Seeking A Shift In Your Life? How To Find Your Flow
People often go through shifts in their lives where they'd like to change careers, re-prioritize themselves, or start a new milestone. These shifts can be essential to healing and growing as a person, but they can also come with missteps, mistakes, and fear. Understanding how to find your flow when you make a change can be beneficial as you adjust to a new area of your life.
Why do shifts occur?
Life shifts can happen for various reasons. For example, some people may feel they have been giving too much of themselves to others for a long time, and they might realize they want to change this pattern. Other people might realize that they're no longer enjoying their job or they want to pursue higher education. Shifts often occur to prompt growth, motivation, and change.
Tapping into your creative energy and using it as a tool in your quest towards self-discovery can be enhanced by asking yourself what you truly want out of life. The answer to this question can change throughout the years, but keeping updated with your needs can allow you to be in tune with yourself.
Everyone can feel stimulated by different situations, activities, places, or people. Find the solutions in life that electrify you, allowing yourself the independence and leisure that can be the cornerstones of creative and personal success. When you need a change, listen to your body and mind to understand what would benefit you, even if it initially scares you.
How to find your flow
There are many ways that individuals try to find their flow after a life change or a shift in goals, including the following:
Reinvent yourself
Reinventing yourself may be part of finding a flow after a significant life change. Reconnect with yourself and learn more about what you want, who you are, and what you like and dislike. If you're looking for a more significant change, you might also consider traveling, moving abroad, or starting a new life phase, like university. These changes can set the stage for the new you and allow you to come closer to your goals.
Avoid burnout
Many people find they need a shift in life after caring for someone else more than themselves. Although social connection is essential for mental health and well-being, giving too much can be unhealthy and cause compassion fatigue, similar to burnout. Although you can be compassionate and loving, ask yourself what you need to feel at peace.
Avoid burnout
Finding happiness after burnout can take time and effort. Try not to be discouraged and practice radical acceptance to accept what you cannot change. You can look to others for guidance, but value your own voice as well, as your needs often come from within, not externally. If you need help from someone else, ask for it. Be willing to express your appreciation for the support from whoever is willing to give it. If you receive love graciously, you may feel more ready to give it in return.
Make time for your passions
Look for activities that can bring you joy. Set aside regular time to indulge in your passions. If you're unsure what makes you happy, it can be an opportunity to explore, test the waters, and learn new skills. For example, you could try the following:
Examples of activities to try
- Signing up for a skills class (cooking, baking, writing, etc.)
- Joining a local writing group
- Joining a local art group
- Traveling abroad and exploring the culture and interests there
- Staying at a hostel and going out with new friends
- Signing up for a beginner's music class (orchestra, band, choir, etc.)
- Signing up for a beginner's sports class (aerial acrobatics, swimming, figure skating, etc.)
- Signing up for a dance class or attending a dance workout class
- Going to the gym
- Visiting the local museums
- Joining an online group that meets in person in your area
- Going on a meditation or mindfulness retreat
- Trying spiritual practices or joining a religious congregation (if you want to)
As you explore new activities, you can create a list of your favorites. Even if you don't like one activity, you can tell stories about your time trying it and know more about what you dislike as well.
What does burnout look like?
If you've felt like you've reached the end of your rope, you might be experiencing burnout. Burnout can look like a feeling of exhaustion, knowing that a change is needed but unsure how to take the first step. These feelings can make change seem impossible or scary for many.
Is burnout a symptom of depression?
Burnout often involves mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion and may sometimes be a symptom of depression. It might not happen overnight but instead over a prolonged period of multiple challenges. If burnout is not addressed, you may begin to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Signs of burnout
Signs of burnout can include the following:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Irritability
- Exhaustion
- Sleep changes
- Mood swings and sensitivity to unexpected events
- Deteriorating health
- Distraction
- Struggling to concentrate
- Feeling resentful
- Substance use
- Withdrawing from friends and family
- Struggling to ask for help
If you are struggling with substance use, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at (800) 662-4357 to receive support and resources. Support is available 24/7.
When experiencing burnout, it can be challenging to understand your symptoms. However, with professional support and lifestyle changes, someone with burnout may be able to change their mindset and find hope for their future.
Counseling support options
You might benefit from counseling if you're experiencing burnout or looking for guidance with a mental health challenge. Talking to a professional counselor can help you develop a solution for any life changes you're looking for, burnout you might be experiencing, or concerns about the future.
How to find your flow? Try online therapy
If you're struggling to find support in your area or have concerns about affording the cost of traditional therapy, you might benefit from seeing an online therapist. Studies have demonstrated that online therapy can make a positive difference in the lives of those experiencing mental illness. For example, if you have symptoms of anxiety and depression, online therapy can help you manage and reduce them. Online therapy is also more affordable than traditional therapy, and many people express that they are willing to open up more over online mediums than in-person.
