There are times when life feels straightforward—you know what you’re working toward, and your energy naturally points in that direction. And then there are other times when you hit a wall of uncertainty. Maybe your career no longer feels like a fit, or a big transition has left you unsure of what comes next. You might wake up each day with the sense that change is needed, but no clear idea of where to begin. This is a common challenge in finding your next steps.
That in-between space can be uncomfortable. You may feel pressure to figure it all out quickly, or even a little stuck comparing yourself to people who seem to have a clear direction. But here’s the truth: finding your next steps rarely happens in one dramatic moment of clarity. More often, it’s about slowing down, noticing the clues around you, and taking small, thoughtful actions that move you closer to the life you want.
In this article, I’ll walk you through practical ways to uncover your next steps, along with guided self-reflection prompts to help you pause and explore what’s really important to you.
Why Finding Your Next Steps Feels So Challenging
When you’re in a season of uncertainty, decision-making can feel like a maze. Every option has pros and cons, and the fear of choosing “wrong” can leave you feeling paralyzed. On top of that, our culture tends to reward certainty and long-term plans, which only adds pressure when you don’t have a clear one.
But uncertainty isn’t wasted time—it’s often the space where growth and new direction take shape. Think of it less as being lost, and more as standing at the trailhead before a hike. You haven’t chosen which path to take yet, but you’re still moving toward something new.
Reflection Prompt:
- When you think about your current uncertainty, do you see it as wasted time—or as a space that could help you reset and choose more intentionally?
Step One: Slow Down Before You Decide
When things feel unclear, the urge to rush into the next available option is strong. Maybe it’s accepting a job you’re not excited about or committing to a project you don’t really want—just so you feel like you’re doing something. But rushing often leads to choices that don’t stick.
Instead, give yourself permission to slow down. That doesn’t mean stopping completely, but it does mean creating time and space to think without the pressure of immediate answers. Even ten minutes a day to write, read, or reflect can help you get clearer on what you actually want, rather than what feels easiest in the moment.
Setting up a dedicated space for reflection can make a difference. Having a lined notebook where you keep your thoughts all in one place helps you see your ideas and questions build over time instead of scattering them across random notes.
Reflection Prompt:
- What small shift could you make this week to create a little more space for reflection?
Step Two: Notice What Actually Energizes You
When you’ve been in a cycle of responsibilities, it’s easy to lose touch with what excites you. Sometimes the key to finding your next steps isn’t discovering something brand new, but paying attention to the small things that give you energy.
Think back on your week: what activities made the time pass quickly? What conversations left you feeling energized instead of drained? These are clues. You don’t need to map your whole future right away—just notice what makes you feel more alive and curious.
If being around plants or nature always boosts your energy, start small by surrounding yourself with it. A set of small herb planters can be an easy way to bring something life-giving into your daily space, reminding you of what you enjoy without it needing to be “productive.” It’ll also add a naturally fragrant touch.
Reflection Prompt:
- What’s one activity or interest that consistently leaves you feeling more energized, and how could you make more room for it?
Step Three: Look at Where You’ve Been
The future often feels uncertain because we forget to pay attention to the patterns of our own story. Looking back can remind you of the skills, interests, and values that have always mattered to you.
Try writing out a short timeline of your life so far—your jobs, major decisions, side projects, or even hobbies. Then highlight the moments when you felt the most engaged or fulfilled. Chances are, there are common threads running through those experiences. Recognizing them can help you see what might guide your next steps forward.
If you’d like structure for this, a guided reflection workbook can walk you through questions designed to surface those repeating patterns.
Reflection Prompt:
- Looking at your past experiences, what patterns or themes keep showing up in the moments that felt most fulfilling?
Step Four: Clarify Your Core Values
Your values are the filter through which good decisions become clear. Without them, every option looks equally overwhelming. With them, you can quickly see what fits and what doesn’t.
For example, if flexibility is one of your values, you’ll likely struggle in environments with rigid schedules. If creativity matters most, you’ll want to avoid roles that box you in. Identifying your top five values gives you a compass to use when new opportunities show up.
Having visual reminders of your values can help you keep them front of mind. An inspirational wall print can serve as a daily reminder of the qualities you’re choosing to orient your life around.
Reflection Prompt:
- If you had to name your top five values, what would they be—and how might they guide your decisions right now?
Step Five: Pay Attention to What You’re Avoiding
Sometimes the clearest signal about your next steps isn’t what excites you, but what you keep resisting. Maybe you’ve been putting off sending an application, starting a creative project, or having a tough conversation. Avoidance often points to something meaningful—it matters enough to stir fear.
Instead of seeing avoidance as laziness, try reframing it as a signal. What’s the story behind why you’re avoiding it? Is it fear of failure, perfectionism, or simply uncertainty about where to begin? Often, moving forward starts with looking honestly at what you’ve been dodging.
Having a tool to break tasks into smaller, less intimidating steps can help. A simple weekly planner notepad can give you a visual place to map out those “avoided” items in bite-sized actions that feel doable.
Reflection Prompt:
- What’s one thing you’ve been avoiding that might actually hold an important clue about your next direction?
