“I don’t know what to do with my life”: Self-reflective questions to get yourself unstuck

During hard times, it’s not uncommon to grapple with the overwhelming question, “What should I do with my life?” Feeling stuck can make it seem as if discovering life’s purpose is impossible. During these moments of uncertainty and self-doubt, it’s important to remember that such feelings are a natural part of the human experience. Many of us encounter periods when we question our direction or struggle to find meaning. At Healium, we believe this is the perfect time for self-reflection.

If you’re currently feeling lost, ask yourself these self-reflective questions to help guide yourself toward a more fulfilling and purpose-driven life.

Uncertainty can often stem from a disconnection between our minds and bodies. You’re at the most risk of losing touch with the present moment when the stressors of everyday life flood your brain with cortisol and leave you in a permanent state of fight or flight. 

Taking three to five deep breaths of at least four seconds long has been proven to help calm our bodies down long enough to start thinking with clarity again.

Scanning your body and breathing helps you stop thinking about life and calms yourself down.  This allows you to think with greater vision. If you need help, Healium’s virtual reality stories are helpful places to learn how to grow your awareness of your body sensations and thoughts.

Think of times that gave you greatest joy and use them as guideposts to show you the path forward. Mindful thinking can help us feel unstuck by changing the way our brains think.

Grant yourself the gift of patience and compassion as you immerse yourself in these joyful memories. These moments are not mere reminiscences but rather the subtle clues and whispers from your inner self, guiding you away from stagnation and toward a life rich in purpose and fulfilment.

Every day offers opportunities to create meaningful memories. When you’re feeling stuck, it’s crucial to mine your recent experiences for gems worth cherishing.

Write about your thoughts and feelings around recent positive memories. Try your best not to judge what sensations, thoughts, or feelings come up, and instead allow the pen to write as if it has a mind of its own.

In a study, college students who journaled for three weeks felt more positive about, grateful for, and satisfied with their lives than those that did not. Getting unstuck starts with getting our thoughts and feelings out on the paper. Once you do, you’ll have something to look at to help you start thinking about what gives your life meaning and purpose. 

Answering this question can be challenging, as it requires brutal honesty. Consider areas in your life where you feel dissatisfied or unhappy, and brainstorm specific actions you can take to address those issues. 

It can also be helpful to ask for feedback from trusted friends, family, or a therapist, as they may have insights into areas where you can improve. Ultimately, the key is to be open to change and to approach the process with self-compassion and a willingness to learn and grow.

If you’re at a loss for how to to make a plan, a goal-making template can be useful to create a plan to improve your life. Writing a plan down helps, because doing so makes the ideas in your head real and concrete. All that’s left to do is to share that idea.

Identify the people who impact your happiness the most and share your plans with them.

It’s no surprise that when we act on our life plans with others, we tend to feel our lives have greater meaning and purpose. That’s because sharing a plan forces us to create a story of our life, one that is meaningful and fulfilling for ourselves and those around us. When we share our ideas with others, we feel a sense of belonging, which is key to living life to the fullest.

In short, talk about a plan with someone else helps us focus on others, which ironically is one of the first steps to helping us get unstuck and feel a greater sense of purpose in our lives.

It’s not uncommon to feel overwhelmed when circumstances seem beyond your control. In such moments, one effective strategy is to shift your focus towards the things you can influence. This involves setting clear goals, prioritizing tasks, and crafting a well-defined plan of action to steer you in the direction you desire.

Another valuable tool in your arsenal for stress management is meditation. Through meditation, you can harness the power of your mind to quiet your mind and be fully present in the moment. This practice instills a sense of centeredness and grounding, allowing you to navigate life’s uncertainties with greater poise.

For those seeking to break free from the grip of stress and cultivate mindfulness as a daily habit, consider exploring Healium. Our virtual reality stories offer a unique pathway to establish and nurture a mindfulness practice, helping you find inner peace and resilience in the face of life’s uncertainties.

About the Author

Sarah Hill, a former interactive TV news journalist at NBC, ABC, and CBS affiliates in Missouri, gained recognition for pioneering interactive news broadcasting using Google Hangouts. She is now the CEO of Healium, the world’s first biometrically powered VR channel, helping those with stress, anxiety, insomnia, and other struggles through biofeedback storytelling. With patents, clinical validation, and over seven million views, she has reshaped the landscape of immersive media.