If you're interested in taking the first step with an online therapist, you can sign up with an online platform like BetterHelp for guidance. BetterHelp has over 30,000 licensed therapists available to match with, with each specializing in unique challenges. You do not have to have a mental illness to meet with a therapist, either. Anyone may benefit from talking to a counselor for any concern.
Takeaway
What does it mean when you feel a shift in your life?
The phrase, “feeling a shift in your life,” typically means you’ve experienced a noticeable change in your psychological or emotional state. It may indicate that your life is headed in a new direction, or that you’ve found a new perspective, priorities, motivation, or mindset.
How to make a shift in your life?
To start working towards what you want, consider trying the following steps:
Reflect on where you are
Identify areas for improvement
Adopt Zen habits, like mindfulness and positive self-talk
Make small changes in your day-to-day life
Set SMART goals
Turn to friends, family, or a therapist for support
Making small changes in your daily life can lead to lasting shifts throughout your entire life.
How to get used to change in life?
Life-changing events—such as moving, starting a new job, marriage, divorce, or a death in the family—can be overwhelming and unpredictable. To manage change, try the following:
Accept what happened
Acknowledge your feelings
Prioritize self-care
Seek support from friends and family
Give yourself time to process the change
Establish new routines and habits
Set new goals
Remember what you’re grateful for
Humans are biologically wired to crave predictability and control. While these strategies can make the process easier, adapting to life changes often takes time.
How do I accept a sudden change in life?
Here are a few tips for coping with unexpected life changes:
Accept that some things are outside of your control
Consider what part of the change is difficult to accept or feel overwhelming
Find the silver linings
Think about other times you encountered sudden changes and how you coped with them
Talk with friends, family, and loved ones who might understand your situation
Work with a licensed therapist
Try to adopt a problem-solving mindset
Trust yourself to navigate the change
Put things into perspective
Challenge automatic thoughts
Use healthy coping skills to enjoy the present moment
How do I get inspired to change my life?
If you’re looking for motivation to change your life, consider:
Acknowledge the problem: Take some time to journal and reflect on your current situation, the challenges you’re experiencing, and how they make you feel.
Take it one step at a time: Make small changes in your daily life, such as walking for 10 minutes per day if you want to improve your physical fitness. While it can be tempting to take many actions when you’re feeling highly motivated, you may be able to make a more lasting difference by setting more reasonable goals that can easily become healthy habits.
Find positive influences: It can be helpful to curate the pages you follow on social media or otherwise surround yourself with people who challenge you to be the best version of yourself.
Visualize the future you want: Think about what the future you want looks like, and then break it down into goals and milestones that help you move closer to that goal.
In addition to working independently, talking with friends, family, or a therapist can help. They may be able to provide you with an outside perspective and strategies that can help you work toward a better future. Friends or family may also share similar goals as you, and you can be there to hold each other accountable.
Why is change so hard to accept?
Change can be difficult to accept because it is:
Unpredictable
Disruptive to established habits
Easy to view changes with a negative bias
Challenging the concept of being in control of external forces
Pushing you outside your comfort zone
You can make change a little easier by shifting your mindset to consider the opportunities, look for silver linings, and establish new habits.
How do I accept reality and move on?
Some things that can help you accept reality include acknowledging your feelings, using a mantra, practicing mindful exercises, observing your thoughts without judgment, and accepting situations you cannot control.
How do you accept a situation you cannot change?
Many people find it difficult to accept the things that are outside their control, but there are ways you can adapt your mindset toward acceptance:
Observe your thoughts without judgment
Acknowledge the reality of your situation and what things you can and cannot change
Practice self-acceptance through mindfulness, imagery, or other relaxation techniques
Think about the opportunities that this situation presents
Give yourself the compassion you would extend to someone you love
Live in the present moment
Talk to a trusted friend or therapist to process the situation
Accepting things you cannot change is often a process, rather than a destination. It will likely require continued work and reflection, as it is a biological desire for people to crave control over their lives.
How do you accept bad things in life?
Some strategies to help you accept negative things in life include acknowledging the situation, accepting your feelings, focusing on the things you can control, and reminding yourself that it is what it is.
How do you handle a difficult situation in life?
Here are a few tips that can help you handle difficult situations in life:
Accept that there are things you cannot control
Validate your feelings
Journal
Explore your thoughts without passing judgment on them
Practice radical self-acceptance
Focus on the things you can change
Prioritize self-care
Get enough sleep
Create space for positivity
Seek support from loved ones
If you’re navigating a difficult life situation, it may be time to consider working with a licensed therapist. These professionals can help you proactively adopt healthy coping skills and process the situation, which can reduce the risk of developing mental health challenges later on.
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