Emotional Support
Feeling Lost
Feeling lost can be hard to explain. You might feel like you're drifting through your life without a clear sense of direction, unsure what you want or where you're going next. Or perhaps the life you're living looks fine from the outside, but somewhere along the way it has stopped feeling quite like you thought it would.
Sometimes feeling lost is about direction. Sometimes it's about identity, belonging or purpose. Sometimes it's simply a sense that something isn't right, even if you can't yet put your finger on what.
You don't have to know exactly what's wrong, or have a plan for finding your way forward. Feeling lost can be a place to begin: an invitation to get curious about what has changed, what might be missing and what you need now.
Why Do I Feel So Lost?
Feeling lost doesn't necessarily mean that you've taken a wrong turn. Often, it happens when something that used to give us a sense of direction, identity or certainty has changed and we haven't yet worked out what comes next.
This can look different for different people. See which one sounds more like you right now.
What Can Help When You’re Feeling Lost?
When you feel lost, it can be tempting to believe you need to find the answer: the right job, the right relationship, the right place to live, the right decision about what comes next. But trying to solve everything at once can leave you feeling even more overwhelmed.
Instead of asking yourself to find the whole way forward, it can help to get curious about where you are now.
Somewhere To Start
You might not be ready to make a change, and you don't have to be. Sometimes the first step when you're feeling lost is simply noticing a little more about where you are. Take a few minutes with these three questions:
You Don't Have To Work This Out By Yourself
Certified Coach · Emotions Coaching Practitioner
Sometimes feeling lost is something you can sit with and slowly find your way through. And sometimes it helps to have somewhere entirely your own to talk about what's happening.
You don't need to come to our coaching sessions knowing what's wrong or what the answer is. Feeling lost is enough of a place to begin. Together, we can slow things down, notice what feels important, and find what your next step might be.
I'm Claire Fitzsimmons, a certified coach and emotions coach practitioner. My role isn't to tell you which direction to take. I'll listen carefully, ask questions that help you see things differently and give you the space to work out what feels right for you.
Explore This In Your Own Time
If those questions have given you something to think about, you might want to keep exploring with our first book: If Lost, Start Here: Wellbeing for the Anxious, Disconnected and Uncertain.
It isn't about finding the one right answer or becoming a better version of yourself. Instead, it gives you 10 different Pathways to explore, with reflections, prompts and practical things to try along the way.
You might begin with the Pathway that speaks to something you noticed above. If you're craving more connection, start there. If you've realised you miss being creative, follow that. If ideas from social media are getting in the way, you might explore Untethering.
Open it when you need it, follow what makes you curious and see what you discover.
Read When You're Feeling Lost
For when everything looks okay but something no longer feels right.
For when you've lost your sense of direction.
For when you know something needs to change but don't yet know whatListen When You’re Feeling Lost
Sometimes we don’t need another exercise or an answer. We need to hear from someone who has been somewhere difficult or uncertain too — and discovered something along the way that helped them see things differently.
On A Thought I Kept, Claire talks to people about one idea that stayed with them and how it has shaped the way they live, work and find their way through change.
If you’re feeling lost, start with one of these conversations.
Or Perhaps You Want To Explore Something Else
When you're feeling lost, you don't always need to keep thinking about why you feel lost. Sometimes it can help to turn your attention towards something you'd like a little more of in your life. That might be more connection, more time outside, a stronger sense of purpose, or more space to wonder, reflect or let go of what you've been carrying. They aren't a prescription for finding your way or a list to work through. Start with whatever interests you, feels possible, or makes you a little curious about what life could contain more of.
