I am at a cross-roads in life and am scared. I keep getting so overwhelmed and I don't know what direction to take or if I'm even capable of turning my ambitious plans into reality. I feel like there's so much missing from my life and I wonder if I'll ever find it. There's so much instability going on in my life with family too, stuff that's out of my control and I want so much to make it better but I can't. As a result I'm frustrated and resorting to self destructive behaviors to cope. I would be so grateful if you could help by letting me know about my future, showing me that things will get better, if they really will. I feel like if you help me to see the bigger picture, I can find some sort of peace for now. Please be genuine. Thank you.

Hi, nightcanary!

If you give some additional specifics as to why you're troubled, that would help us here to help you the best.

We don't foretell the future here. However, on this site, you'll find some of the most genuine, caring and helpful people that you could ever find!

Please do let us know about your innermost thoughts and feelings. Depending on your response, I know just the right people to alert to your thread who can be of the greatest help to you and who also can be tremendous shoulders on which to lean as you journey forth in your life.

If you're resorting to self-destructive behaviors, it would be helpful to know about them also. There are quite a few folks on this site who've "been there, done that" and can really help you!

Thanks!

The bigger picture is to visualize your goals and make them real to you then plan on how to go after it.
You need to take one day at a time and accomplish what you can.

Remember the Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

I spent a lot of time in my life at a crossroads, and every time I thought I'd gotten past it, I'd find myself there again. Sometimes you just have to discover that the most important thing to do is to find and celebrate your true self. Then you're free to go anywhere, because wherever you go, there you are, and if you choose to not go anywhere, but just sit down right there in the middle of the crossroads, that's okay too. I've suggested to a lot of people on this site that they check out the book The Artist's Way by Jane English. That can be a good program for creative people to channel their creativity and to let go of the things that they keep putting in their own way.

Another approach you might want to check out is Taoism. Know anything about it? Your local library might have the translation of the Tao Te Ching by Gia Fu Feng and Jane English. I love that version. Simple and lyrical, with beautiful photography on every page.

And, as Clough said, you're not alone. There's lots of people here who are pulling for you.

I heard once that someone who knows exactly who they are and what they want to be and do is very limited. When you don't know, you are open to possibilities you never expected. That's a Taoist kind of thing--sometimes feeling empty can be good. "Shape clay into a bowl, cut windows and doorways in a wall, it is the emptiness that makes it useful."

Blessings on your continuing adventure.

Alder

While being at a *crossroads* may sound like a conflicting time,it is actually a good time,provided you see it as the opportunity that it is.

It means change is in the air, that new possibilities are on the horizon.Nothing ever stays the same and if it does it usually becomes stagnant and of little worth.

Being *scared* is normal and even useful.Scared is good as long as its not paralyzing you and stopping you from moving forward.It is your inner preservation telling you to proceed with caution.

You sound as if you are afraid of failure. Failure is a part of growth and you can't allow it to hold you back as you never achieve anything that way.Everyone is afraid but the more you face your fears and overcome them the easier it gets.

Take baby steps .As the adage states*A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step*.
Concentrate on what you do have to offer ,what your strengths are and work on your weak points.

Sometimes you just have to stop over thinking things and

Go for it

Enjoy the journey and embrace the growth you are experiencing right now.

Blessings... Michele

Sometimes we're the storm demanding change in an unjust situation, other times a calm centre of compassion. It's natural to oscillate between extremes as you try to find your bearings in an intense and unstable situation. As long as you follow a compassionate spiritual path or code of ethics, you'll always be fine. That includes being kind to yourself as much as others.

Yes the storms help us to learn to weather things and appreciate things better. We need the valleys to have mountains.