"I wake up,
with a troubled mind,
with this feeling of having lost the taste for life.
What once made sense no longer does,
I'm lost, I don't know anymore.
As if someone had erased my memory,
I no longer know what I owed,
what I must or what I should do
in my life."
Today I'm sharing 3 practical methods to help you find yourself when you feel lost in life.
"Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves."
Henry David Thoreau
Key points :
- Reconnecting with Yourself
- Reconnecting with Your Environment
- Grounding
In my life, I have observed distinct phases. At times, I feel that I am in control of my life, that my ideas are clear and that I am determined. Then, overnight, I suddenly feel lost. What was clear becomes blurry, I don't know where to start. This phase usually lasts a few hours or days, then fades away only to reappear when I least expect it.
There have been times when I felt lost for much longer, especially during times of transition in my life. At these times, a mixture of stress, anxiety and depression overcomes me.
Over time, I realized that this feeling of loss is a sign. With the message “Clara you are disconnected from your being”.
Here I share 3 techniques to rediscover this connection with yourself and find your way back when you feel lost.
1.Reconnecting with Yourself
We spend a lot of time focusing on everything that is happening outside of us. Pursuing goals often based on what society or others expect of us. Sometimes we are even too busy trying to please others. This is where we get lost!
In this case, it is crucial to reconnect with your inner being. For that it is necessary :
1) Connect to your emotions
In general, when we feel lost, we tend to cut ourselves off from our emotions. While our emotions are our internal GPS which transmits signals to us to guide us in life.
If you want to refocus on yourself and find yourself, start by reconnecting with your emotions. Take the time to explore and recognize them. This will help you understand your needs, your desires and your deep values. For this, nothing better than the practice of mindfulness.
I advise you to practice kind self-observation:
– Simply take a moment to be calm,
– Take a few deep breaths in and out, then observe your normal breathing.
-Pay attention to the sensations in your body without judging them.
-Let your thoughts come and go without getting attached to them. If you find yourself getting lost in thought, simply bring your attention back to your breathing or physical sensations.
-As you go along, try to develop an attitude of kind acceptance towards yourself. Don’t judge your thoughts, emotions, or sensations as good or bad.
-Simply welcome them with curiosity and compassion.
2) Connect to your passions
Reconnecting with my passions, reactivating my creativity has always been my refuge. A way to distract myself, stimulate me and find my way back when things aren't going well.
Indeed, by devoting ourselves to what we are passionate about, we awaken an energy, an inner fire. It is in the practice of our passions that we find the authentic taste and pleasure of life.
Whether it’s cooking, painting, music, writing, or any other form of personal expression. Our passions provide us with a space where our creativity can flourish and our authenticity flourish. Our passions reactivate our joy, allow us to rediscover and reinvent ourselves.
If you are uncertain about your passions, exploration will be your most reliable guide. Try new activities, you will open the door to discovering what really motivates you. This process of exploration offers you the opportunity to define who you are and discern your preferences.
Once you identify a passion, practice it regularly. The practice provides tangible benefits, it will help you not only find yourself, but also give a deeper meaning to your life.
3) Connecting with your thoughts
When we feel lost, it's the ideal time to dive into our thoughts to identify those that are blocking us. Negative thoughts, often linked to limiting beliefs, act like roadblocks. These thoughts have a direct impact on the way we see things. To change this reality, we must change our thoughts.
How to Reprogram Your Thoughts ?
-Carefully observe your thoughts over several days, thus identifying recurring negative thoughts. Write down your negative thoughts in a journal.
Reformulate Negative Thoughts into Positive Affirmations: take each negative thought and reframe it as a positive affirmation. A positive affirmation is a constructive and optimistic statement crafted to positively influence a person's thoughts and behavior. It aims to bolster self-confidence, promote optimistic attitudes, and foster a constructive mindset.
For example, negative thinking:
"I am worthless, I never accomplish anything" becomes "I am capable of overcoming obstacles and succeeding in what I set out to do."
The idea is then to repeat every day, when you get up and when you go to bed.
Positive affirmations help change negative thought patterns and cultivate a more positive and assertive attitude.
2.Develop mindfulness
To find your way and avoid feeling lost, it is essential to cultivate mindfulness. Living with an awareness of the present moment, being attuned to your feelings, those around you, and your environment, is key.
When engaging in everyday tasks, pay attention to every detail. Attending to each detail acts as a form of reconnection with oneself. It's like taking a pause from the daily whirlwind, providing an opportunity to respond to situations rather than merely react. Additionally, this practice allows us to better understand ourselves, grasping the reasons behind our actions.
A simple mindfulness exercise is conscious breathing:
Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and focus on your breath. Feel the air entering and leaving your lungs. If your mind wanders, gently bring it back to your breath.
Regular practice of this exercise helps develop mindfulness, reduce stress, and promote mental well-being.
Also, spending time in nature is like finding your way back to what truly matters. It reconnects you with the environment around you and with yourself. It’s a moment of unity where stress fades, and inspiration finds its way.
3- Grounding for Balance
When I feel lost, what helps me not to sink is to anchor myself, to reconnect with the source. My source is my spirituality and my roots are my ancestors and nature.
Indeed, spirituality can play a significant role in the quest for self-return. Depending on one's beliefs and culture, one may adhere to a specific religion or cultivate faith in something greater than oneself.
It all comes down to faith: when feeling lost, having faith in something greater makes it easier to rediscover hope, strength, and the courage to move forward. Faith helps us make sense of our journey and find profound answers to existential questions. By developing a spiritual connection, you can feel greater inner harmony and find your own path.
To center myself, I connect with my ancestors and spend time in nature, in contact with the earth. This provides me with ancestral wisdom, inherited strength, and a profound connection with the universe.
A simple practice to connect with ancestors may involve taking a moment, lighting a candle, and simply thinking of them, honoring their memory. It may seem simple, but it creates a powerful link to our roots, to those who came before us, and can truly aid in finding oneself.
Conclusion
In conclusion, finding your way back to yourself is an inner journey that requires patience, perseverance, and above all, a sincere desire to reconnect with your deep essence. The three avenues explored – reconnecting with yourself, developing mindfulness and grounding yourself to find balance – offer practical guides for those who feel lost in their lives.
*Photo by John Towner
Have a good week !
With gratitude,
Clara
If you haven't done it yet debecome a member here
English 
French