Survival, they say, can be the most audacious journey one embarks upon, and at this very moment, I find myself navigating the turbulent waters of my final college days, wrestling with impending exams. It’s been quite a rollercoaster ride, leaving me feeling as though my life is fragmented into a thousand scattered pieces.
I stand on the precipice of post-graduation life, straddling the delicate transition phase, fatigued by the ceaseless routine and the mounting pressure to meet my blogging goals, rejuvenate my spirits, prepare for the holiday season, and welcome the new year. It’s far from a simple path, but it’s undeniably an enthralling adventure.
I’m certain many of you have either experienced or are currently embroiled in this whirlwind, juggling multiple responsibilities to the point of overwhelm, leaving you mired in a state of confusion.
If you’ve never found yourself in such a rut or caught in a bewildering state, feel free to indicate so in the comments section. (Laughs) It’s nearly impossible, unless you’re not fully immersed in living your best life.
Whether we like it or not, we’re all clinging to the tightrope of balance. Perhaps you’re a new mom striving to regain your routine, or you might be wrestling with the quest to unearth your life’s purpose, seeking that beacon of positivity. You could be teetering on the edge of regrets, embarking on a journey of self-love, or struggling to find equilibrium in your life while striving to achieve your year-end goals. It could even be the relentless pursuit of financial security through a dissatisfying 9-to-5 job, leaving you grappling with every reason to persist.
I empathize with this disorienting state. You may find yourself in a transitional phase, much like me, where life whirls by at an astonishing pace, and you’re striving to maintain your sanity while piecing together the intricate puzzle of existence.
It’s essential to recognize that life isn’t about conquering, but rather about mastering the art of navigating these halts. You must embrace the impermanence of everything, for it is a universal law that governs our existence.
When you find yourself engulfed in the midst of a profoundly challenging moment, remember that such moments are transient; they will ebb away and give way to brighter days. They are not eternal and will eventually dissipate, just as the beautiful moments will also conclude.
This cycle of change is the essence of life, akin to the ebb and flow of an ocean, oscillating between moments of serenity and storms. It’s imperative to grasp the impermanence that governs every aspect of existence.
During those times when life feels like it’s spiraling out of control, recognize that you possess an innate power in motion. Refuse to let these trials siphon your strength away. Understand that you have the resilience and fortitude to show up each day and transform challenges into opportunities for growth, no matter how daunting they may appear.
‘Change’ is an ever-present force, and we must learn to prepare, make way, and embrace it. In the midst of chaos, consider these empowering mantras to help navigate through the dark phases:
- I embrace my darkness without fear.
- Uncertainty creates space for growth, not limitation.
- The journey inward may not always be easy, but it is always worthwhile.
- I have the capacity to endure discomfort.
- Light will always emerge, and there’s a lesson in every situation.
- I am undergoing a profound transformation.
- I am unstoppable!
- I am committed, and I won’t give up!
- Today, I achieve my goals.
- I am the author of my life story.
- I give my best effort every day.
- I am abundant in every way.
- It’s acceptable to take time until I feel better.
- Maintaining inner calm amid chaos is a true testament to my power.
Embrace these mantras as tools to empower yourself during challenging times, as they can serve as a guiding light through the darkest phases of life.
The transformation needed to regain control and steer your life in the right direction is not an instantaneous process; it’s a continuous journey. If you’ve been wondering how to reestablish order and purpose in your life, here are several practical guidelines that I personally embraced during my own challenging times, and they proved to be invaluable.
Before delving into these strategies, I’d like to emphasize that if you ever find yourself feeling stuck or overwhelmed, yearning for a deeper connection or seeking clarity on your next steps, I’m here to assist you. Don’t hesitate to reach out with a direct message on Instagram or through email. I’d be more than delighted to offer any support and guidance that can help you navigate your unique path.
1. Breath And Relax
Take a moment to pause, and simply breathe. It may seem like a simplistic or outdated practice, but it’s a fundamental step in finding calm amidst life’s storms. Inhale deeply, then exhale slowly, allowing your breath to regain control.
Choosing to calmly weather a challenging day not only diminishes its turbulence but also signifies that you’re leveraging life’s changes to your advantage. By refraining from reinforcing heavy emotional patterns that can lead to more difficult moments in the future, you demonstrate resilience and adaptability.
It’s perfectly acceptable not to have all the answers or to feel uncertain. Embrace the reality that sometimes circumstances slip through your grasp, and you may find yourself without control. While we cannot dictate the course of life, we do retain the power to choose how we respond and the energy we invest in the events life presents us with.
I encourage you to accept that you may not have everything together and that confusion is a natural part of the journey. Don’t evade this reality with excuses; instead, acknowledge the need for a clean slate. Understand that imperfection, anxiety, and confusion are all part of life’s narrative. You can’t skip chapters; that’s not how life unfolds. You must read every line and encounter every character to fully appreciate the story.
