One big and looming question we often find ourselves obsessing over is “What am I going to do with my life?”
If we don’t have a satisfying answer to this question or just don’t know what to do, it is easy to become overwhelmed and focus on the negative parts of life. This feeling of being lost without some sort of direction can make us start to compare ourselves to others, fuelling our unhappiness and sometimes leading to low mood or anxiety.
Despite what we may think, rarely does someone have an answer to how they are going to spend the rest of their life. This question is just too big and there are too many unknowns, so it is not helpful to stay hooked on this question.
Instead of focusing on this big question, try and break it down into something smaller. For example, how you would like to spend the next 10 minutes, the rest of the day, the next day, the next week, and the next year? Try thinking about your short, medium, and long-term goals in specific areas of your life. This could be your family, job, hobbies, personal development, or something else relevant to you. However, don’t fall into the trap of trying to answer all these questions at once. Take the time to identify what makes you happy and what you would like to do with the rest of your life.
Remind yourself that we rarely stick to one life plan as we need to be flexible with all the ups and downs life throws at us that are out of our control. So sometimes you might find yourself at a crossroad, not sure where to go next. Remember you are not alone in feeling this way, but it might help to identify your values to help you live a life that is more enjoyable and meaningful for you.
If you are still unsure about what you want to do with your life after giving it some thought, that’s okay. You may not know what is going to make you happy in the next ten years, but hopefully, you know what makes you happy right now, so focus on this.
If you would like some help with this, psychology can help. Therapies such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can meet these goals. Contact us today to find out more and to book a free initial consultation. You can use the online form, call 07870 241970 or email hello@nepsychology-co-uk.stackstaging.com
