area of your living space. Exercise. Get physically tired and then sleep well. Eat healthily. Drop those extra pounds you may have added during your slump. Set alarms to motivate and energize early rising. Take a few minutes in the Word of God early in the day and ask for His strength and leadership for the day. Don’t go back to bed!
5. Be kind to yourself.
Don’t beat yourself up. If you were honest, you might say, “I’m feeling lost and can’t find my way.” List on paper your assets – mental, physical, and financial. On another page list your dreams and aspirations. Activate your calendar and begin to schedule lunch meetings with a close friend, make plans to join a Bible study group, and spruce up your wardrobe to match the renewed you. Look in the mirror and compliment yourself.
6. Determine what modifications in your lifestyle would sustain the new life.
It may be stepping away from people who pull you down. It may mean looking for a new job. Or for an extra job for a while. It may mean having the courage to not only dream but to declare that you have found the way out and, with that declaration, step boldly into an area you thought was no longer attainable.
7. Improve your self esteem
Improve how you feel about your personal looks, your ability to make a good impression, or are feeling anxious about mixing and meeting new people, do not hesitate to get help. A new hairstyle, a basic wardrobe that fits your lifestyle, and brushing up on acceptable manners are attainable. Search online for self-improvement ideas that align with your perception of how you want to be identified. Oral hygiene, cleanliness, and an amiable manner open the door to making a good impression and finding a place to flourish.
8. Think outside of yourself
The way we carry ourselves with good posture, a pleasant countenance, and a ready smile combine to produce that first impression that is fleeting. It is worth the effort when searching for professional advancement, community involvement, and personal relationships to put forth the effort to present yourself at your best in order to open the door to enjoy, excel and succeed. We show respect to others when we are on time, presentable in appearance, and show an interest in the present.
9. Search for real meaning in life.
What lights your fire? What brings out your best? In the past, what involvements brought joy to a child, an elderly person, a handicapped buddy, a struggling student? Volunteering to help those with disabilities or lack of funds brings out the best in us. There are many groups doing outstanding community work – find your niche. It will help you set the priorities in your own life.
Wrap it all up and present yourself in prayer through faith before God Almighty. There you will find love, forgiveness, hope for the morrow, and strength for the day. The indwelling power of His Spirit will sustain you as you follow Him and find your Way. And you will experience true acceptance and a glorious richness in living. He will take your efforts and turn them into great blessings, not only for you but for others. No more feeling lost because now you have found the way.
Please watch the short Great News For You video on this page to find out how you can experience this great love in your own life.
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