Some chapters will bring tears that last for weeks, others will contain content you’d rather not read, and there will be moments when you wish the pages would never end. Nevertheless, you must persist, for it is these adventures and stories that keep the world in motion. Live your own story and embrace it fully. Don’t shy away from intense emotions; honor your anger, anxiety, and confusion, allowing pain the space it requires to breathe. This is how we let go and move forward.
2. Access Your Life
During times of confusion, it’s crucial to engage in a thorough self-assessment of your life. This can be accomplished through a variety of methods, such as using a list of thought-provoking life questions, employing empowering journal prompts, or utilizing the life wheel diagram.
For me, each phase of life serves a purpose, and if we delve into the significance of that phase, our approach to life becomes more accommodating, and we no longer feel the need to resist it.
So, my dear reader, take the time to assess your life by delving into profound questions that can help transform your confusing phase. Consider questions like:
- What requires attention and repair?
- Which aspects of my life are lagging behind?
- What is no longer beneficial or serving my growth?
- What am I holding onto that I should release?
- Why do I feel stuck, and what’s causing this feeling?
- What obstacles are obstructing my path to what I desire?
- What lessons does this blurred phase hold for me?
- What actions must I take?
- How can I slow down and nurture myself?
- How can I better embrace my human imperfections?
- What distractions am I allowing in my life?
- What actions have led me to this point, and what haven’t I done?
- Am I making choices based on my desires or the opinions of others?
- What ignites my passion?
- Am I providing space for mental and physical expression?
- Am I tending to the well-being of my body and mind?
- Have I established necessary boundaries for my mental health and overall wellness?
These questions serve as a means to assess, communicate with yourself, and gain insights into the emotions you’re experiencing. The answers to these questions may lead to actions such as taking a break, devising a new plan, slowing down, and more.
In my personal journey of self-evaluation and life assessment, I have found the Life Compass guided journal to be an invaluable tool. In a world brimming with distractions and trends, it can be challenging to keep track of all the facets of your life. However, with the empowering prompts and questions offered by the Life Compass Journal, you can effectively identify areas that need attention, recognize elements negatively impacting you, and outline a plan to emerge from any rut.
Opening up to yourself and others can alleviate tension and restlessness. I’ve experienced times of intense stress where I struggled with nearly every aspect of life. In those moments, being transparent with my wonderful readers, my illuminators, made the process immensely relieving.
3. Declutter
Release every bit of excess clutter in your life, no matter how minuscule it may seem. This includes letting go of negative thoughts, shedding the weight of regrets and past mistakes, and offering yourself forgiveness. It extends to physical spaces as well, whether it’s an untidy room or a disorganized wardrobe. The act of relinquishing toxicity purifies your being and creates room for the rejuvenating light of new beginnings.
Even the tiniest elements matter—cleanse your digital spaces, such as your phone, computer, or browser bookmarks, and declutter your emails. Remove anything that no longer serves a purpose. Dedicate moments to solitude and self-reflection; go for long walks and find solace in silence.
4. Rebrand Your Mindset And Cleanse Your Aura
The decluttering process, it’s essential to address those lingering thoughts that occupy the forefront of your mind. You can achieve this by practicing journaling, reshaping your mindset, and purifying your aura.
Remember, everything will eventually fall into place; you just need to empower your mind. Some days will prove challenging, and there may be moments of failure, but always bear in mind that failure is often a stepping stone to success.
Avoid dwelling on the past unless you intend to revisit it. While it’s natural to fear repeating past mistakes and use them as a gauge for future improvement, it’s important to remember that your energy follows your focus. If your attention remains fixated on the past, that is where you’ll dwell, and it will consume your time, preventing you from adequately planning for the future.
Continuously holding onto limiting circumstances will keep you trapped in a cycle of limitation. Release the past to make room for a brighter future.
5. Brain Dump
We often find ourselves clinging to thoughts, past experiences, and unforgiveness that have no place in our minds, leading to a mental clutter. To effectively address this clutter, engage in a Brain Dump.
Create a comprehensive list of everything that’s not functioning optimally in your life. You can arrange these items in order of importance or relevance, akin to a to-do list that includes tasks, chores, and bills that require attention. Be brutally honest and write down every item, starting from minor tasks like tidying up your room to more substantial matters like addressing unresolved issues or making amends.
Brain dumping serves as a powerful means to unravel the knots in your mind. While it aligns with the concept of decluttering, it’s an essential addition to the process.
Personally, I visualize this process by drawing circles to represent the things I need to release and the thoughts causing turmoil in my mind—fears, limitations, mistakes, insecurities, uncertainties, and more. I then systematically evaluate this list, often discovering that many of these complexities are self-created by our minds. By acknowledging and addressing them, I can eliminate a significant portion of mental clutter.
