Feeling Lost in an Unsettling Life Stage

Assalamu alaikum, everyone. I’m reaching out for heartfelt advice on how to push forward when everything feels frozen. Please bear with me, this might be lengthy. To give some background, I’m a Muslim but I wasn’t always consistent in practicing. Deep down, I always believed in Allah, and I’d turn to Him only during tough times. Now, by His grace, I’ve built a steady prayer routine-Alhamdulillah. Spiritually, I’m doing well, mashallah, but other areas of my life are stalled. The only real progress I’ve made in three years is my connection with Allah. Emotionally, I’ve shifted all my longing to be acknowledged and understood solely to Him. I used to crave validation from others, which drained me and left me feeling like I had no identity, always chasing approval. But Allah’s mercy helped me move past that. I’m also working on being softer and more compassionate with my parents, and that relationship has grown, alhamdulillah. However, socially and financially, I’m still at a standstill. I’m not complaining-truly grateful for everything Allah has given-but it’s becoming wearisome. I’m not anxious about money; Allah is the Provider and I rely on Him completely. The loneliness, though, is heavy. I lack real friends. As I strive to grow closer to Allah, I avoid connections that don’t help that goal, so I’ve mostly withdrawn from people. My filter is simple: does this person bring me nearer to Allah or not? Usually, it’s the latter. Yet, I deeply crave being held and loved by someone-a human, not just spiritually. Carrying this alone is tiring. I make du’a and try to be patient, but seeing others sometimes makes me feel excluded and down. I know Allah will send the right people at the perfect time, and I trust His plan. But what do I do in the meantime? It’s been over a year since I had a genuine friendship or felt cherished by someone. My family is a blessing, but sometimes you need companions your own age. I’m not idle-I’m working on my career and deen, constantly trying to better myself. Any tips to cope? May Allah reward you for your kindness.