How do you proceed after a major, jarring change in your life?

My mother died right after I graduated from college. I had a job shortly after that, but it didn’t last long. Now, it’s been almost a year and my life can go in so many directions, it’s unsettling. Currently, however, it’s going nowhere.

It’s like there’s been an explosion. I’m floating above the debris. It’s everywhere, in pieces. I’m sure I can rebuild. Salvage what I can from the old, add new where new is needed.

But I hesitate. Because although I’ve found the glue, the mortar, the binding force to put and keep the pieces together, I don’t know exactly what it is I need to build. So I hesitate, kicking at pieces here or there.

If I’m not careful, I might build something I hate. But if I do nothing, all I’ll have is a blasted pile of rubble.

I don’t know how to proceed. Do I make a master plan, blue prints and all? Or do I just start picking up pieces and see what happens?