I was working on my website and reading my background story the other day. Although I had written it, it had been a while since I had read through it. I was touched in places deep within my heart, and tears were flowing down my cheeks as I read the words I had written.

I have been told that my story inspires others to hold on to hope, to take action and to reconnect with their bodies and authentic selves. But on that day, I inspired myself. I remembered how lost I had been and all that I had overcome. I remembered my strength and resiliency and my calling to help others find their way.

I was reminded that, at times, we all get lost. Things happen, and just like that, we step off the conveyor belt of life and find ourselves lost and unsure of what to do next or even what to feel next.

It could be the way of the universe to remind me of exactly where I was and what I had overcome. My war wounds were exposed once again, reminding me of what I had been through. Reminding me that I had made it.

These voices creep in, even in the strongest of us. We experience doubt and indecision about what to do next, where to go, and whether or not we should even be doing what we are doing.

My soul stands clear, but still, at times, my earthly mind wants to argue. It wants control, and those shadow voices in my head want to put me down. It is said that the first step toward finding our purpose is to hear and acknowledge the callings of the soul. But without action, we can remain trapped in the roles and lives that have been created for us and by us as part of the illusory nature of this life.

After that day, I was reminded not to pay much attention to those voices. I was reminded that I have a purpose, a plan and a journey that will never be completely known or revealed.

Life happens. An opportunity may fall through. Grief or tragedy can strike at any time, even when you least expect it. Life events, such as a death, a child going off to school or a job change, can derail your mind train. Perhaps you’re uncertain about the significant life decisions ahead of you. And even if none of those things happen, you may feel that your life has become routine and aimless.

When your direction shifts or tragedy strikes, it’s easy to feel lost. What can you do when you feel like you’re struggling? Here are three steps to help you work through your feelings and reconnect with yourself.

Acknowledge.

Remind yourself that it’s perfectly okay to feel sad or hopeless because accepting your feelings is the first step toward change. Once you’ve acknowledged your lost direction, dig deep and define your feelings as specifically as possible.

 

Write down what you’re feeling and why you think you feel like that. All feelings arise from something you need to know about your life, so do the work to figure out why you feel lost. Ask yourself the hard questions. It’s a great way to spark your curiosity, which can lead to innovation, new ideas, options and opportunities.

Be persistent, and you may gain new self-awareness of your mind, heart and soul. Realizing that you feel lost means that you are willing to change directions. Seize, don’t dread, the opportunity for change.

Act.

Now that you have acknowledged what has made you feel lost, it’s time to act on your new self-awareness. First, reduce your discomfort with yourself. Confide in a friend. Reach out to your higher power. Practice calming your mind and body by meditating, practicing yoga or engaging in exercise. Get out of your house and take a walk outside. Do what it takes to feel steady, and once you feel steady, it’s time to push out of your comfort zone.

First, shift to accomplishable, short-term goals. What can you make happen in one day, one week or one year? Turn your focus to “The Week of Me” instead of “The Year of Me,” and you might feel less overwhelmed. Consider hiring a coach to assist you in crafting a specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-sensitive plan. Once you have your plan or steps in place, be patient. Sometimes, in our hurry-up, instant-information world, practicing patience can be the most centering thing we do for ourselves.

This is a good time to practice self-care. Have a massage, a haircut or a manicure. Take positive steps to boost your self-confidence.

Accept.

Once you have begun taking steps toward finding yourself, you might realize that your life could change permanently. Accept (and even embrace!) your new normal. And if you find yourself alone or feeling lonely, take a deep breath and enjoy your own company.

As I step back on the conveyor belt of life, I once again begin to move forward. I still have thoughts that don’t serve my greater calling. However, I return to work, stepping into the flow of this beautiful moment called “now” with renewed gratitude for all that has brought me to this moment and for this opportunity to continue following the callings of my soul.

Remember, you don’t have to have all the answers immediately, all the time. Don’t be scared if you don’t have the answers. Tackle the act of finding yourself and setting your direction slowly, one step at a time. ❧

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