Have you ever felt directionless and unaware of the fact of what you need to do in life? Well, I understand it. I have been in the same place too. What to do when you don’t know what to do – If you are tired of Googling this, let me tell you that you have stumbled upon the right article. 
In this article, I will discuss 7 ways that will help you to gain clarity about choosing your path in life. The fact is that I have faced certain circumstances in my entire life when I felt that I do not have any clear idea about what I am doing in life. That feeling is sulking and it honestly made me feel worthless.
Fast-forward 5 years later, I am in a happy space now doing what I love to do. And this is why I believe that I can be one of the best people who will be able to guide you about taking the next step in any phase of life.
You know, as it said that one could truly understand your feeling when he/she has experienced the same. And I absolutely agree with this. I know that you have your own story because of which you are going through these stages right now – Unclear, confused, and frustrated.
Before I share my inputs on this subject, let me share my story in brief. I hope my story and the tips I share will help you feel that there are other people too who are perhaps searching the Internet for the best blog or YouTube video that can uncover various options for you to choose.
And do you know what I feel that most of these blogs or videos miss that one most important thing – the hope that they can get over this feeling. I don’t want to sound like a family therapist or some clinical psychologist who will show you the light or help you come out of your depression by offering professional advice.
Because honestly, I am not. I am just a simple human being who still remembers the time when she used to ask herself each and every day – What am I doing with My Life?
My Story
I was Stuck! Like Literally!
Do you know one of the major disadvantages of having an elder sibling who has outperformed all through his school and college and is a Doctor in the making?
Your parents expect the same from you. I will not lie; I was good at studies, and even I dreamt of becoming a Doctor preparing for my MCAT. I used to study day and night, and missed parties and hangouts only because I wanted to fulfill my dreams of becoming a Doctor.
But while preparing for it, I realized that it was never my Dream. I am made for something different. I was wondering what is it that actually want to do in life because a career in the medical field might pay my bills, but I will never be satisfied.
I decided not to appear for MCAT and studied Mass Communication. Well, this was not as easy as I mentioned it. My parents were really upset for a while because they wanted both their children to become Doctors. But after they noticed that I was happy with my course, they were content.
After my Master’s, I ditched a 9-5 full time job. Instead, I took up Freelance writing and decided to make a career for myself in this. Of course, it was risky that I did not choose a secure job instead I chose what I wanted to do.
I was always good at writing and my research skills were commendable – two of the most important thighs you need to know to become a Content writer. And I decided to follow my passion. And Trust me, I am happy and content with whatever I am doing. I am able to pay bills by doing the thing I love to do the most.
I do remember the night I was so tensed took out my laptop, opened the browser, and searched for many options available for me. I read multiple blogs, watched multiple YouTube videos, and did a few practices to actually understand what really can help.
So with all the information, I was able to gather, and as someone who has been through the same phase in life, I am pretty sure that whatever points I am going to share with you will prove to be helpful for you in choosing the right direction.
So, let us get to know the 7 things which are helpful to understand one’s calling in life. These tips would help you again start your life with a new & fresh perspective. And you will get all the answers to end your confusion on this subject.
7 Things to Help You Understand Your Next Step to Take
Here are some valuable tips that would help you get an idea of what exactly you want to do in your life:
1. Understand that it is a Phase that will pass
I know that it is not easy as it sounds. But you need to understand that this is just one of the phases in life. Life cannot go smoothly, correct?
There is a beautiful quote by Ernest Agyemang Yeboah that I love – “No matter what the day brings and no matter how hard life hits you, if you can breathe, smile and keep moving on! Once you have life, know that God is alive!”
One of the major things to do in this phase is to understand it is temporary. You need to believe that you will be able to come out of this situation. Or else it is absolutely useless no matter how hard you try to find the next step to take.
Because even if you get the answer, you will not be able to accept and implement and accept it. Therefore, remember that you are not the only one going through this, there are other people too who go through the same.
Don’t take drastic steps like changing your Instagram profile with a sad username and forcing yourself into posting more unhappy things or content online.
2. Be Positive and Keep your Hopes High
What many people do while dealing with his phase is that they lose hope. They start thinking that maybe they are not good enough and cannot do anything better. Remember – An optimist sees an opportunity in everything.
