As someone in their early 20s, it’s easy to compare myself to my friends. We all are talking about plans after college, the careers we want, and more. People are saving for cars and weddings while I’m playing Minecraft for days on end. One slow day, I get a call from a friend asking for my advice. I was confused as why she called me. When asked, she said it was because I had a good sense of self that she doesn’t have. That changed my perspective.
What does success look like?
No One Knows
The truth no one tells you is that no one knows what they are doing. Everyone is taking that risk. No one truly know if they will succeed. You can use this to your advantage. Understanding this will help you keep going even when you think about giving up.
Many adults experience what could be described as imposter syndrome. The phenomenon describes when one has extreme doubt in their abilities and the fear of being a “fraud.” This causes people to not even attempt their goals.
A way to overcome this is acknowledging that no one knows you better than yourself. A single mistake will not have your peers looking at you differently.
Appreciating The Little Things
Learn how to love the small achievements, because that will motivate you to continue! I found this helpful when I started hosting meetings for a club on my college campus. The first time I ever hosted a meeting only five people showed up and they left early. I sat in the empty room for the entirety of the meeting hoping more people would come. No one did.
I continued to have meetings and just those girls would come. I took the time to get to know the girls. We talked about classes, hobbies, and the club. When I considered letting the club go months later, I thought about those girls. I knew I could count on them to come to meetings. So, instead of focusing on what’s not there, think about what you have and improving that. Sometimes you don’t need something entirely new.
Not Losing Motivation
When it comes to setting goals like losing weight, eating well, or having one “bad” day should not deter you. Here’s how it happens: you decide to start working out, you commit for a week straight, and one day you an entire plate of brownies. Don’t stop your journey!
I once saw a comment on a video where someone was asking the audience how they stay motivated. The comment said that they know, with 100%, they are doing better than anyone that isn’t trying. While that comment had mixed reactions, being able to say you attempted something new is still impressive!
What to Remember
Your success does not have to look like anyone else. Everyone has their own path and wants for their life. For example, I want to take four classes instead of five each semester for the upcoming school year. So, I took summer classes to keep up with my credits. I had many friends that did not understand my actions. The only thing that matters? That I understand my actions.
A takeaway from all of this? Overall, success does not have to be this monumental goal set by you or anyone else.
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