What People Don't Tell You About Your 20s

Entering your 20s can either be viewed in one's mind as “I’m getting old!” or “It’s just another year.” But as a late teenager, you’re finding your identity and is at the start of discovering who you are. Or maybe, you haven’t reached that yet and you’re entering your 20s with that challenge; I’m here to tell you that it is more than okay.

Someone’s age doesn’t reflect one’s level of wisdom, but there are realizations, challenges, and tough reality checks you may learn throughout the years. From relationships, career paths, to your own personal growth; all aspects that lead you to want to be a content version of you. People didn’t tell me what to expect in adulthood, but I’m here to tell you what to expect when you enter your 20s.

Choose the Career Path You Will Enjoy and Be Passionate

Choosing a career for the annual pay does sound like a perfect idea, but not until you realize you will hate it every day with no interest in enjoying it. Changing my career path led me to realizing that my mental health and passion matters if I will be waking up everyday to be in a workplace, spending majority of my day doing something that I at least don't dislike. It is something to definitely reflect on and may take some time to recognize.

Growing Apart in Friendships Without a Grudge is Normal

<p>There is a misconception with people who no longer are in a relationship or friendship, that it has to end with conflict. That doesn't have to be the case. People can grow apart, love from afar, while realizing your definition of a friendship wasn't mirrored by that person. You will recognize that we are all a work in progress and it is normal to come across people who don't fit the expectations you have. What matters is how you deal with it and choose whether you want that in your life long term or not.

Financial Responsiblity

Financial responsibility is crucial, whether it is building your credit score or having a stable job to save up for future investments. You are your best motivator, the way you spend your money will say so. Have a monthly goal in how much you'll put into a savings account. Restrict yourself from spending money on things that you can get at a different time. Financial discipline can get you very far into achieving your goals. For example, take a few days out of your week to make a home made drink instead of ordering from Starbucks. Meal prep instead of constantly buying food every day. Treat yourself once a week by getting a drink from a cafe instead. Minor daily spending can result into major waste within one month. Once you get the hang of a financial routine, you'll thank yourself later.

Healing Doesn't Need to Define You

Your battle scars are part of the story that you are in, they don't have to be your identity. When it comes to reaching a point of healing, it doesn't need to define you too. You don't have to view yourself as the repaired person that was once damaged; you can be the resilient human that is becoming and growing every day. Getting yourself out of a victim mindset is one thing, but getting yourself out of the "survivor" or "repaired" label is another. Self growth is a beautiful thing to embrace, take every day as a new day to work towards that.

Seek Contentment. Not Happiness

What I mean by this is happiness is an emotion; an intense joy. No one has a fully joyful life. What matters is contentment, which is to be satisfied in the things that bring benefit and peace into it. That is something you will surely want to seek at one point in life, and recognizing that at your 20s is a great start. You will eliminate the things that don't seem to positively affect you long-term.

Your Healthy Boundaries Don't Make You Selfish

Whether at your workplace, relationships, professional/ educational settings, creating healthy boundaries is a way of embracing your self worth. Never be ashamed to do so, it is not something that makes you selfish or conceded. It is something that makes you self reliant on your peace and mental health. You are part of the environment you choose to surround yourself with