Not to go all millennial on you, but sometimes we hit a time in our lives when we should just go and get lost. I’ve always considered myself lucky for knowing exactly what I wanted to do for a career since the beginning of college. I majored in Communications and after taking a handful of Public Relations and Marketing classes, I knew it was the career path for me. I’ve always been focused on doing exceptionally well in school and taking every opportunity to work as much as I could, so as a commuter student, especially, I never really went through the basement frat party phase. I was in a committed relationship with a guy I met my senior year of high school and had my eyes on the brightest future: graduate a Dean’s List student, find a high-paying job as I work my way up the corporate ladder, get married and start a family by the time I turn 27 years old.
I thought I had it all figured out, until this past summer when something just clicked in me and I realized that I wasn’t actually happy with the life I was living right now. I was so focused on planning my future happiness, I wasn’t truly living to be happy now in this current moment.
I took matters into my own hands and made some big changes in my life.
I started spending more time at school as I began to prioritize socializing a little more, I broke up with my ex-boyfriend, I made an appointment for my first tattoo, I moved into a house with four other girls, I asked my boss for a raise and got it, and I began to do more things for me. These are all things I’ve wanted, but have been too scared to go after.
I finally realized the only way to get out of the rut I was in was to decide whether I wanted the security of contentment or the uncertainty of taking some risks. I happily chose the latter and found that I am actually happy not knowing where I’m going to work next year, who I’m going to marry, where I will end up living, who I’m going to meet next, etc. The idea of endless possibilities is comforting and not only did I never think I would feel lost again, but I never thought I could be happy, and feel more connected to myself than ever before, while simultaneously feeling lost. So ask yourself, “What’s holding me back?” Get rid of it and then go for it.
Go get lost and find yourself, again, and again, and again.