Need Help Finding Direction Again

[Sean]

So, I flunked out of Grad School, have no job, and barely any money. I tried to get an apprenticeship as an aircraft mechanic, but nothing seems to pan out. In fact, nothing seems to ever pan out for me, and lately I've feel like I lost direction in my life...Hell I even wonder why I should even bother getting up from bed. I need help finding direction in my life again, please.

[PlumGT]

/hugs

 

I wish I could say something amazing to would comfort you, but currently I'm trying to find my direction in life and I'm at a loss. Feels horrible not knowing what to do with my life.

[Wolf_22]

I read this and thought of myself. Not so much in direction, but more so about not having a job and fighting depression.

 

Both of you are great people. Every human on earth is amazing, so remember this when you get down about things. I really feel for you two because I know exactly what you probably experience from the time you fall asleep to the time you wake up. It's so disheartening and frustrating, saddening and nerve-wracking, is it not? You feel like sometimes the world itself is against you and that you have nobody to help you.

 

One thing to remember out of your frustrating times is that many people experience tumults like this. While there is little solution in knowing you're not alone, there is a slight bit of comfort.

 

Secondly, no matter what happens, just remember that there is a 25 year-old guy out there somewhere in Indiana who once had a $45,000 / year job as a programmer, but now, is unable to get a job at the local video rental store.

 

Third, just hang in there and realize that most likely, none of this is your fault (unless you do nothing everyday except play Nintendo Wii or something).

 

I really wish I could give you more insight. I mean, everyone and their brother will come on here and tell you to do the common-sense stuff about trying to be positive, getting out and making more friends, etc., but if you haven't a job nor the respect you would garner from finishing a goal with your education, then it sucks, right?

 

- Keep sending out resumes everyday if you can.

- Try to go back and finish your degree. Leave no pages unwritten.

- Hang in there.

[alone1again]

I am pretty much in the same hole. I broke up with my fiancè nearly four months ago now, still miss him like hell. I ended up moving to another country, just to get away. I live off my friends mercy - they give me food and shelter. I've been looking for a job for over three months now. I send out my CV to numerous places everyday, I am educated and skilled. But nothing. I used to tell myself everything will be OK, just give it time. But I am not so sure anymore. In addition to all I have a loan that needs to be paid. But with what, I have no money! I have nothing left to give at this stage. All I keep thinking is how to end my life because it's just too much to handle at this stage.

[thejigsup]

It's just money, don't end your life over it. I just went through $1,500 in vet bills for one of my cats, had my checking account compromised (almost completely wiped out) and I have bills left to pay. Oh well. I am just glad to be alive and seeing the beautiful day out. I've had money and I've been broke. Having money is better, but being broke is nothing to kill yourself over. Just hang in there. Traditonal jobs are getting rarer to get, so reinvent yourself and try something unique to make some cash. Whatever you do, don't give up. I never will.

[Multiplicity]

So, I flunked out of Grad School, have no job, and barely any money. I tried to get an apprenticeship as an aircraft mechanic, but nothing seems to pan out. In fact, nothing seems to ever pan out for me, and lately I've feel like I lost direction in my life...Hell I even wonder why I should even bother getting up from bed. I need help finding direction in my life again, please.

 

Ouch. I am sorry to hear that you flunked out of grad school. Main thing, need to try to remain positive and do not give up trying to find something. The moment you give up, then everything will reach rock bottom without a doubt. I was in a similar boat like you without a job and I hit a point where I ran out of money with school loans and other bills to pay. Worrying about having just enough money to pay off the bills was too stressful for me. If you are interested in working on aircraft, the Air Force might be something to consider. That is one of few, if not the only one, where you don't need to apply for a silly apprenticeship and hope to god you get it.

[Jeremiah Johnson]

People working in Antarctica in the winter sometimes suffer from a condition known as winter-over syndrome. Essentially, it's caused by a combination of factors such as deprivation of sunlight, overly familiar surroundings that never change, being forced to interact with the same people no matter what personal feelings may be involved. It's a trying thing on even pretty tough-minded people. The only thing they can do that helps is to do anything they can to keep their mind occupied. If that includes making the worlds longest paperclip chain, that's what they'll do.

 

So essentially, what I'm saying is that newness is extremely important to mental health. If you keep your mind focused on the same things all the time - especially negative things, it will really deteriorate your mental state. You have to find new things and new interests. Since you're not locked up in Antarctica in the winter, this should be a bit easier.

 

Here are some ideas in case you need a little help:

*Go to a bookstore and pick up a book in the education center. Maybe study for a certification in some field that interests you. Or pick up a self-help book. Read at a coffee shop or campus - some place that's new and less familiar.

*Find free dance clubs in your area that offer free or cheap dance lessons early in the evening before the club really gets going.

*Write a short story

*Hike a nature trail or jog at a local track

*Visit a museum

*Find a group of people with a similar interest on link removed

*Learn a foreign language

*Build something

 

Those are just a few ideas. The essential thing about finding direction is that you almost always have to be moving to do it. If you park your car and wait for someone to come along and tell you where to go, you may be sitting a long time. Don't be scared of just picking a direction and trying it out. There's not always a perfect answer or perfect path with signs and markers. Sometimes you just have to start down a path and enjoy the journey of it all. And if that path turns out to be wrong, then you pick another. But the most important thing is to never stop travelling and exploring no matter how many paths you pick that don't work out.

[Jetta]

Can you go back to your roots, what was your bachelor degree in? Work on applying for positions in that field. Speak with your college advisor about where to find a job. They have job recruitment on campus. Likely won't be your dream job but it's a start.

 

Jetta