When was the last time you felt like yourself?

I notice how people, including myself, often feel lost. Sometimes we just feel that everything is pointless, we lose hope and track of time and we let desperation, regrets and sadness take control.

It’s an awful place to be at and getting there can have permanent damage on us. We may ditch important projects, take a serious decision and make a drastic change while feeling that way and that will have consequences. We may go many steps back in our self-improvement or go back to old habits.

So something must be done on order not to feel like that anymore.

First, it’s important to analyze why you had that feeling the last time. The reason may be one of these:

• you’ve been doing something you don’t like for years – a job maybe;
• you aren’t following your dreams;
• you’ve given up on something important to you;
• you live by someone else’s standards;
• you live unconsciously;
• you’re always busy;
• there’s too much stress and anxiety in your life;
• you spend too much time with people you have nothing in common with;
• you’re in a bad relationship;
• you’re not sure if you’re doing the right things.

Then it’s time to start noticing the details. Be aware of each time you don’t agree with someone but pretend to, do something you don’t enjoy, feel bad or sad, have regrets and doubts.

Now think again about the last time you felt like yourself. Visualize it. Who else was there? What were you doing? What was different?

Answering these questions will give you the answers you need. You know what really makes you happy but sometimes you tend to forget. So remind yourself of all the activities you enjoy, the people you like spending time with, the hobbies you once had, the little things you loved that made you smile and the way they made you feel.

Happiness is a state of mind. And you’ll never be contented with your life if you don’t let yourself be who you really are.

Most people have jobs they don’t like, colleagues they can’t stand and play a role in front of others. They leave their dreams behind so that they can have time for their daily commitments and tasks. They are prisoners of their own mind and full of fears and regrets and pretend to be someone else in order to avoid facing the real problem.

Living that way is harmful because your mind and soul need more freedom, inspiration, time for yourself, things that make you laugh, people that love you and happy moments. What they need less of is stress, bad choices, wrong people, caring too much about what others say, great expectations and unfulfilled dreams.

So don’t wait for the next time you feel lost to do something about that. Act now. Happiness is here, you just need to embrace it. Enjoy the present moment and start living more consciously.

Once you realize how beautiful things are right now and accept yourself for who you are, things will get better. There’s so much to be grateful for and so many possibilities around you. Focus on that!