5 Books to Read If You're Feeling Lost in Life

Everyone goes through a time when they don't know what they are doing. Or at least, the 5000+ people I have met online & offline have been through such a time.

The feeling of being lost is an integral part, a cathartic event, in one's life.

5 years ago, when I was undergoing such a time, my therapist recommended me to start reading self-help books. That one advice changed my life.

Now that I have a personal experience of undergoing that phase, I know exactly what books you must read, and in what order.

If you're feeling lost in your life, here are 5 books that will help you. So, even if you haven't read a single self-help book before today, you can start off with these 5 books, in the order mentioned below.

Book 1: The Magic

Chances are that when we are feeling lost, we forget all the things we still have.

If you're reading this right now, it means you have access to the internet and probably a laptop and/or a smartphone too.

There probably will be hundreds of things you can be grateful for. That's your starting point. The attitude of gratitude; the practice of gratitude.

The Magic is the 3rd book of The Secret series by Rhonda Byrne.

The core theme of this book is practising the law of attraction via myriad activities every day for a month.

In short, it's a month-long workbook, and you are supposed to spend 20–25 minutes a day reading the book + performing the assignment.

Book 2: Ikigai

You can start this book simultaneously with The Magic. Ikigai will handover a blueprint to you for a healthier and happier life.

"Ikigai (生き甲斐, pronounced [ikiɡai]) is a Japanese concept that means "a reason for being".

The word refers to having a direction or purpose in life, that which makes one's life worthwhile, and towards which an individual takes spontaneous and willing actions giving them satisfaction and a sense of meaning to life."

Ikigai means doing-

What you love

What the world needs

What you can be paid for

What you are good at

For starters, you can do all of the above 4 different things differently. With time, intention, and effort - all these 4 tend to merge into 1 action.

Book 3: The 10X Rule

This is probably one of the best books to read when you're planning to plan and set goals.

Grant Cardone pushed you to think bigger and make your goals 10X.

If you're feeling lost in life and trying to get out of that feeling… living a goal-driven life is a significant factor.

Small and achievable goals won't create a 'push' in your body, and you might fall back in the same pattern of feeling lost.

Think big. Set bigger goals. And give your life a good enough goal to chase.

Book 4: Big Magic

Big goals usually make our creativity insecure. And that's where you need to have a touch of bliss from Elizabeth Gilbert.

Big Magic is arguably the best book written about creativity and creative insecurity.

One of the classic arguments Liz makes in the book is that one doesn't have to earn money from their passion or their hobby. Everyone can have a day job to pay bills, while they spend time with their hobby after the job.

Well, that's true especially if you're feeling lost in life.

You don't have to follow your passion right away. Maybe just take care of your bills first of all.

And you can follow your hobby because you want to, not because your life depends on it.

Book 5: The Obstacle is the way

When we chase goals, follow our dreams, it's not exceptional to have some obstacles in our way.

Ryan Holiday's book "The obstacle is the way" gives a deep perspective on the ancient philosophy of stoicism - how to turn obstacles into opportunities.

"A Stoic is someone who transforms fear into prudence, pain into transformation, mistakes into initiation, and desire into undertaking."

- Nassim Taleb

With famous stories in every chapter, this book is an engaging read.

To give you a glimpse of this book's theme

As per the author, there are 3 types of people:

1. Ones who get destroyed by tough situations.

2. Ones who somehow survive the tough times.

3. Ones who actually change their tough situations to get the advantage of them.

What kind are you?

Do you get destructive when the times get hard, or do you somehow let the tough time pass through and survive it…

OR

Are you the one who turns the obstacles into a stepping stone?

Summary

Here is the list of 5 books you can read if you're feeling lost in your life, precisely in the order given below.

These books are engaging and quick reads, so if you have never read a book before today, you can start with these also.

1. The Magic by Rhonda Byrne
2. Ikigai
3. The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone
4. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
5. The obstacle is the way by Ryan Holiday