Its "Ok" to feel lost!

All professional career go through phase(s) where one feels lost. Its "OK" to feel lost. It can sometimes feel like wandering through a dense fog. You might feel disoriented, uncertain, or even overwhelmed. It’s not uncommon to hit moments where the path ahead seems unclear and your usual direction feels out of reach. If you’re feeling lost in your career, take solace in knowing that it’s a natural part of the professional life. Embracing these feelings and sticking to the basics can ultimately help you find clarity and direction.

Feeling lost in your career can stem from various sources such as changing job markets, evolving personal interests, or simply hitting a plateau in your current role. It can manifest as a sense of stagnation or confusion about your current stand and next steps. The first step to go about this is acknowledge these feelings rather than dismiss them. Accepting that uncertainty is part of the process allows you to approach the situation with a more open and constructive mindset.

Why do we need to stick to basics in such situation?

• Reinforces Core Skills: Focusing on the basic skills and tasks that you excel at can help reinforce your core competencies. Mastery of these foundational elements can boost your confidence , making you feel more anchored in your role.
• Promotes Consistency: Even when you feel lost, maintaining a routine and sticking to proven methods can provide a sense of stability. Consistent performance in key areas ensures that you continue to add value and stay productive.
• Clarifies Objectives: By concentrating on what you do best, you may find that your goals and priorities start to become clearer.
• Builds Resilience: Embracing the basics during times of confusion can help build resilience. It’s a way to stay grounded and maintain momentum even when the larger picture feels elusive.

How do we stick to basics?

• Reflect on Your Strengths: Take some time out to identify and reflect on the areas where you excel.
• Set Small, Achievable Goals: Break down your professional objectives into smaller, manageable tasks. Achieving these smaller goals will help enlighten the next steps towards it.
• Seek Feedback: Reach out to colleagues, mentors, or supervisors for feedback on your performance with an open mind. keep it simple. "Super power" vs "growth area".
• Stay Flexible: While focusing on the basics, remain open to new experiences and opportunities. Sometimes, unexpected paths can lead to surprising clarity and growth.
• Take good care of yourself: Uncertainty and stress can take a toll on your well-being. Make sure to prioritize self-care and maintain a healthy work-life harmony to keep yourself in the best frame of mind.

Feeling lost in your professional life is a common experience, and it’s okay to navigate through these periods of uncertainty. By sticking to the basics and focusing on what you do best, you can provide yourself with a stable foundation from which to regain clarity and direction. Remember, the path to professional career is rarely a consistent line. Its made up of lines and dots. Lines - where you have clarity and you run through. Dots - the phases where you need to take small steps till you regain clarity.