Navigating Your 20s
Your 20s are incredibly formative. One moment, you’re a clueless teenager, and the next, you're expected to have it all figured out. These years are full of unmatched freedom—learning how to love, laugh, and live independently—but they're also your first real encounter with life’s harsher realities. Some of us cling to faith, others to tequila, fame, dreams of family or career. Whatever it is, we all find something to keep us going amid the chaos of our loved ones aging, job offers that don’t come, housing markets our parents always warned us about—the list goes on.
At 23, the pressure to have a well-defined life plan feels overwhelming. It’s been a year since college, and suddenly the differences between all of my classmates are staggering. One scroll through LinkedIn or Instagram, and the comparison game begins. Some of my college roommates are in law school, med school, or working on PhDs. Some are professional athletes. Others are traveling the world. And some are living at home, still figuring it all out. It’s hard not to feel like you’re falling behind, like you should be doing a million things just to catch up.
I’d love to blame the world for this pressure, but the truth is—I’m part of the problem. My own social media highlights exciting job opportunities, hobbies, travels. I don’t post about the quiet days, the loneliness, or the self-doubt. Let’s be real: a photo of my 9-to-5 in a desk chair beside my bed isn’t exactly going to rack up likes (see photo below).
So here’s my encouragement to you: take a moment to reflect on your blessings—your friends, family, experiences, education, financial standing, and more. The mind can be a dark place when you’re constantly comparing your life to others’. But this world is temporary, and it’s not the end of the world if you take a few gap years, go back to school, switch careers, or move to a new town. You do you. There’s no wrong turn—just new experiences and unexpected blessings.
I’m not writing this from a place of having it all figured out. I experience doubt, anxiety, and disappointment too. Growing up, I was always 15 steps ahead, and now I’m in a season of waiting—and that’s uncomfortable. This time last year, I was moving a million miles a minute: graduating, leaving soccer behind, getting married, and moving across the country. It was scary. I miss home more than I expected. But this season has also brought growth—new people, new places, new paths. And for that, I’m stronger, more resilient, and more faithful.
I believe God is in control. When I start to spiral and think I’m messing everything up, I remind myself that that’s not God—it’s the Enemy trying to isolate me and tear me down. But if God truly holds supreme sovereignty, then nothing I do can derail His plan.
You’re not defined by your resume. You’re defined by your character, the love you give, and the joy you bring into the world. Let’s all give ourselves a little more grace. We’re all doing life for the first time—and it’s okay if we’re doing it differently.
Love you guys.
Comments