What Am I Doing (With My Life)? - How to Find Meaning

I Don’t Know What to Do With My Life | By: Katie Lister

March 05, 2024

What am I doing with my life? How do I figure out what to do with my life? What do I do when I feel confused and lost? My life has no meaning; what do I do? This article is for you if you are looking for answers to all these good questions.

Hi, my name is Katie Lister. I am a practicing Registered Nurse and the founder of Growth Gals. I lead personal development groups and coach women to become the best versions of themselves. Growth Gals provides a safe space for women to connect with like-minded individuals, learn, and offer support to one another.

At GG, we discuss different issues affecting everyday life of women, like mental health, emotional intelligence, and finding your life purpose. We can help with questions like, “What am I doing with my life?” This article will give you all the information you need when you don’t know what you are doing with your life.

Katie Lister

Written by Katie Lister, RN, BScN. An experienced Registered Nurse, Group Facilitator, Life Coach, and Community Leader. Read Katie's Full Author Bio

Why Do I Feel Lost and Unsure About What I Am Doing with My Life?

Feeling lost and unsure can leave you feeling sad and disconnected from life and your hard work. You feel like your entire life is meaningless and without a sense of direction. These feelings can leave you confused and frustrated, wondering what to do.

If you think or feel this way, you are not alone, and it happens to most people, from high school students to adults. Feeling lost is natural and a sign that you need growth, but it could also be a sign of depression. It is important to find the underlying course to be able to find the right assistance for the issue, especially if it is related to your mental health.

Here are some of the reasons you may feel lost and unsure:

Death or loss of a loved one

The death of someone you love or losing a relationship (breakup) can leave you in a state of sadness, anger, shock, and generally feeling lost. If this person was a huge part of your life, you may feel lost, unsure how to continue life without them.

Lack of a support system

The support of family members or close friends is crucial in helping one feel grounded. Lacking a support system can make you feel lost, lonely, and isolated.

Suppressing emotions

Allow yourself to experience your feelings, negative and positive. Suppressing and not acknowledging your feelings makes you feel disconnected and lost from your true self.

Societal pressure

People’s expectations of you can make you feel disconnected from what you want and what they expect of you. This can cause you to feel confused and unsure of what to do.

Why People Stagnate In Life

Stagnation in life happens when you fail to find your purpose and therefore end up with nothing to motivate you to grow. When you look at your life, you feel that nothing ever changes, and you are stuck doing the same things repeatedly. The reasons why people stagnate include:

Resisting change

George Bernard Shaw, a famous Irish playwright, said, “Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change.” Change is inevitable, and we resist it because we hate feeling uncomfortable. When change happens, and you do not change your mindset, you continue doing things the old way and remain stagnant while life moves forward.

Comparison

One of the fastest ways to lose focus is to compare yourself with everyone else. Comparison is the most common cause of failure and stagnation. While looking at others for inspiration is okay, you should never want to be like them. Comparison prevents you from moving forward and applying for your dream job or starting a new career path.

Negative thinking

Negative thinking will cripple you into stagnation. The quality of your thoughts determines how far you go in life. If you think negatively about yourself, you become stagnant. You end up thinking that you cannot succeed and are not good at anything, so you never venture out.

You put effort into the wrong things

You can only make progress if you put effort into the right things. Whether starting a business, writing a book, or developing a product, it must be the right thing. Ensure you spend your resources and time on things that add value to yourself and others.

How Do I Find Meaning In Life?

It’s difficult to answer the big question, “What is the meaning of life?” Finding meaning in life does not come with a manual; it means aligning with your purpose and what matters most to you. We all have different definitions of life’s meaning, and success differs for each person.

Some people seek meaning in life by seeking and spending time with God, whatever they conceive God to be. Here are some tips on how to find meaning in your life:

Explore your passions or interests

Is there a topic you hold dear and are always talking about or engaging in, whether on online forums or in person? Do you find yourself sharing tweets on human rights? Are you always talking about self-improvement to your YouTube channel subscribers? These things you like to speak about reveal your interests and what gives you a sense of purpose and direction in life.

When you feel upset by injustice and often move to act on it, this might lead to your passion. If animal cruelty or child abuse in all its forms makes you angry, and you stand up against such injustices, you may have found your passion. If you can only do it short-term, consider volunteering at organizations that deal with the cause you believe in.

Choose your company wisely

You are the company you keep. Carefully choose the people you spend time with, excluding colleagues and family members. Surround yourself with people making positive strides in life and from whom you can draw inspiration. It’s impossible to feel motivated when you hang around negative or unmotivated people as this drags you down despite working hard towards self-improvement.

Talk to real people

Conversing with a stranger online is easier than physically in this social media era. If you are observant, you will notice that a good number of people wherever you go spend most of their time scrolling on their phones.

Turn off social media notifications and learn how to get a life through physically meeting people and having one-on-one conversations. This move widens your horizons to new opportunities. You might find your purpose, make new friends, learn valuable lessons, and have something to offer others while at it.

How Do I Find Meaning In My Work?

Sometimes, your work can lose meaning, and you go through the motions daily, feeling unmotivated and restless. Finding meaning in your career helps to encourage a positive attitude, find a work-life balance, and prevent burnout. Here is how to find meaning in your work:

Remember what your values are

Step back, re-evaluate, and self–reflect. Ask yourself,” Who am I?” Remember why you chose this job in the first place. Understand what gives you joy and identify areas for improvement to increase job satisfaction.

Promote workplace positivity

Promote positivity in your workplace and initiate positive conversations with your manager, coworkers, and clients, which helps foster a positive mindset.

Change careers

What would you do if you lost your job? If losing your job doesn’t bother you, you no longer have any passion for it, and if you can’t find meaning in your work, consider changing careers. Choosing a new job can boost your self-esteem, help you move on, and bring happiness for the rest of your life.

How Do I Make My Life More Fulfilling?

What am I looking for? This is a common question to ask when seeking a more fulfilling life. You can live a more fulfilling life by:

Identifying who you are

Identify who you are and what it means to be you. You must realize that everything you do starts from within. Discovering your purpose allows you to make wise choices.

Let go of the past

Most of the time, the past holds us back from a fulfilling future. With this knowledge, let go of hurts, disappointments, and grudges that affect your behavior.

Practice self-care

You cannot live a full life when your health and well-being are not up to par. Self-care includes caring for your emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental health.

Practice compassion and empathy

We all desire to find happiness and fulfillment. Express compassion and empathy for others via kind deeds.

Seek guidance and help from professionals

Remember why you chose this job in the first place. Understand what gives you joy and identify areas for improvement to increase job satisfaction. Talk to a psychotherapist or life coach who will guide you on the right path.

What Am I Doing? How Growth Gals Can Help

Our aim at Growth Gals is to inspire women to reach their full potential. We also strive to create positive change by giving women the resources to discover their true selves and expand their knowledge base on various issues, such as mental health and emotional intelligence.

Growth Gals helps women overcome obstacles and make informed decisions. We also help them connect with others with similar values and experiences. Subscribe to the Growth Gals newsletter to access helpful guides and resources for women and learn more about how we can support you and help you find out what you are doing with your life.

What Am I Doing? Conclusion

Everyone asks what the meaning of life is at some point. You are not alone when life feels meaningless or directionless. Self-discovery is the start of the journey, and if you can, seek a professional to help you brainstorm and unlock your full potential.