Step Six: Test Small Before You Commit Big
When you don’t know exactly where you’re heading, it’s easy to feel like you need a huge plan before you can move. But the truth is, big clarity often comes from small experiments. Trying things on a small scale allows you to learn what fits—without locking yourself into a path you’re unsure about.
For example, if you’re curious about teaching, you don’t need to sign up for a full credentialing program right away. You might start by leading a short workshop or tutoring one person. If you’re drawn to writing, you could commit to a 30-day daily writing challenge instead of promising yourself you’ll publish a book right now.
The key is to lower the stakes so that experimentation feels safe, not overwhelming. Small experiments are an essential part of finding your next steps.
Reflection Prompt:
- What’s one small, low-pressure experiment you could try in the next month to explore something you’re curious about?
Step Seven: Seek Out New Inputs
When you’re unsure of your path, it’s easy to stay stuck in the same loops of thought. New perspectives can break that cycle. This doesn’t mean you have to uproot your entire life—it can be as simple as exposing yourself to fresh ideas, people, or experiences.
That could look like reading books outside of your usual interests, attending a local talk, joining an online community, or even just striking up a conversation with someone who has a completely different background. Sometimes, hearing someone else’s story gives you language for your own.
If you’re not sure where to begin, try listening to audiobooks while commuting, cooking, or walking. A set of wireless earbuds makes it easy to bring new voices and ideas into your day without adding extra time. I personally own a pair of JLab Go Air earbuds. They’re inexpensive, extremely comforatable and hold their own when compared to luxury brands. They come in a variety of flesh tones and bright colors as well, which is really nice.
Reflection Prompt:
- Where in your daily life could you add one new input—a book, podcast, conversation, or experience—that might help you see your situation in a new way?
Putting It Together: Why Small Steps Matter
At this stage, you might be realizing that finding your next steps isn’t about one giant decision. It’s about collecting clues, testing ideas, and noticing what gives you energy and meaning.
Think of this process like assembling a puzzle. Each small piece—a reflection, a pattern from your past, a low-stakes experiment, or a new perspective—brings the bigger picture into focus. The pieces might not all connect yet, but each one gets you closer.
Reflection Prompt:
- If you treated this season like a puzzle instead of a test, what small pieces could you collect this week?
Step Eight: Get Comfortable with Imperfect Progress
One of the biggest obstacles in finding your next steps is the belief that you need everything mapped out before you can begin. In reality, clarity tends to show up while you’re in motion, not while you’re sitting still waiting for the perfect plan.
Progress often looks messy. You’ll try something that doesn’t work, or take a step that only shows you what isn’t for you. That’s not failure—it’s information. Each imperfect step is still movement, and every bit of movement gets you closer to alignment.
If perfectionism is something that stalls you, tools that help you focus on progress rather than flawless outcomes can be useful. A progress-focused journal can encourage you to track what you’re learning and accomplishing, instead of holding yourself to unrealistic standards.
Reflection Prompt:
- Where in your life are you waiting for “perfect conditions” before taking action—and what’s one small, imperfect step you could try anyway?
Step Nine: Surround Yourself with Support
Finding clarity doesn’t have to be a solo process. The people around you can either reinforce your uncertainty or encourage you to move forward. Being intentional about who you spend time with during this season matters.
Support might look like a friend who listens without judgment, a mentor who asks good questions, or a group of peers who are also navigating transitions. Having people who remind you of your strengths and reflect back what they see in you can be invaluable.
If you don’t have a supportive circle nearby, you can create one online. A discussion group, virtual community, or a book club centered around personal development literature, can be a structured way to bring accountability and encouragement into your week.
Reflection Prompt:
- Who in your life feels safe, encouraging, and honest—and how can you lean on them more as you explore your next steps?
Step Ten: Define What “Next” Really Means
A common misconception is that your “next step” has to be monumental: a complete career change, a cross-country move, or a total life overhaul. But in reality, next steps are usually much smaller and more doable. They’re often things like signing up for a class, setting up an informational interview, carving out an hour to write, or researching something you’ve been curious about.
The point isn’t to have the final answer. The point is to keep moving in a direction that feels aligned, one step at a time. Once you define what “next” means for you right now, you can stop overwhelming yourself with the bigger picture and focus on progress that actually feels possible.
Sometimes, writing down your immediate “next” in clear, simple language helps anchor it.
Reflection Prompt:
- What’s one specific, concrete step you can take in the next week—not to figure everything out, but to move forward in even a small way?
Finding Your Next Steps Doesn’t Require the Whole Map
Uncertainty isn’t a sign that you’re lost. It’s a sign that you’re in transition—and transitions are where growth happens. Finding your next steps isn’t about having the whole path in front of you; it’s about identifying the next one or two actions that keep you moving forward.
If you’re willing to slow down, reflect on what matters most, and test your way forward, clarity will come into focus. Your “next” doesn’t have to be big to be meaningful—it just has to be true to you. Trust that finding your next steps happens one thoughtful action at a time.
And when you look back on this season, you may realize that the waiting and uncertainty weren’t wasted at all. They were the very things that helped you grow into the person who is ready to move forward.
Reflection Prompt (Final):
- If you trusted that clarity would come from small, steady steps instead of one big answer, how would that change the way you see your next season?
