When You Feel Like You’re On The Wrong Path In Life, Remember This

I think that in the back of our minds, we’re always going to have doubts about the path that we’re on and who we’re on our way to become. But with that being said, sometimes our anxiety will let us know that we’re on the wrong path and will eat away at us until we finally address it—that’s what’s recently been happening to me.

A few months ago, I began a Master’s program and I worked incredibly hard to get in. When I was accepted, I was ecstatic. I couldn’t wait to begin as I was finally beginning to see the vision I created for myself coming to fruition. Only, as time passed and I began my schooling, I started to feel this lingering dark and empty feeling inside as though something was wrong.

At first I thought perhaps the program was just very difficult, that maybe I was just pushing myself out of my comfort zone and had to adjust. But as time went on and I was doing well in all my classes, I still felt the same empty feeling inside. I still felt as though perhaps I was forcing myself to be passionate about something that I knew, deep down, was a lie created for myself.

The weeks dragged by; I felt anxious and depressed. I lost my vigor to wake up in the morning. I lost my energy to do things with people I love. I felt stuck, trapped in a downward spiral, and watched as my physical and mental health deteriorated. The funny thing was, looking back, I knew what was eating away at me so viciously, and eventually, I decided to finally address it:

My vision for what I wanted exceeded my reality. What I invariably thought would make me happy wholeheartedly made me feel more dark and heavy then I’d ever had before. On paper, everything was right–I was doing all of the right things. But in reality, I felt more lost and sad about what my life had become than I would have liked to admit.

As I write this, I want you to know that you are not alone if you feel stuck or lost in life. The truth is, you have created your reality up until now, whether that was consciously or subconsciously. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s too late to embark on a new path, one that aligns more with the core of who you really are.

Instead of paying attention to how your life looks, pay careful attention to how your life feels. So often we are taught to judge the quality of our lives based on the career we’ve chosen or the titles that we’ve obtained. But when we allow this inherent flaw to define who we are, we inevitably end up feeling unfulfilled and unhappy when we’re finally alone.

Know that you are never stuck. There is a way out. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. It may require the courage to make a bold choice in your life, but if you know that it’s the right choice, do not fear making the difficult choice, but rather, fear the regret you may feel if you live your life never making it.

Your new life is merely a single decision away. Don’t be afraid to walk bravely into it—you won’t regret it.