Welcome back to Unfiltered Diaries — where we don’t chase perfection, we chase truth. This space isn’t for the highlight reel. It’s for the quiet questions, the messy transitions, the “I should feel happy, but I don’t” kind of honesty.
Today’s entry is for anyone who’s checked all the boxes — degree, job, relationship, dream home — and still feel… off. Numb. Disconnected. Like the fire that once lit you up has dimmed, and you’re not sure why.
If you’ve ever whispered “I should be grateful, so why do I feel stuck?” — this one’s for you.
Today’s diary entry comes from Positive4055.
Dear Diary,
“I feel like I’m in a pretty good place. I’m 24, I have my degree, my driving license, a stable and above-average paying job (I’m not the type to rigorously climb the career ladder though), an LTR with whom I have partially downpaid a house that’s being built, a good amount of savings, and an above-average amount of fitness.
However, since about 2 months ago, I’ve been feeling numb inside. It’s like I’m mentally not present, as if my heart and mind can’t connect. I don’t know if that makes sense. There are things I want to do, there is a kind of person I want to be, and yet, I struggle to do it. I am unlike who I was just 2 years ago in university, when I really wanted to be a Minimalist, Frugal Living, Pinterest-perfect Gym Girlie™️ and felt that fire in me. Now I’m… here… but just drifting.
I don’t know if this is the quarter-life crisis people in their 20s and 30s always seem to describe? I will say though, I’m slowly getting into calisthenics (I am getting bored of the gym lol) and also having a bit of fun decorating my current home. It’s very slowly improving but… I still don’t feel that fire. Something feels off. Has anyone felt the same way?”
The Drift Is Real
Hey, first of all be kind to yourself. You’ve built such a strong foundation — career, relationship, health, savings, a future home. That’s huge!
But when the adrenaline of “chasing” fades and the big boxes get checked, what’s left is… stillness. And if you’ve been running on goals for years, stillness can feel like emptiness. Like something must be wrong. But it’s not. It just means your compass is shifting.
That “numb” feeling might be:
- 🌱 Burnout wearing a mask — your body saying it needs a break.
- 🎯 A missing spark goal — not another task, but something that excites you again.
- 🪞 Learning peace — realizing that calm isn’t failure, it’s space.
Spark Goals — small experiments that feel like joy, not chores
You already have momentum — calisthenics, decorating, tiny wins that matter. A “spark goal” isn’t another achievement box. It’s an invitation. A short, low-pressure experiment you pick because it makes you curious, silly, or quietly excited.
Think of it as permission to play with who you might become next.
Try one of these, timeboxed and judgment-free:
- 30-Day Curiosity Challenge — learn one tiny thing a day: a 5-minute language lesson, a 60 seconds exercise that lengthen each day, or even trying out one new recipe every few days.
- Skill sprint — 20 sessions practicing one move: a handstand, a pause-free pull-up, or a new song on guitar.
- Micro-creative project — a 6 month journal of all your wins no matter how small, a playlist that tells a story, or a 6-page zine about a season of your life.
- Local class commitment — pottery, improv, rock climbing, hiking or dance. Go twice, then reassess.
- Mini-trip weekend — a 2–3 hour drive, one new café, one scenic walk, one silly souvenir.
- Volunteer double dates — two shifts a month at a shelter or community garden to add meaning and perspective.
Keep it gentle so it stays joyful:
- Timebox it (30 days or 6 sessions).
- Pick one tiny metric (5 minutes a day, 2 classes, one finished thing).
- Share with one friend or keep a private note for accountability.
- Celebrate the small wins (screenshot progress, buy a coffee, mark a calendar).
The Peace Reframe
You’re not who you were in uni — and that’s okay. Maybe it’s not about recreating the Gym Girlie fire, but about experimenting with new sparks. If you’ve always thrived in chaos or ambition, calm can feel weird. But peace isn’t emptiness — it’s space. The question is: what do you want to fill it with?
And if the numbness lingers or deepens, maybe check in with a counselor or get some basic labs done. Sometimes our bodies whisper before they scream.
But for now? Be patient with yourself. The fire doesn’t always roar back overnight. Sometimes it returns as sparks — through curiosity, play, and small, imperfect experiments. I’m here for all of it. 💛
💌 Have you ever gone through a season where life felt stable but strangely empty? What helped you find your spark again?
Let’s talk in the comments—or write your own letter. This space was built for honesty.
You’re not too much. You’re not alone. And healing is your birthright. 💛
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