When did we stop listening to our own needs, desires, and dreams? These days, it feels like we spend more time scrolling through social media, watching others, and comparing ourselves than ever before. How many times have you found yourself asking, Am I doing enough? Am I falling behind?

Why do we do this to ourselves?

It’s everywhere. All the time. And here’s the thing: whether you own a business, work a 9-to-5, freelance, or focus on your family - none of it makes anyone better or worse than anyone else. We’re all just trying to make our way in the world, and somehow, we’ve convinced ourselves that the choices we make (or don’t make) define our worth.

A Conversation That Stuck With Me

Not long ago, I reconnected with an old friend, and we had a conversation that stuck with me. He said, “Work isn’t important to me. I’m happy as I am.” I hadn’t even asked, but it felt like he was trying to justify his choice to me - because I run my own business. As if having a business makes me better than him. It doesn’t. And honestly… who cares?

If you dream of starting your own business, go for it! But remember, it’s not for everyone - and that’s perfectly okay. Just like medicine wasn’t for me (yep, I lasted a whole four months at uni studying medicine before dropping out… honestly, I’m surprised I made it that long), you don’t have to follow a path that doesn’t feel right, no matter how “perfect” it may seem to others. If it doesn’t align with who you truly are, it won’t bring you the happiness you’re looking for.

The Truth About Success

Let’s get real for a moment: we only have one life. Why waste it chasing someone else’s version of success? Stop justifying your choices to others. You don’t owe anyone an explanation for why your path is different. Live your best life, not the one someone else expects of you.

We can’t let society dictate our happiness. Everyone has their own path, and it’s perfectly okay if it doesn’t fit the so-called “norm.” The last thing we need is to get stuck in a cycle of comparison or feel weighed down by other people’s judgements and opinions.

To Those Who Feel the Need to Impose Their Views on Others

Why? Why do some people feel the need to tell others how they should live? If someone doesn’t want children, respect that. It’s not your place to judge, and it’s certainly not your place to pressure them into a decision that doesn’t feel right for them. If someone doesn’t want that high-powered job, let them. Mental health and well-being will always come before a title. If someone chooses to stay single for the rest of their life, honour that choice. Wouldn’t you rather they be happy, living life on their terms, than stuck in a toxic relationship?

Stepping Into Someone Else’s Shoes

To those who think it’s okay to impose your views on others - why not take a moment to step into their shoes and see things from their perspective? Would you appreciate it if someone constantly told you how to live your life and pressured you into decisions? Do you have so little faith in them that you don’t believe they’re capable of making their own choices? 

I get it - sometimes it comes from a place of wanting what’s “best” for them. You think you know what’s good for them, but here’s the truth: the only person who truly knows what’s right for them is them. You might think you know what they need, but you’re seeing it through your own lens, your own reality. That’s not their reality, and it’s definitely not their perspective.

(And just a note - I’m talking about rational adults here.)

Question Everything

Society imposes these unspoken timelines and "norms" on us, making people feel like they should have achieved certain milestones by a specific age. These expectations surround us, even when they’re not obvious - but that doesn’t make them right.

One of the reasons I dislike social media and mainstream narratives is because they pressure us to live a certain way, making those who don’t fit the mould feel like they’re failing. But that’s absolute nonsense, and I can’t stand it.

No one knows you better than you know yourself. What works for someone else won’t necessarily work for you. Don’t conform to a so-called norm. Question everything. Stay curious - always. Figure out what truly matters to you, and live by that.

Your life is yours, and only you truly know what’s right for you. For me, working for myself feels like the perfect fit because I’m driven by strong values and a desire to create something I 100% believe in, without anyone else standing in the way. But if that’s not your path? That’s not just okay - it’s completely valid. In fact, it’s valid precisely because it’s your path, and no one else’s journey should define yours.

Walk Your Own Path

Stop comparing. Stop justifying yourself. The only person you need to answer to is yourself. Life is about walking your own path - one that feels right for you, not anyone else. Your dreams, your choices, and your happiness should be based on your truth, not someone else’s expectations.

So, let’s stop measuring our worth based on what society deems as “success” and start living in a way that feels true to who we are. We have one life - let’s make it our own. 💗