Lessons I Learned In My 20s

Your 30s are not the new 20s. Be intentional throughout your 20s and watch yourself soar when you hit your 30s.

Our twenties can be very chaotic. The ten years that make up our twenties are filled with a plethora of unkowns. It's the beginning of our adult life. We're still learning and growing, developing who we are meant to be. There will be times where we make mistakes. That's okay. Mistakes are all apart of the journey in perfecting who we are.

Taking your twenties seriously is essential to success in the rest of life. It's the perfect amount of time to get the ball rolling and start deepening passions to find our ultimate purpose in life.

I'm 25 years old, and I've learned a myriad of lessons, and relearned how valuable some of these lessons are. You may know some of them, but are you implementing them into your life?

Time is so valuable, and it goes by so quickly. So be purposeful about how you're spending your time. Don't just waste the day away. Be honest with yourself when you need a break or to rest, however, don't be lazy and take up all your time on "breaks."

2. If you have a dream or goal, start working towards it now!

We all are victims at times of saying we'll start when we have more money, when we have more time, when we're happier, when we finish school, and so on. These are called excuses. They are more likely invalid than they are valid. It's always the right time to start working towards your goals.

3. There's no such thing as right person, wrong time!

This might be more controversial. I believe that people come into your life at the right time for a specific reason. The sooner you are able to accept that, the happier you'll be with your life and the way people enter and exit it. Unfortunately, not everyone is meant to be apart of our life story forever, but instead just a chapter or two. There's so much positive in that because it shows how you're growing and evolving and learning lessons that ultimately lead to your destiny.

4. You cannot make someone change, and you shouldn't want to!

A lot of our 20s are spent exploring different relationships and often we find incredible people who are "almost" what we want. We commit to continuing in the relationship, in hopes that the characteristics that plague the relationship change. Reality is, you cannot make someone change unless they want to. People are who they are and they show you that. Making someone change when they don't want to change will never end well, so trust the character God has shown you they are, and then you determine, at that point, whether they are your person or not.

5. Let people leave!

Heartbreak can be one of the toughest challenges faced in your 20s. It's bewildering and gut-wrenching. The one thing that will not help you is chasing after that person who left because if there ever was a chance they'd come back, you're chasing them farther away. However, the most important thing to remember during a breakup, when you feel at your lowest, is to believe that you are capable of healing and overcoming the pain you are feeling. Heartbreak can bcoe a breakthrough if you believe it. Every successful person had a traumatic moment that served as a catalyst to their success. This could be yours. Stick to positive thoughts, and don't chase people....value yourself!

6. You can find inspiration through anything!

The most mundane tasks or events in our life are often overlooked because they don't provide much value. This is so false! You can find inspiration through anything and everything in your life. When you start to seek the inspiration every day, you slowly start to transform your mind to think more positively too. This is called cognitive reframing, and it will change your life!

7. Don't hold grudges!

Why? Because it's such a waste of time and energy. Tying into lesson number one, holding grudges and having bad blood only wastes your time and infiltrates more negativity into your mind and thoughts.

8. Pay attention to your passions!

Your passions are the key to success. They can quite literally change your life. Have you ever looked at someone and thought, "Wow how did they turn that into a multimillion dollar brand?" Well because they payed attention to their passions and followed paths that incorporated them. I love writing. Writing is my passion, but if I chose to go into finance because I knew it would provide more money upfront, I might never be as successful because that's not my passion. Success isn't about how much money we are making, but when we love something enough, the money comes because we work harder. Our passions are placed on our hearts for a reason. It's our job to figure out that reason.

9. Don't overshare!

This one seems like a no brainer, but with social media and the belief we have to share all aspects of our life online to prove ourselves, I think it needs reiterated. Not everything is meant for everybody to know. Some people might not understand or relate. There's a certain level of privacy that helps you regain control of your life, thoughts, passions, dreams, and goals.

Look back at this anytime you need a reminder of the importance of your 20s and some insight into lessons you should be implementing into your life.