It's Okay If It's Taking More Time Than You Thought
Forbes 30 under 30 is toxic
Tis’ the season for:
comparison
yearly reviews
planning on how to be better, richer, cooler next year
I just got back to America yesterday and I can already feel the ache of underachievement under my skin.
The cultural belief that “you are what you do” isn’t just debilitating, it’s inaccurate.
What you’ve accomplished this year is not a reflection of your worth.
I think living in France has taught me a few things about goal setting and achieving things:
1. Goals are useless without meaning
2. Numbers are stupid
3. Measuring success by the way you look is also stupid
I’m not sure if it is my generation or just the culture at large, but we have become obsessed with the Forbes 30 under 30 complex.
First of all, achieving all of your dreams early on in life is boring.
Second of all, even if you did, what are you supposed to do with the rest of your days?
Maybe you need a reminder, but your age is not an accurate barometer of your success.
The only real measurement of success is how you feel in your life.
Are your values aligned with your choices? Great. That is success. Are you saying no more than you are saying yes? Great. That is protecting your peace. Are you reflecting on your blessings and wins more than your failures and losses? Great. That is embodying wellbeing.
I don’t know about you, but being rich and retiring early kind of sounds lame to me. (Of course I don’t want to worry about money like everyone else, but money doesn’t mean success and it surely doesn’t mean happiness.)
Adventure and excitement and life come from trial-and-error living. I know a lot of my best stories started out as detours.
A lot of my best relationships, friendships and zip codes came after letting go of my check boxes and choosing to get back up anyway.
What would happen if you decide to let life surprise you? What would happen if you decide to trust God with your character, ideas and relationships?
I challenge you (and me) to reflect on this year with no comparison to anyone else’s timelines slash the ones we created in our heads. In fact, I challenge you to believe you are right on time to your life.
