Sometimes, we get so wrapped up in keeping up with responsibilities that we start to lose ourselves. One day, we might look into the mirror and not even recognize the person staring back at us. Perhaps we’ve spent too long in the wrong job, relationship, town, or friend circle, and our soul feels heavy because we haven’t been listening to it.
Feeling restless or bored can mean you desperately need a change, so your soul feels content. It doesn’t have to be a huge life change; even something like taking a new art or workout class can fill that void. However, it takes getting honest with yourself and digging deep to figure out where you’ve been neglecting yourself.
“The only way that we can live, is if we grow, the only way that we can grow is if we change, the only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we can become exposed is if we throw ourselves out into the open. Do it. Throw yourself.” ? C. JoyBell C.
Does this sound like you? If so, read on for some definite signs that your soul needs a change.
7 Signs Your Soul Is Ready for a Life Change
1 – You feel restless and discontent most of the time.
If you often feel disengaged from your work and stare out the office window wishing for something better, your soul probably needs a drastic change. Many people these days feel trapped in their jobs either due to mounting stress, unfulfilling work, or overly demanding bosses. In fact, according to a world poll by Gallup, only 15% of the 1 billion full-time workers surveyed are engaged at work. That means 85% of workers are unhappy at their jobs.
If how you spend the majority of your time doesn’t fulfill your soul any longer, perhaps you need a career change. Maybe you want to work for yourself or go back to school for a different degree. In this case, you need to listen to your intuition to figure out the right move for you.
Boredom can lead to health problems, as studies prove that disengaged, unfulfilled people run a higher risk of developing depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and other mental issues.
Remember that you pull the strings behind the curtain, and not anyone else. You have all the power in the world to change your circumstances if you wish – all it takes is some soul searching and an action plan to make your dreams a reality.
2 – You’re not living your passions.
When your alarm goes off in the morning, do you feel energized and ready to get to work? Or, do you feel drained and dismal about the day ahead? If you answered yes to the latter, then your soul needs a change. You have to ask yourself what you want to spend your time doing. What makes you come alive, and what skills do you have that other people can benefit from?
The longer you silence the voice within, the more persistent it will become. If you feel a sense of restlessness and weight on your soul, that probably means you’re not living out your dreams. Get in touch with your inner child so you can truly live your soul’s purpose and not have regrets when you get older. You never know if you never try.
3 – You’ve taken up bad habits.
When people become disengaged and unhappy with their lives, they often mask their emotions with drugs, alcohol, unhealthy food, gambling, or other addictions. While some people believe addictions are simply a byproduct of our busy modern lives, they can be overcome with mindfulness and replacing bad habits with good ones.
Self-destructive behavior is rampant in today’s world, but if you start to live from your heart and soul rather than your mind, you’ll find that you no longer need those addictions to mask the pain. If you look at the habits of successful people who follow their passions, most of them talk about the importance of good practices. For instance, waking up before everyone else so they can map out their day or exercise, eating a healthy breakfast, avoiding negative people, and reading a lot of books are some habits of successful people. Living your soul’s purpose will require massive upgrades from you, but it will be well worth it.
4 – You feel out of place where you’re at.
Maybe you feel more like a tourist in your town than a resident, or perhaps the house you’re living in brings up bad memories. Whatever the case, your soul just feels like it doesn’t belong. Recognizing this is the first step to figuring out your next move. Just like a flower, people need the right environment to grow and thrive. If you’re not moving in the right direction or are surrounded by negative people, perhaps your soul is asking for a change of location.
Feeling out of place could mean a number of things, such as:
- feeling like you don’t belong with your friend group any longer
- not enjoying your job or career
- wanting to move on from a toxic relationship
- not recognizing yourself or feeling like yourself
If any of those sounds like you, start listening to your soul more often – it will tell you exactly what you need.
5 – You feel like you’re outgrowing other people, including yourself.
Everyone we meet plays a role in our lives, whether they stick around for the long haul or for a short time. We come across everyone for a reason, but we can outgrow them once they’ve served their purpose in our lives. It’s okay to end friendships or relationships that no longer resonate with your soul. You can do this in a healthy, polite way by distancing yourself or just being honest about where you’re at.
Remember that this can also apply to yourself as well. If you feel like you’re crawling and uncomfortable in your skin, then maybe it’s time you look in the mirror and ask yourself some deep questions. However, remember that you can recreate yourself at any time, and it doesn’t require moving to a foreign country and totally upending your life. Start with your mindset and the things you tell yourself on a daily basis and watch your life change.
“People talk about depression all the time. The difference between depression and sadness is sadness is just from happenstance—whatever happened or didn’t happen for you, or grief, or whatever it is. Depression is your body saying f*ck you, I don’t want to be this character anymore, I don’t want to hold up this avatar that you’ve created in the world. It’s too much for me.” – Jim Carrey
6 – You always feel exhausted
Having a soul that needs a change will feel like you’re carrying a weight in your chest. If you can’t wait to get back in bed when you’re at work, feel disconnected from the people around you, and just feel downright exhausted, you definitely need a change. Examine your life to see what needs changing, and then come up with an action plan. We all deserve to feel alive in this lifetime, so do whatever it takes to free your soul. Even if that means leaving a job that makes you miserable or moving to a new town for a fresh start, it’s worth the unknowns.
7 – You feel numb most of the time.
Your soul needs a detox if you feel nothing most of the time. Of course, having erratic emotions isn’t good either, but it’s healthy to be somewhere in between. In general, your life should have a sense of fulfillment and purpose. If you don’t find meaning in your life, your soul will start to feel disengaged, and that’s where depression sets in. We shouldn’t feel happy all the time, but if you’re feeling unhappy the majority of the time, your soul needs a change.
“We treat the chronic pain with pain medication, we treat the insomnia with sleeping pills, we treat the weight issues with diet and exercise. And most damagingly, we may label soul loss as mental illness, such as depression, and cover up the symptoms with psychiatric medications that may make things worse by slapping a Band-aid on a wound that’s not healing underneath the bandage,” says physician, speaker and author Lissa Rankin, MD.
Final thoughts about signs your soul needs a change
Everyone goes through phases in life where they feel unfulfilled and uninspired. If this sounds like you, then work on making lifestyle changes such as having an action plan for your dreams, taking better care of your health, listening to your intuition, and removing toxic people from your life. Don’t beat yourself up for not having it all figured out, either. Truthfully, no one does – some of us are just really good at pretending.
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