What to do when you feel stuck

Plus, Vanessa Van Edwards on how to make a great first impression without saying a word

Author

Jay Shetty
May 15, 2025

“I feel lost. I don’t like where I am, and I don’t know where I’m headed.”

Sometimes, to find your unique path, you need to move in direct opposition to what the people around you expect.

Just a reminder: your chance to inspire others and win a MacBook Pro ends today! Scroll down for all the details, and don’t forget to gently remind your referrals to confirm their subscriptions.

I’m also inviting you to test something special with me. Plus, I’m sharing moments from the tour, and revealing who’s joining me on stage in Boston. This one’s close to my heart.

Now, let’s dive into today’s topic.

I want to talk to you about where I’m at and how I got here. Or rather, what didn’t get me here.

Right now, I am fortunate to be a best-selling author and podcast host. I tour the world helping people find their purpose, and my mission to make wisdom go viral has also taken off on social media.

I didn’t get here because it’s what my parents encouraged me to do.

I didn’t get here by believing that what my university taught me was the right path.

And this certainly wasn’t the life anyone in my community growing up into early adulthood even thought was possible.

I got here by acting in opposition to pretty much all of that. It took a lot of intentional effort to break out and find my path. To find who I am today.

Your path won’t look the same as mine. But to find it, you’re going to need to do some of the same things.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY BELAY

You’ve done the inner work. But no amount of centering can offset the demands of unpredictable times — especially when you're trying to do it all yourself.

The truth? You don’t need another productivity hack.
You need space to think.

Delegation isn’t just a strategy — it’s a stabilizer.
In less than a week, BELAY will match you with the U.S.-based Executive Assistant you need to clear the chaos and focus on what only you can do: leading with vision, peace, and clarity.

Download 21 EA Tasks That Save Time, Money, and Sanity in a Looming Recession — and gain a clear, practical plan for leading with purpose in uncertain times.

What I Think I Am

There’s an amazing quote by the sociologist Charles Cooley. He said, “I’m not what I think I am, I’m not what you think I am—I am what I think you think I am.” Think about that.

We live in this perception of a perception of ourselves.

We’re trained to make our identity what we think our parents think we should be.

We make our goals around what our teachers taught us we should achieve.

If we never challenge these perceptions, we’ll just live in that echo chamber, behaving the way we think others want us to behave.

But the process of self-realization requires you to step outside all of that. Sure, your parents or community might have some good ideas. But only you can know what direction your life should take.

Try This: Fast forward from where you are right now. Look at your life in 20 years. If you keep living the way you do now, what will that look like?

Now, ask yourself: is that where you want to be?

If the answer is yes, amazing! Keep it up!

If your answer is no, then you need to find a new path.

Maybe you want to be more physically fit, so you need to find active people and spend more time with them.

Or maybe you want to be an entrepreneur, so you need to surround yourself with others who have launched businesses and know how to think outside the box.

Or if you want to find more purpose and master your mind, you need to find people who have done that.

The first step is opening yourself up to new experiences and new people. Only then can you break out of where you are and find the path that’s right for you.

Community Challenge

Think about the new experiences and people you want to bring into your life. Reply to this email and tell me something you can commit to this week that will bring you closer to these new people or experiences. I’m so excited to read your responses, and I’ll share some of my favorite ones.

Last week, I challenged you to tell me what you could do to be the friend you deserve.

Reader Maggie said she would “Be less judgmental and give myself grace.” That's perfect and simple, Maggie. I hope we can all do that for ourselves.

Reader Susan responded, saying, “I’m going to stop eating in front of screens, be more present with my husband and dogs (they’ve been a little neglected while I soak up every second with my sweet granddaughter, Alex—no regrets there!), and get consistent with meditation again.”  For one, I think we should all try to stop eating in front of screens. And I’m sure your husband and dogs will appreciate the attention, although you’re right, time with your granddaughter is precious as well.

Reader Judith added something to my explanation of loneliness that I think is important. She said, “Sometimes loneliness isn’t about having or not having people in your life. You can have people in your life and feel incredibly lonely, because you don’t feel seen. This was my experience for a long time, and it wasn’t until I started practicing being myself in my relationships that my relationships changed. And with that, the loneliness faded.” That’s an excellent point, Judith. The people in your life must see you for the person you are, not for who you were or who they wish you would be.

Share Wisdom. Win Big.

Growth is meant to be shared. That’s how we rise. Together.

