Feeling Empty Inside: Neglecting Your True Desires

Having internal emptiness can be a very lonely and scary way to live. Feelings of unworthiness, depression, and despair lurk around every corner. Emptiness can take hold of a person and squeeze them so tight they don’t think they’ll ever be able to survive.

However, emptiness is not an immediate death sentence. If you’re feeling lost, alone, and empty, you can get out of the dark. Not only can you survive, you can thrive.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, emptiness is defined as, “the quality of lacking meaning or sincerity; meaninglessness. Many people experience a sense of emptiness inside. This can come from years of having little to no support. It can also manifest from previous childhood trauma.

There is no right or wrong way to experience emptiness. Everyone experiences emptiness differently. The important thing to take hold of is that you can break free from the emptiness.

Creating and maintaining an internal emptiness can happen when we neglect our true desires. Below are some examples of what to do to break free of your emptiness by focusing on your desires.

You Only Live Once

Neglecting your true desires will make you feel empty inside by not allowing you to live your life We only get one chance at the world. There is no second chance or sequel to your life. Take the path you want to take. Make mistakes, have fun, and do what you want to do. Remember this is your life, no one else’s.

Say No, Often

Neglecting your true desires will make you feel empty inside by not allowing you to say Yes to the things that truly matter to you. We get so caught up in making other people happy that we go out of our way to say yes to their requests.

Even if their requests are determinate to our own selves. Learn to speak up for yourself and to say no. This does not need to be done rudely. A simple, “I’m not available,” “I’m at my max and can not take anything else on right now,” or “I’m sorry but, I won’t be able to help you this time.”

Stop Living with Regret

Neglecting your true desires will make you feel empty inside by filling your life with regret. Regret can be a nasty business. It keeps us filled with shoulda, coulda, and woulda, and does not allow us to fully enjoy the moment. Do not allow precious moments of your life to be tarnished by a sense of regret. Live in the moment, make a decision, learn from that decision, and move on.

Holding onto the past can only bring more pain and suffering. The past has come and gone and can’t be changed. Instead of holding onto actions, behaviors, and thoughts of the past, learn to move forward. Give yourself the ability to look over the past, learn from it, and let it go. You have the power to alter your own future. Don’t waste that ability on focusing on the things you can’t change.

Become Accomplished

Neglecting your true desires will make you feel empty inside by making you feel and become unaccomplished. If you spend your time and effort focusing on things that don’t interest you, you’re wasting your life away.

You walk through your life without a sense of purpose, without drive, and without any real meaning. Inside of trudging along with life like a zombie, begin to focus on things that you like or want to learn more about.

Momentous Memories

Neglecting your true desires will make you feel empty inside by eliminating your ability to have and savor long-lasting memories. Looking back on fond and fun times is a magical gift. If you’re constantly wrapped up in activities and tasks you don’t enjoy or have no will to be a part of, these moments will fade away.

Your memory bank will be filled with little to no happy memories. Inside of propelling you forward and into a happy, productive, and successful life, your depleted or depressed memory bank will keep you down in the dumps. Instead, focus your attention on the things in life that make you happy.

Take Risks & Grow

Neglecting your true desire will make you feel empty inside by eliminating your ability to take risks and grow. When we only surround ourselves with other people’s thoughts, ideas, and actions, we trap ourselves in a tinnie tiny bubble. This bubble doesn’t allow us to try new and exciting things. Keeping yourself boxed in does not foster a healthy environment of growth. Instead, it keeps you exactly where you are. Push past the mundane and go for what you want.

Inspire Others & Help the World

Neglecting your true desire will make you feel empty inside by closing yourself off to others and not allowing yourself to make an impact on the world. Everyone takes cues from those around them. You may not realize it but someone is looking up to you right now. It could be a friend, family member, neighbor, kid at the store, or someone you’ve only met briefly.

While one of your actions may not change the entire world, it can change the path of one person. Staying true to yourself will show other people they have the ability to stay true to themselves as well. Can you imagine what kind of changes and advances the world could have simply by people being brave enough to remove their masks?

Internal emptiness can feel like the bottom of the barrel. The lowest of the low. You don’t have to subject yourself to living a life on your own in the shadows. Take control of your life and go after your desires. You will be able to help others, take risks, make memories, become accomplished, live regret-free, have the ability to say no and make the most of your life.