Have you ever felt like you no longer recognize the person you’ve become? Have you felt like it was impossible to get the “old you” back? No matter how lost you may feel or how long it has been, you can always come back and find yourself again.
How People Forget Who They Are
They Live Their Lives for Other People
Sometimes we get so bogged down in what other people expect or want our lives to look like that we forget what we want. Living our lives for other people can make us feel like we have no control over what happens.
They are Scared
We can also forget who we are because we are afraid to go after what we want. We choose an easier path that doesn’t lead to our desired destination because we don’t want to risk having things not work out.
They Don’t Love Themselves
When we don’t love ourselves, we don’t feel like we are worthy of achieving what we want in life. We accept things that don’t make us happy or fulfilled because we don’t think we can get anything else.
They Ignore Their Interests and Passions
Following our interests and passions gives us direction in life. When we ignore the activities that fuel us, we have a difficult time finding our purpose.
They Don’t Have a Good Support System
Not having a good support system in your life can lead to loneliness and cause you to feel insecure. It is important to have people in your life that can help you when you need help, give you an external perspective, and improve your mental health. Having no support system or a negative support system can lead you to feel lost.
Losing yourself can come at a great price. And you can lose yourself for years. I sure did as a young adult. I wrote about my own journey of both losing and finding myself in an earlier post. The important thing to remember, is that it is never too late to find yourself again. Who you are at your core can always be rediscovered. Who you are may become dormant for a while, but it never truly fades away.
How to Get Back to Who You Are
Finding yourself again can feel like a daunting task, but if you take small steps, you will be able to get back to who you truly are. The five steps listed below are a great starting point.
Make a List of Your Passions and Interests
Passions and interests can be a driving force in our lives. Spend 10-15 minutes making a list of your passions and interests. Identify which ones matter most to you. During this exercise, it is important to really connect with yourself and avoid thinking about the desires of other people.
Do More of What You Love
Once you know your passions and interests, you should plan to spend more time engaging in those interests. Find ways you can incorporate them into every day.
Start Taking Small Risks
You need to take small risks to change your life. If you feel lost, try making some small changes. For example, you could try to choose a hobby to do every day when you get home from work, or you could start searching for jobs that fit your interests.
Practice Self-Love
To get back to yourself, you need to learn to love yourself as you are. There are many ways that you can practice self-love. You might use affirmations, positive self-talk, self-care, or seek out a friend or therapist to talk to. You can’t find yourself again without showing yourself some love.
Establish a Positive Support System
Everyone deserves to have people cheering them on. Identify at least two people in your life that you can turn to for support and help. They may be your parent, friend, coworker, therapist, partner, or peer. Reach out to them and talk about how you’ve been feeling.
Remember, there is always a way to get back to the person you want to be, you just need to be willing to take the first step.
