Feeling Like Something Is Missing? It Might Be Time To Come Home To Yourself.

“At the centre of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.”–Lao Tzu

Many folks arrive here feeling lost, confused, and stuck. They’re lost because they know something doesn’t feel right inside, but they can’t name what it is. They’re confused because they don’t know how to fix this inner restlessness. They’re stuck because what used to work doesn’t work anymore, and the path forward feels unclear.

On the outside, life might appear full: relationships, careers, accomplishments, and much to be grateful for. Yet inside, there’s a quiet ache—a sense that something vital is missing.

We may be asking ourselves:

Why can’t I just be happy when I have so much to be grateful for?

Who am I beneath all these roles?

How can I feel more peaceful and connected?

Years ago, I found myself asking these same questions. I had all the ingredients for a good life, but something inside me felt off. I couldn’t explain it—only that I was being pulled inward by a yearning I couldn’t name.

It was as if a part of me knew there was more to life than what I was living. More peace. More purpose. More truth. And that there was something missing.

It was a confusing time because I didn’t understand what was happening. I just knew I could no longer go through the motions. That realization led me on a path of inner discovery that changed everything.

You’re Not Broken—You’re Becoming Your True Self

What I eventually discovered is this: That inner void wasn’t a sign that something was wrong with me. It was a sign that the next version of myself was ready to emerge.

At the heart of this becoming my future self was the realization that we are more than who we appear to be. We are not just our roles, responsibilities, or even our thoughts and emotions. We are both human and a soul that needs to be expressed through us.

In many ways, this inner shift mirrors the process a caterpillar goes through before becoming a butterfly. There’s a stage of dissolving—of uncertainty and not knowing—before the wings begin to form. It may feel like everything is falling apart, but in truth, something more aligned and alive is emerging from within. This is not just a breakdown—it’s a sacred invitation to transformation. A call to begin living your life from the inside out, guided by your soul rather than external expectations.

This quiet ache that something is missing, is what I now call soul hunger. You can learn more about what’s causing soul hunger and why it’s a silent epidemic here.

It’s the longing to live in alignment with our true nature—to move beyond the surface and into the depth of who we really are. And it often begins with the unsettling feeling that something is missing.

Not all Restlessness is the Same

But here’s something important I’ve learned: that feeling that something is missing doesn’t always come from the same place.

Sometimes, it arises from our personality—the caterpillar part of us that’s been conditioned to strive, please, achieve, or prove our worth. In this case, no matter what we do, it never feels like enough. The restlessness grows, and the emptiness deepens.

Other times, the ache is a soulful longing—a quiet, persistent call from our inner butterfly that is waiting to emerge to live more truthfully, more fully. When we recognize it for what it is, it becomes a kind of inner compass. While we may still feel unsettled, there’s often a deeper peace that begins to grow as we align our life with our soul’s truth.

Learning to discern the difference is powerful. One path leads to more striving and inner stress. The other leads to clarity, freedom, and authentic peace.

Recognizing all of this is a powerful turning point. Because once you name what’s really happening, you can begin to respond with compassion and clarity. To help you name different types of inner stress, I wrote the blog 7 Types Of Inner Stress That Keep You Feeling Stuck, Anxious, or Disconnected.

The Conditions that Nurture a Meaningful Life

Over the years, I’ve come to see that while the feeling that something is missing is deeply personal, it often arises from a disconnect in one or more key areas of life. These are not things we “achieve”—they’re conditions we cultivate. When they’re present, they create the inner environment where we can feel a deep, grounded sense of peace, connection, and purpose that comes from living in alignment with our true selves.

Here are the three core conditions:

Vitality:

True well-being starts from the inside out. When our body, brain, and nervous system are supported, we feel more energized, emotionally resilient, and able to engage with life fully. This isn’t just about health—it’s about feeling safe, steady, and alive in your own skin. In this post, I explore why nervous system regulation holds the key to deep soulful growth.

MEANINGFUL relationships:

We’re wired for connection. Feeling seen, supported, and able to be your true self in your relationships is essential, not just for happiness, but for becoming our true selves. When we feel safe to be real with others, something in us relaxes and opens.

Sense of purpose:

Purpose gives direction to our energy and meaning to our days. It doesn’t have to be grand, it just needs to feel true. Whether it’s how you show up in your work, your relationships, or your quiet moments alone, purpose arises when your inner life and outer life are in alignment.

When one or more of these conditions are running low, we feel it. The ache we can’t quite name is often the signal that something vital is being neglected, not because we’re doing something wrong, but because our deeper self is asking for attention.

These aren’t just goals to chase, they’re capacities we can cultivate as we begin to turn inward, listen, and come home to ourselves.

The Journey from Something Is Missing to Inner Peace and Purpose

If you’re resonating with this sense that something’s missing, it’s important to know that the journey often unfolds in stages. You don’t need to have it all figured out. What matters most is that you begin to listen to the part of you that’s calling for something more.

Here’s how this journey often unfolds:

  • You sense something feels off, even if you can’t name what it is.
  • You try to resolve it externally through relationships, achievements, or self-improvement, but the emptiness lingers.
  • Eventually, you turn inward, asking deeper questions about who you are and what truly matters.
  • You begin reconnecting with your deeper self, and the void that once felt like a problem begins to feel like a powerful invitation.
  • As you come home to yourself, you begin cultivating inner calm, self-love, clarity, and courage—the essential ingredients for a peaceful and purposeful life.

It’s a sacred unraveling of everything that isn’t really you—so you can remember who you are beneath the noise, the roles, and the expectations.

You deserve to feel whole. You deserve to feel like you belong within yourself and in your life.

If you’re ready to explore what to do next, I’ve written a follow-up post with 3 Empowering Tips if You Feel Something Is Missing in Your Life. These gentle but powerful steps will help you reconnect with yourself and begin to move forward with greater clarity, calm, and meaning.

In this video, I share what transformation has meant in my life, how I began reconnecting with my true self, and what to look for in a guide for your journey.

If you’re feeling that same quiet pull toward something more, I hope this helps you feel less alone, and more empowered to trust the wisdom within you.

If you’re curious whether 1:1 coaching is right for you, I’d love to connect. Click here to schedule your free call and explore what’s possible together.

Bev Janisch holding her book, Awakening a Woman's Soul

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