Well, the good news is that you’re right where your supposed to be, even though that’s probably not what you want to hear. What I mean by that is if you are constantly overwhelmed with thoughts like: I should be much further, I should have a significant other, I should have a career, Susie and I graduated at the same time and that bitch just got married and is making 80k a year, then that means that you are fully aware of the fact that you want more than what you currently have. So the question is what are you going to do about it?
I would say roughly a year and a half ago I was sitting in my living room having a conversation with my old roommate about what my purpose was. I was completely lost. I knew that I was meant for more than what I had, and what I was currently doing with my life, but I had no idea which direction to head in. Honestly, I wasn’t even sure what my passions were. I believe passion is the absolute best place to start. We are told we can be anything we want to be when we’re younger but as we get older that seems to shift and society tends to push college degrees with a good starting salary upon us. At 18 years old we are supposed to know what we want to do as a career for the rest of our lives. I know that there are electives which could give us a small amount of time to think but even so, at that age I had no fucking idea what I wanted. I am still trying to figure that out today, although currently I have a much clearer vision for myself. Now don’t get me wrong, some people may know from years early on exactly what they wanted to be when they grew up but that changed for me about 100 times and just wasn’t a part of my story. I’m by no means bashing college. I feel like it’s very beneficial for certain careers. All I’m saying is at that age I was unsure of what my passions were and without passion for what you do you’ll spend your whole life working.(I’m talking the 9-5 grind at the job you hate type of work.) “Don’t live the same year 75 times and call it a life.” Robin Sharma.
So we want more. Of course we do, it’s the American way. But how do we get it? Well, first we have to stop comparing ourselves to everyone around us and bring the focus on ourselves. I see so many people practically addicted to other people’s lives in the worst of ways. The Kardashians, the real housewives, (insert name of random celebrity you follow on all social media networks.) Social media and reality T.V. has made the lives of every celebrity and even ourselves very transparent. But why do we follow their every move? Yes at some degree it’s entertaining but typically we admire the people we follow in one way or another. Whether it be their fame, beliefs, lifestyle, music, or money, we are attracted to some aspect of their lives and would like to have it for ourselves. So why do we then waste so much time wishing and so little time doing?
Well, I personally thought that’s just the way things were. I believed that those things and that lifestyle or level of happiness weren’t attainable for myself. It just wasn’t in the cards for me. But why? Why the fuck can’t I travel the world? Why can’t I have financial freedom? Why can’t I live the life I desire? I CAN… I WILL.
But in order for me to do so, I had to ask myself that question, WHY NOT? The thing is, the only reason I felt like I wasn’t where I was supposed to be or thought I should be in life is because I wasn’t. And the reason I wasn’t was that I had failed to design the life I wanted for myself. If I don’t map out what I want based on what my passions are then I will never have it. Without a plan for where I want to be and how I am going to get there, I am at the mercy of the universe. Just pinging off of whatever jobs, people, and places are available to me within the 30-mile radius of where I’m living. Some people will spend their whole lives like this. It actually upsets me a great deal. To think that the simple question, why not? could change my whole outlook on life.
Asking the question though isn’t enough. You have to believe that shit, and be willing to do whatever it takes to get there. The path will shift along the way and who knows exactly where you may end up but I assure you if you take a deep honest look at what you are truly passionate about in life and decide to go for it wholeheartedly without hesitation as soon as possible, your life will change.
It will probably be a process, it was for me. But along the way the lessons I’ve learned about life and myself are priceless. Don’t fucking waste your life away without ever discovering who you really are, what you really want, and why you were put here in the first place. We can have whatever we are willing to work for. With big dreams come big responsibilities. If you’re feeling like you should be further along in life, choose your path and follow it. We are the designers of our existence, the creators of our future. Until you believe that yourself you’re at the mercy of the universe. So ask yourself… Why not?