'What’s the Point in Everything?': The Psychology of Vision and Knowing Where You’re Going
How to Find Purpose in Life When You Feel Lost
If you’ve been wondering how to find purpose in life or feel like you’re drifting without direction, you’re in the right place. Explore why those feelings arise from a psychological perspective and how you can use tools from coaching and CBT to rediscover clarity, motivation, and meaning. You’ll learn how to identify what really matters to you, create a simple life vision, and take actionable steps toward living a more fulfilling and aligned life.
Feeling Stuck? Most of Us Feel Like We’re Lacking Direction in Life
Most of us, at some point, feel like we’re just going through the motions. You might wake up, go to work, scroll through your phone, and go to bed — but somewhere inside, there’s a quiet voice asking: "What’s the point of all this?"
When we feel stuck, disconnected, or lost, that question can echo loudly and even torture us. It often comes during moments of transition (like finishing school, changing jobs, or after a breakup) or during periods of burnout, low mood, or high stress. You might think, "I should have figured this out by now," but it’s all good and it doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you. It means you’re human and we all lose our way sometimes.
Feeling like you have no direction in life can lead to:
Low energy and loss of motivation
Difficulty making decisions
Procrastination or avoidance
Hopelessness or emotional numbness
It can also stir up feelings of shame and guilt. But the truth is, many of us weren’t taught how to find our own vision or define purpose in life. The good news? It’s a skill we can learn at any age!
The Psychology of Purpose: Why We Feel Lost Without a Vision
CBT often talks about the cognitive triangle — how our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours are interconnected. When one corner falters, it can set off a chain reaction.
Let’s take an example:
Thought: "I’m lost. I don’t know what I’m doing with my life."
Emotion: You feel anxious, flat, or shameful.
Behaviour: You retreat, zone out, or delay making decisions.
This feedback loop can reinforce the very feeling you’re trying to escape.
A lack of direction often stems from a disconnect between our values (what matters to us) and our daily actions — this is called ‘cognitive dissonance’. When we’re not living in alignment with our values, it creates internal friction. Some common examples of this might include:
Working long hours in a job you don’t care about
Saying yes to things that don’t feel right
Ignoring your creative or emotional needs
As humans, we have an innate need for meaning, autonomy, and growth. When these needs aren’t met, we experience a loss of psychological wellbeing.
Research published in the journal Psychology and Psychotherapy shows that goal setting and value clarification significantly improve motivation and mood in people experiencing low self-esteem and depression. That’s why understanding what you stand for — and where you want to go — matters.
Creating Your Life Vision and Goals: 5 Practical Ways to Reconnect With Meaning
Let’s look at how to move from confusion to clarity, using simple but powerful techniques. I feel like we can be overwhelmed by the idea of creating a vision for ourselves, but trust me, you don’t need a 10-year plan. You just need to understand your values better, and choose a direction that feels right for you. So, just grab a pen and paper or your notes app, and start by answering a few questions.
1. Clarify Your Core Values
Start by reflecting on what really matters to you — not what others expect of you. Ask yourself:
What do I care about deeply?
What makes me feel proud or fulfilled?
When do I feel most "me"?
Use a values list (like this one) to circle the 10 that resonate most. Then think more about your own life and narrow it down to your top 5. These are your anchors.
2. Find Meaning in the Themes of Your Life
It’s common to get caught in the trap of perfectionism when you try to think about purpose in your life. So, instead of trying to find one purpose, ask yourself:
What themes show up in my interests?
What do I daydream about?
What pain or injustice in the world moves me?
For example, someone drawn to animals, social causes, and creative writing might find purpose in advocacy, storytelling, or education. The goal is not to pin it down or make it fixed, but simply to spot the common threads.
3. Visualise Your Life Vision: A One-Year Snapshot
Imagine a day in your life one year from now. Visualise:
What time do you wake up?
What kind of work or activity fills your day?
Who do you spend time with?
How do you feel?
Write a paragraph in the present tense: "I wake up feeling excited for the day. I head out for a walk before starting my work with clients..."
This is your personal vision. It doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to feel true. Again, it doesn’t need to be perfectly crafted or even totally complete. Just picturing your life one year from now and rehearsing your vision puts your subconscious mind to work in finding ways to get you there.
Top tip: Pay close attention to your behaviour and body language in your vision. What are you doing and what is your posture?
4. Take One Small Step Toward Your Goals
Choose a simple action you could take this week that connects to your vision. That’s right, just one! Some examples might include:
Joining a club or signing up for a course
Creating something just for fun
Having a meaningful conversation with a loved one
Psychotherapists call this, ‘behavioural activation’. Remember what I said above about how our thought, feelings, and behaviours all influence each other? Changing our behaviour can completely change the landscape in our minds.
It goes without saying, starting the hardest part, so make it small and easy to achieve. After that, more small steps can build momentum, which compounds into real change in our outlook and our lives. So, just think: "What’s one thing I can do today that’s 1% closer to the life I want?"
5. Reframe Doubt and Silence the Inner Critic
It’s inevitable that moments of self-doubt and anxiety will creep in — or bulldoze their way in in some cases. In fact, the more you try to change, the louder they’re likely to be. Our subconscious minds are inherently biased to thinking the worst — it’s what kept us alive when we faced genuine threats on a daily basis.
If your mind responds with:
"This is pointless"
"You’ll never follow through"
"Who do you think you are?"
...that’s just your inner critic trying to keep you safe by avoiding disappointment, embarrassment, or real danger.
CBT teaches us to question these thoughts (perhaps out loud or in a journal):
Is this thought helpful?
What would I say to a friend in this situation?
What’s a more balanced version of this thought?
Exercise Suggestion: Create a journal entry with two columns: "My unhelpful thoughts" and "My new balanced response." Try filling these columns every day for a week. You’ll be able to spot patterns in your negative thinking and create a compelling list of coping phrases to re-centre yourself.
You Don’t Need a Grand Plan, Just a Direction
So there you have it, not a complete vision board or masterplan. But a few simple questions answered to help you realign with your integrity, imagine your life in near future, and take one small step today. Plus, you’ve got some useful coping phrases to combat your automatic negative thoughts.
Remember, you don’t have to have it all figured out. No one does. Vision isn’t about certainty. It’s about alignment. It’s the compass, not the map.
So here’s a final question for you:
If you felt free to choose a direction today, without pressure or perfection, what would you do and where would you go?
Ready to Start Building Your Vision?
If you’re looking to reconnect with your values, build motivation, and take action on the life you want, my 6-Week Self-Esteem & Motivation CBT Programme can help you get started.
Inside, you’ll find structured guidance, mindset tools, and daily reflections to support you.
About the Author
Hi I’m Alex Rogers, a student of counselling and psychotherapy with specialist training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and the founder of The Mind Hive.
Drawing on my background in mental health, content creation, and lived experience, my aim is to create accessible support that helps people manage anxiety, stress, low mood, OCD, and more—using evidence-based CBT tools and techniques.
Through The Mind Hive, I’m on a mission to make structured self-help more engaging, empowering, and effective—without needing to wait for 1:1 support.
Want to get started? Check out my 6-week self-guided CBT programmes.
