Have you ever thought to yourself, “Who Am I?” Don’t worry we all have. As you live life, you can begin to move further and further away from your true self and almost feel like life is living you…Eventually, you may feel that you’ve lost a sense of who you truly are. You are not alone.

One reason why I think people feel lost in life is because they live their lives based on what other people believe to be right for them.  They model their lives based on the thoughts, beliefs and ideas that have been passed down to them by their parents, family members, teachers, friends and society in general.  Because they never took the time to question the authenticity of those beliefs, and whether they had anything to do with who they really are, they continued to build, craft, mold and shape their lives based on what other people believe to be right.

Another common denominator I have found within the “lost ones” is that many of them are ruled by fear. Fear seems to overshadow every area of their lives. Fear seems to be present in their minds, in their hearts, in the work they do, in the decisions they make, in the relationships they have- pretty much in everything they do. They live in a constant state of fear, and they feel lost, disoriented, disconnected and very unhappy while believing every toxic thought that comes into their minds. Their entire sense of self becomes so easily based on these thoughts, it becomes more and more difficult to see the forest from the trees.

Growing up, my Father would often tell me “Show me your friends, and I’ll tell you who you are.” How does this influence someone feeling lost? Easy. They surround themselves with people who drag them down. When you are surrounded by people who are constantly whining, blaming, criticizing, gossiping and complaining, you absorb their fears, doubts and negativity, and you are very easily derailed from your life path.

Often, negative thoughts will start a snowball effect in our minds starting an avalanche of the who am I, lost, feelings. If you feel the negativity creeping in, go for a walk, or if you can, take a “mental health” day off. Or even better yet, go on an adventure! Whether it's a day trip, a “staycation” nearby, or a long drive to the mountains, get out there and explore. Away from the distractions of everyday life, this will give you the time to focus and really reconnect with yourself again. I promise, when you come back you will have far more clarity than you had when you started.

As we grow up, it is so easy to lose sight of ourselves and how amazing life can be because we get overwhelmed by all sorts of pressures and responsibilities. We tend to let life happen to us rather than making life happen for us. In a perfect world, what would you love to be, have, or do? By reconnecting with your dreams (or maybe even coming up with new ones) and making a commitment to yourself that you will do what you love, you'll have the desire, inspiration and motivation to begin and suddenly you will be well on your way to finding yourself again.

We all get lost from time to time, it’s all part of this awesome adventure called life. We are all learning and growing and changing every day. Growth doesn't happen by staying in the bubble of your comfort zone where everything is familiar. The key is using your experiences to grow.  And with each experience, you move forward not backward.  You become stronger and wiser.  By immersing yourself fully and mindfully into every experience and every interaction , you will have  much easier time getting yourself back on your path when you feel your footing may be beginning to slip.