If this newsletter has moved you, challenged you or helped you see life differently, pass it on. Share it before 11:59 p.m. ET tonight and you could win one of THREE MacBook Pros.

It’s not about the prize. It’s about the impact. What you do with it, who you become and who you help.

Ready to be the reason someone else starts their journey? Start here:

👉 Every time you refer someone using your unique Weekly Wisdom link before 11:59 p.m. ET tonight, you’ll earn one entry into the raffle.
👉 1 referral = 1 entry. The more people you invite, the higher your chances of winning. Every share counts!
👉 Your referral must confirm their subscription to count (they’ll receive an email from me asking them to do so)
👉 Winners will be selected at random and notified by my team.
👉 Open to U.S. residents only (full rules below).*

Start sharing using your unique link below:

What If You Could Talk to Me Directly?

I'm giving my newsletter community a chance to try out and experience something I’ve been working on: a digital version of me you can chat with directly. Ask anything about purpose, love, relationships, or whatever’s on your mind, and this “digital me” will respond just as I would. This preview is available for two weeks only, until May 29. Click on the “Chat with me now” button to start a conversation.

And I’d love to hear your thoughts once you can try it out. You can go through this link to let me know your feedback.

🎤 ✨ Come See Me Live! 🎤 ✨

Each City Brings a New Surprise Guest

I'm thrilled to be on my first-ever On Purpose LIVE podcast tour presented by Chase Sapphire Reserve ®. 

Join me for engaging conversations with a surprise celebrity guest, wellness expert or influential leader in each city. I will also guide audiences through live meditations, share groundbreaking insights and create powerful moments of inspiration designed to deepen connections, spark growth and foster learning at every stop.

✅ Surprise Guests Revealed

May 12, Vancouver, BC Surprise Guest: Gabor Maté
May 13, Chicago, IL Surprise Guest: Common
May 14, Toronto, ON Surprise Guest: Humble the Poet
May 15, Boston, MA 🎉 ANNOUNCING: MEL ROBBINS!

🎟️ Upcoming Tour Stops

You never know who might show up next…

May 17, New York, NY Surprise Guest: Stay tuned!
May 19, Philadelphia, PA
May 21, Washington, D.C.
May 22, Atlanta, GA
May 23, Hollywood, FL
May 29, Los Angeles, CA
May 30, San Francisco, CA
May 31, Phoenix, AZ
June 2, Dallas, TX
June 4, Seattle, WA
June 5, Denver, CO


Tickets & VIP Packages: jayshetty.me/tour

Come experience the energy, purpose, and surprise LIVE. I hope to see you there!

BROUGHT TO YOU BY BEEHIIV

Let’s get serious

What’s the mark of the world’s best, most growth-minded newsletter creators? They’re all on beehiiv.

Why? Our entire platform exists to help serious content creators scale faster. We’re built for those who are ready to take their content and build it into a behemoth. 

It’s why we offer a no-code website builder. It’s why our ad network matches you with global brands like Nike and Netflix. It’s why we never take a dime of your subscription revenue. And it’s why Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ashley Graham trust us to connect with their huge fan bases. 

It’s all to put your hard work in front of more people. So if you’re ready to build, ready to grow, and ready to make the world take notice, beehiiv is ready for you.

Now on ‘On Purpose’

On Monday’s podcast episode, I spoke with behavioral researcher and bestselling author Vanessa Van Edwards about the science and study of social cues. Vanessa is a self-described “recovering awkward person,” and she revealed to me how her biggest social struggles helped her crack the code on human connection.

We got into the science of charisma, why so many of us feel overlooked and underestimated, and the tricky balance between warmth and competence. If you’d like to build confidence in your life, this episode is absolutely essential. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Also on ‘On Purpose’: What energizes you first thing in the morning? Do you allow yourself to take breaks to reset during the day? I’m here to tell you that rest isn’t a reward but a requirement. If you ever feel guilty for taking a break or going on vacation, this episode is my plea to you to let go of that guilt. Making space to breathe, reflect and recover is essential for living a more purpose-driven life. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Reflect & Respond

Have you ever had to go against the grain to become more you?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

*DISCLAIMER

No purchase necessary. Open to U.S. residents 18+ who are current Weekly Wisdom subscribers. Entry by referring new subscribers via your unique link. Each verified referral equals one (1) raffle entry. Three (3) winners will be chosen at random to receive a 14" MacBook Pro (ARV $1,599 each). Referral must confirm subscription by May 15, 2025, 11:59 PM ET. Void where prohibited. This promotion is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Beehiiv or Apple.