20s, is an age group that is so confusing and well, annoying. It is a time for you not only to reflect on your future but also decide upon it, and I can’t imagine a greater pressure. It’s a time where you have to balance everything from a crazy social life that includes parties and helpless boyfriends, school and for some (like me) work as well. On top of it all there is the pressure of knowing that what you decide to do will have great impact on your future. I think the hardest part of the 20s has to be picking a career. One of the things that make it so hard to pick a career is the fact that once you pick it there are less chances of turning back. That’s why it is mostly advised pick a career in something that you love doing, as the famous saying goes,
“If you love what you do you won’t work a day in your life”.
Its true but the problem lies in finding what you love to do and making it into something profitable that you can then make a career out of. When you are in your 20s it is like you are stuck in limbo you can’t wait to start your career and grow up but at the same time you are afraid of how the future might turn out and you would rather stay in your comfort zone. This limbo is a result of you basically trying to run away from decision making and the future by living for now because well…You Only Live Once right!! While it may be entertaining at the time, no progress is made and you are stuck in that same limbo either without the success you wished for or settling for less. Sad right? But you can break free, I am still in the process of doing so but I will share the few things I know or have learnt.
First of all look for something you love to do, and if you don’t know it I say try everything out until you find it. When I went to University I had one goal in mind! To be a lawyer. But once I went through orientation and heard about the journalism class I was convinced that I wanted to be a journalist. So I majored in Journalism and Psychology. I was never sure about the type of journalism I wanted to focus on until I started trying out videography. I played around with the video editing applications and one time I went the whole night editing a video without even noticing. Right then I knew that I had a passion for video editing and writing. So explore and don’t be afraid to try new things until you stumble upon something you love, something you can go hours with doing and won’t complain. Once you do figure out what you love and have a passion, you want to make a career out of it. If you are going to go and work somewhere to get the experience do so. Do not be afraid to apply even to places you are skeptical of, you will be surprised how things come together when you have the passion for it. If you would rather do something on your own establish platforms to help you grow. I started this blog as my platform to grow. I can indulge in writing, I can do interviews and post them and most of all I have my very own platform to post MY videos. The sky is the limit from there.
Next thing and perhaps this is the most important stay focused! There are so many things that can be distracting at our age. One thing I have noticed and experienced is the party life and relationships. This is my opinion. You can get sucked into it and lose all focus, and trust me it’s never worth it. Now I’m not saying the party life should be avoided, no not at all, but just make sure you don’t get too lost in limbo because then you run the risk of staying there. Discouragement can also have you losing focus, that one person you respect telling you to let it go or family not being very supportive of your decisions. Yes it’s hard to continue with discouragement but it’s not impossible. Surround yourself with positive people who will continue to encourage you. If you think that is too much then surround yourself with quotes and bible verses to keep you motivated. I have sticky notes with encouraging bible verse beside my bed on my study desk and my wardrobe. I only did this recently and if I can testify myself it works. Every time I have to finish an assignments but I’m too sleepy I have a sticker that is right in front of me that reads
“Do not love sleep or you will be poor, stay awake and you will have food to spare” Proverbs verse and that is enough to keep me going!
Try it and tell me if this works for you!
Setting long term goals for yourself can also be helpful. If you are self-taught make sure you have adequate practice. If you are going to school for your degree or training in the job then give it your all. Establish means and ways to gain as much knowledge and use it to your advantage. Since it’s a 20s limbo you are bound to lose track at some point whether it’s by lack of faith in yourself or the million stresses of life, but goals keep you focused. Especially long term goals. Keeping your eye on the price always is important. I’m yet to do some of these things myself to completely get out of this 20s limbo, but most of all I hope this is helpful to you. Try it out and share your progress with me and I will share mine with you, it’s all about helping each other. Until the next post try and stay out of the 20s limbo 263isME xoxo
