How Can You Help Your Adult Child Deal With Feeling Lost in Life?

I received this very question from a student, Natalia, who wrote the following:

“I have an adult son. When he was a kid, he was happy about everything. Every new discovery made him genuinely smile: books, camping, movies, and music. Now that he has grown up, it is like the world has dimmed for him. He looks around, but he does not see anything. His heart is closed as if he has lost a taste for life. I often wonder where we made a mistake as his parents? Perhaps we have not given him enough? Perhaps we have missed something important? I am scared to watch how my son is losing interest for this world! I do not know how to help him.”

Our lives are designed so that, at some point, we lose the allure of the world around us. This is a natural progression, but it poses a significant problem.

The solution is in helping him understand the world’s structure, what can change it, and how he can view it in a new light. Parents often struggle with explaining these concepts to an adult child, but that is the reality we must face. Everyone, in their own way, goes through a phase where they question their meaning and purpose. Some disconnect from this question entirely, while others attempt to distract themselves by seeking what they believe is meaningful.

The change Natalia observes in her son likely stems from an underlying question awakening within him: “What do I live for?” This is a pivotal moment, as it reflects a lack of a greater meaning and purpose in life. Without a direction, the natural joy and curiosity that once fueled him have faded. This transformation can take place at any age, typically when we seem to have everything but feel a void due to the absence of a goal. Nature orchestrates this lack in us not as a punishment but to encourage a conscious search for meaning and connection to nature’s complete integral laws.

Parents like Natalia and her husband can significantly influence their child’s journey. While they may feel powerless, they have the ability to guide him subtly, pointing him toward environments and ideas that spark this deeper search. Their role is not to impose but to facilitate, helping him find the tools and wisdom he needs to discover life’s purpose on his own. Being good psychologists, understanding his nature, and offering support without pressure are key.

If parents feel guilt over their child’s struggles, it often stems from their own lack of clarity about life’s meaning and purpose. By seeking this understanding themselves, they can model a sense of purpose and direction for their child. This is how the child’s inner questions can also inspire the parents to embark on their own search for life’s meaning. This process is not about fixing the child but about creating a mutual journey of discovery.

The ultimate goal is for the child to connect to the source of life, the laws of nature — a positive force of love, bestowal, and connection that can fulfill him in ways that no worldly pleasures can. Establishing this connection will mean him no longer feeling lost or aimless. Instead, he will find continuous fulfillment as he deepens his relationship with this source, which will bring genuine, lasting satisfaction.