Feeling lost? – Keep your eyes on the goal
Life can sometimes feel like a maze. You try different paths, go in circles, and still end up feeling stuck—or in unfamiliar territory. Feeling lost doesn’t always mean you lack direction. More often, it means you’ve lost sight of what truly matters to you.
Keeping your eyes on the goal is one of the most powerful drivers of both personal and professional growth. Without a clear goal, we lose our internal compass. But with a goal in mind, we find strength in struggle, clarity in chaos, and meaning in movement.
Why goals matter
Goals give us something to reach for. They:
- Provide direction in daily life
- Create meaning and coherence
- Increase our motivation
- Help us prioritize what matters
- Offer a sense of accomplishment
When you feel lost, it’s often because the goal has become blurry—or it was never fully yours to begin with.
What is your goal?
Sometimes we chase goals handed to us by others—family expectations, cultural norms, workplace pressures. True direction only emerges when your goal is rooted in your own values and longings.
Ask yourself:
- What matters to me right now?
- What do I want more—or less—of in my life?
- What does a good day look like for me?
- Where would I like to be a year from now?
Your answers don’t have to be grand or dramatic. They might be as simple as:
“I want more calm.”
“I want to spend more time with my kids.”
“I want to feel useful at work.”
Goals bring meaning to struggle
When life gets tough, a clear goal helps you stay the course. It becomes easier to handle setbacks when you know what you’re working toward.
Think of hiking up a mountain: when you can see the peak, you’re more willing to endure the steep climbs and aching legs. But if you don’t know where the path leads, every rock feels like an obstacle.
Amir’s story – From frustrated to focused
Amir worked in healthcare and was feeling burnt out and directionless. He thought about quitting but didn’t know what he wanted instead. One evening, he sat down and wrote three things that used to bring him joy:
- Meeting new people
- Creating experiences for others
- Making a difference
He realized that it wasn’t the profession that drained him—it was the current work environment and the type of tasks he had outgrown. With a renewed goal to work more directly with people, he transitioned into a dementia care project team. There, he found meaning again—and his motivation returned.
How to (re)discover your goal
- Reconnect with what energizes you
What lights you up? What could you talk about for hours? - Visualize a future that feels right
If things go well in the next 12 months, what does life look like? What are you doing? Who are you with? - Break it down into smaller goals
Big dreams can be overwhelming. Turn them into steps you can take now. - Make it yours
Skip vague goals like “be better” or “feel good.” Be specific:
“Work out twice a week.”
“One screen-free evening per week.”
“Save $100 per month.” - Keep it in sight
Write your goal down. Post it somewhere visible. Say it out loud. The more you remind yourself, the easier it is to stay on course.
When the goal becomes blurry again
It’s completely normal to lose sight of your goal from time to time. Be kind to yourself. Instead of self-judgment, ask:
- Has my goal shifted?
- Or do I just need to pause and reconnect with it?
Sometimes the right move is not to push harder—but to adjust the path. That’s not failure. That’s growth.
From vision to action
A goal without action is like a compass without a map. Try this simple model:
- Dream – What do you desire?
- Goal – What exactly do you want to achieve?
- Plan – How will you get there?
- Action – What’s one step you can take today?
Even the smallest step in the right direction can begin to shift how you feel.
Reflective questions when you feel lost
- What do I want more—or less—of in my life right now?
- What gives me energy?
- When was the last time I felt motivated—what was I doing?
- Which goals feel true to me?
- What’s one small step I can take today?
The direction is within you
Feeling lost doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It may simply be a signal that it’s time to reorient—time to remember what gives you direction and why it matters.
Your goal isn’t a rigid blueprint—it’s more like a guiding light. You can pause, adjust, or take a new trail. But as long as you have something to aim for, you will find your way.
So—what will you set your sights on now?
DREIESKIVA|Roald Kvam 
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