Scientific research on positivity by John Hopkins Medicine has highlighted the miracles of thinking positively in life.
You need to understand that certain things happen in life unexpectedly. And one should confront these things effectively to come out victorious.
So, think of this as the right opportunity. Maybe the Universe is trying to tell you something through this. Maybe something which is coming is what you actually want in life.
Imagine if I had lost hope when I didn’t know what to do in life and continued with my medical entrance. I might have become a Doctor by now.
But do you know what I would have never been happy? So just relax. You will get through this. I am sure you must have heard about Thomas Elva Addison, the scientist who invented the light bulbs.
Imagine what if he had lost hope. But even after failing a thousand times, he did not lose hope. So how can you?
Believe me, there is a lot more in store for you in life. So it is okay if you do not know what exactly you want in life. Many don’t. You will figure it out. Just don’t lose hope and stay positive and you will eventually figure out the right path to choose for you.
3. Talk about it with your family
Sometimes the best way is to talk with your family about it. You must understand that not everyone would understand your plight. But your family would definitely help you come out of this situation immediately.
I know you must be wondering whether they will understand it or not. But believe me, all parents want is the happiness of their children.
Talk to them that you are feeling stuck and you have no idea about your direction in life. The great advice of parents helps a lot. If you feel that you have a friend, teacher, or mentor that can help you, you can ask for help or guidance from them too.
Sometimes, it is okay to ask for help. It is okay to not figure out things on our own. Let the close people in your life help you. Allow a close family member to help you in figuring out what you actually want to do in life.
Also, you will feel a lot lighter after having this conversation. I cannot assure you that you will get your answer then and there, but talking about your problem and the phase you are going through will help you ease the burden of it.
With their help, you can figure out what are the things that make you happy. Sometimes our loved ones know us better than we do and we should trust them.
4. Listen to your heart and trust your instincts
You might be wondering, isn’t this contradictory to what I mentioned in the above point? But trust me when I say this. Sometimes, no advice will help you. You will feel that no matter what everyone else says make no sense.
And the best thing you can do to yourself during that time is to listen to your heart and trust your instincts. Your heart already knows what you want and what makes you happy. So do not fight with your instincts because of fear. Instead, trust them, and take action accordingly.
5. Make a list of the things that make you happy
This one really helps. When you are not happy in life, you are very likely to feel unaware of whatever is happening in your life. Sometimes people who have successful careers are not happy. This is because they are doing what does not make them happy.
Make a list of the things which make you happy and note all the things. Write your heart out. It can happen that you might be a successful employee working a 9-5 job but making paintings make you happy. Sometimes the dreams which we couldn’t fulfill earlier are the reason why we are never content with our lives.
For example – whether you want to become an artist or writer, start a business of your one, make a career in a different field, etc. It is okay for you to start working and gain knowledge for what you actually want in life no matter what stage of your life you are at. It is never too early or too late to start following your dreams.
After you make a list of the things that make you happy, pick one or two that make you happy and at the same time can help you earn a living. Let’s be practical, you need to pay your bills too.
6. Take the leap of faith
Do you sometimes know one of the most important reasons why we are stuck and wonder what to do in life is because of the fact that we fear that we will be successful in the path we follow?
It is important for you to take chances in life. It is better to try and fail in life. You will be satisfied that at least you followed your heart. So do not feat to follow your heart. However, it is not guaranteed that you will succeed but it will teach you a lot of things.
7. Stop procrastination and start taking action
Sometimes, you are completely sorted with what you want in life. The only reason why you feel you are stuck is that you procrastinate a lot. You do not take action, and you are stuck in your comfort zone.
So step out of it and take actionable steps toward your dreams. Even if you are unclear about how things will go ahead, it is better to start and figure it out rather than sit and wait for everything to be perfect.
Final Thoughts
Apart from these, some other things which helped me to come up with were practicing gratitude, meditating, and writing a journal. These habits helped me to remain positive and overcome my fears. It also helped me to find my calling when I was confused badly.
I hope that this article was helpful to you and that whatever I shared in the article seemed useful to you. Don’t worry much. You will figure it out. Also, make sure to keep yourself sane during these by spending time with your friends and family.
I hope now you gained the clarity about doing the right thing for you. Take care and Good luck with what the future holds for you.
