People who feel deeply uncertain about their lives tend to repeat a specific set of phrases in everyday conversation, according to YourTango, a relationship and lifestyle publication.
YourTango said that everyone feels this kind of confusion at some point, when they question how to move forward. When a person feels completely lost, there is actually a good chance something better is waiting for them, the outlet said, though that is little comfort in the moment when someone feels stuck.
The publication explained that when a person is confused, with no certainty about where their life is going, they often start saying things that reveal how hard things have become for them. YourTango identified eight expressions that people who feel lost and unsure tend to use.
Admitting they don't know what they're doing
According to the outlet, there is no better way to express a feeling of helplessness than saying you simply do not know what you are doing. Many people try to avoid admitting they do not know the answer, so this kind of confession signals that a person is in a difficult spot.
The second phrase, feeling like they are falling behind everyone else, reflects the same struggle. YourTango noted that no one fully knows what they are doing in life, but that is easy to forget when someone else appears, on the surface, to have everything in order. A person who feels lost is likely to start comparing themselves unhealthily to others and to assume everyone else is doing better than they are.
A sense that something is missing
The third phrase is the feeling that something is definitely missing. This can happen when a person has grown too used to their routine and needs to bring more variety into it.
"That is actually not bad advice for people who feel lost," the outlet said. The problem becomes more serious when a person feels such a lack of motivation that they believe they are not capable of changing anything at all.
The fourth phrase, not recognising the person they have become, is one of the fastest ways to tell whether someone feels lost, according to the outlet. If a person feels disconnected from who they used to be, to the point where they feel unrecognisable to themselves, that is a sign they do not know what to do next. YourTango said that if this feeling lasts a long time, it could point to a more serious mental health issue.
Wanting a fresh start
The fifth phrase is wishing they could start everything over. The outlet explained that the idea of "resetting" one's life when things are going badly has become very popular. But when someone feels so lost that they want to start from scratch, it usually means they need to do more than simply tidy up the house and go back to the gym to begin some kind of new era.
The sixth phrase is uncertainty over whether something is wrong or whether they are simply tired. The word "tired" gets used too often when people do not know how else to describe what they are feeling, YourTango said, which makes it harder for someone who feels uncertain to know whether they are genuinely exhausted, whether something bigger is going on, or both. The outlet acknowledged it is entirely possible to feel tired on an emotional level rather than only a physical one, when life becomes too demanding.
Wishing someone else would decide
The seventh phrase is wishing someone would tell them what to do. People who cannot clearly picture their next step may say they wish someone else would make decisions for them, which suggests they are likely experiencing what is known as decision fatigue, according to the outlet.
The eighth and final phrase is asking whether things will ever get better. YourTango said people who feel their life has hit a low point they cannot climb out of experience confusion on a completely different level, and genuinely doubting whether their situation can improve is a sign of hopelessness. In such cases, the outlet said it is important to remember the small things a person can do to help themselves, such as reaching out for support.
"Even when it feels like nothing will ever get better, there is always light at the end of the tunnel," the outlet said.
More psychology insights
UNIAN, a Ukrainian news outlet, previously reported that people who use 10 other specific phrases in daily life tend to scare off manipulators. UNIAN has also reported that people who feel constant shame often have certain unresolved issues from childhood.