6. Create An Up Level Plan
To regain your sense of direction, it’s crucial to craft an action plan. This plan encompasses a comprehensive list of tasks you wish to accomplish, skills you aim to acquire, projects you intend to undertake, goals you’ve set, cherished memories, appointments to schedule, books to read, a playlist of inspiring podcasts, a prayer list, a savings plan, sources of inspiration, things that bring you happiness, and elements of gratitude. This plan breaks down your life priorities into yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily segments.
Regularly referring to this plan allows you to sketch out a clear vision and strategy for your life. Without a roadmap, it’s easy to lose your way, and this sense of aimlessness can be extremely limiting. An elevated plan serves as a valuable tool for crafting a life aligned with your aspirations.
Effective planning acts as the compass guiding your growth journey. While life doesn’t always adhere strictly to our plans, maintaining a catalog of intentions, goals, and direction helps maintain our sanity when unexpected challenges arise.
Remember the adage: “Plan your work and work your plan.” Balancing spontaneity with structured planning can be a challenge, especially for those who prefer going with the flow. However, especially in the realm of business, planning is essential. It provides a well-defined path to reach and realize your desired goals and intentions.
7. Stop Thinking Long Term
I often emphasize the importance of planning, visualizing, and setting long-term goals. However, when you find yourself caught in the web of confusion, it’s crucial to focus on the steps needed to navigate your way out rather than fixating on what lies on the other side once you’ve crossed.
To effectively regain your footing, consider setting shorter-term goals. What actions can you take in the next week or even tomorrow that will propel you toward your overarching vision?
For instance, during my challenging period dealing with college exams and the demands of producing quality content, I shifted my attention to specific tasks like reading and designing graphics. I didn’t expend my energy on creating entirely new content; instead, I tackled the posts that had been languishing in my drafts. I still held onto my grand vision of reaching 500k visitors for the month, but I diligently worked toward these smaller, more manageable goals during uncertain times.
To prevent overwhelming yourself, it’s crucial to learn how to manage your energy effectively. This relates to the emotional state you bring to your daily life. If your energy is predominantly negative, it will perpetuate a cycle of negativity in everything you encounter.
8. Find A Muse/ Mentor
Seek Motivational Inspiration
Drawing inspiration from someone else’s success can be a powerful way to lift yourself out of a turbulent struggle. I’m not advocating for unhealthy comparison, but you can harness the energy and momentum embedded in someone else’s personal journey or story.
During the weeks when I felt stuck, I scoured the internet for influencers, poets, therapists, or coaches who could reignite my motivation, whether through their content, books, or videos. There’s a wellspring of encouragement in realizing that if they achieved their goals, you can too. Reverse-engineer the steps they took to reach their success and start taking those steps yourself.
Indulge in their content. What you consume greatly influences your mental state, either fueling your motivation or diminishing your clarity. So, when you find yourself on the path of uncertainty and confusion, nourish your mind, body, and soul with positive, inspirational, and motivational content.
This could involve downloading a positive ebook like my free ebook ‘Roots,’ which I’ve crafted specifically for you, or installing applications that deliver uplifting content. You can also follow inspirational influencers on Instagram.
My Instagram feed is a hub of inspirational content. If you’re not already following me on Instagram, you’re missing out on a wealth of motivation. I regularly share a collection of inspirational guides and articles from brilliant minds like mine, which can jump-start your motivational journey and help you get your life back on track.
Additionally, you can visit Afamuche.com, another motivating space where I share doses of motivation and positivity every month with all my illuminators. Simply subscribe to my email list to be among the first to receive motivational content.
9. Adopt Essentials For Happiness
- Reject Harmful Habits: Make a firm stand against destructive behaviors.
- Embrace Change: Welcome change as a path to growth.
- Prioritize Rest: Guard your well-being; never compromise on rest.
- Cultivate Quality Friendships: Foster valuable, supportive relationships.
- View Challenges as Opportunities: See difficulties as chances to grow.
- Follow Your Instincts: Say yes to what feels right.
- Calmness Solves Issues: A composed mind tackles problems effectively.
- Patience Builds Greatness: Understand that greatness takes time.
- Generosity Nurtures Peace: Kindness brings inner tranquility.
- Conquer Emotions with Ease: Face feelings with calm acceptance.
In facing turbulent emotions, embrace them with calm acceptance, preventing them from dominating your life. Treating your inner struggles gently will lead to emotional relief, allowing you to act wisely.
By letting go, release the heavy mental patterns that obscure your clarity. It’s okay not to be okay during this process. This willingness to confront discomfort paves the way for personal transformation.
10. Rinse And Repeat For A Life Time
Understand that progress in life, even if you’re accustomed to quick results, shouldn’t be a cause for self-criticism. Take it one step at a time, whether your journey is gradual or rapid. Eventually, you’ll break free from any rut and regain your footing. True maturity lies in allowing temporary mental turbulence to pass without dictating your actions or self-perception.
My dear friend, whenever you find yourself mired in confusion, remember these steps to navigate out of the constraining phase.