Volunteer. Putting yourself outside of yourself is a tremendous way to gain insight. Many people already serve on high-profile boards or chair events that bring acclaim. Try a different volunteer path— one that isn’t overtly self-serving. Once they truly volunteer, people often discover the inspiring value that emerges from giving back to the community.

Find a support group. Contact a local counseling center or church and describe the type of group you’re looking for. Try several—they’re all different, and each has its own worth. Be open minded. For example, even if you don’t have an addiction, many groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous welcome interested people to their meetings (call ahead first).

Examine your faith. In today’s fast-paced society, spirituality often takes a backseat to more pressing matters. But a small imbalance in this area can eas-ily snowball and require great effort to correct. Take time to reconnect with your beliefs—whatever they may be. Attend worship services, meditate, or escape to a retreat in a natural setting. If you’re unsure of your beliefs, explore new ways of gauging your worth in the world. Look into the options by read-ing books on religion or taking a philosophy course.

Regardless of where you feel the imbalance, it’s generally true that these problems don’t go away on their own. There is truth in the saying, “if you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’ve got.” For most of us the key is to modify our current attitudes and behaviors. A more serious option—though it may seem drastic—is to examine your career choices altogether. You may be burned out on your work environment or the practice of design itself … and there may be no remedy as long as you remain where you are. Many people have rediscovered their passion while exploring a second career. And as scary as change can be, it’s a lot better than continuing to live your life feeling disconnected.