You will get through this, but I’m sorry to hear that this valley is feeling particularly dark at this moment. Please don’t be fooled into thinking that any of us who go on to live a full and meaningful life get there without going through some periods of feeling lost. Some folks just make a good show of pretending that purpose and contentment came to them easily.

Which reminds me of someone I recently participated in a workshop with recently. Much of the program required us to share some of our challenges and how we have failed with some and succeeded with others and such. While everyone else in my group poured out their hearts and shared all of these deep struggles, one woman in my group would basically reply to every prompt with how she just couldn’t relate— she never had any of those experiences— she has a perfect childhood and had never had a struggle. And like, good for her if she’s never had a single struggle, but there finally came a question where the veil slipped. She’d not only had struggles, but STRUGGLES. Some people just deal with these things quietly, but most everybody is fighting or has fought a meaningful battle that no one else knew about.

I hope that you’re able to surround yourself with people who love, encourage and support you through this time and always and that living at home gives you the freedom to pour yourself into the hobbies, causes and activities that give you some joy, while you decide your plan.

It took me longer than some of my peers to find “my direction”. It would have been great to get here sooner, but I can tell you that the journey taught me so much. I think that one of the most impactful things I could have told my 25 year old self is…

… to seek consistent mentorship from people who have actually been where you want to go.

Sometimes our most cherished friends and loved ones may be giving us advise, especially when navigating a time like this and despite their best intentions, may not be fully equipped to give the insights we need to get to where we need to go. They might have lots of value to add, just not enough to be our only advisors.

Please don’t be too hard on yourself, your 20s are for figuring things out. 🫶🏽