Do you ever feel left behind. Like you’re just stagnant and everybody else seems to be two steps ahead of you. Looking like they’ve got their whole life figured out. While you’re just there feeling a little dead inside and left behind.
With some migrating, some getting married, some having babies, some buying houses, some vacationing etc. While you’re just there at the same job, feeling stuck doing the same things everyday. And also feeling like you’re not making headways in life. While everybody else you know seem to be in different stages of adulting, speaking in terms that feel so very distant to you.
I’ve been there and I know how it feels. You know, I currently still feel like 2019 was last year. Because I’ve not been able to move past the fact that 2 full years of my life have gone past since then. 2020 feels like a dream, like something that isn’t real.
Like something I conjured out of my imagination which never really happened. *Sigh*. I don’t know if you understand how that feels. But I just feel like the world took 2 years of my youth from me that I won’t ever be able to get back.
Life is in stages and everyone’s timeline looks different from the other. So dwelling in that space where you feel behind everybody else is not going to do anything but get you depressed. Now, here are 5 things that helped take me out of that space. And also helped put me back in charge of my life.
Find yourself an outlet
One of the things that worked for me is being able to find an outlet out of my everyday routine. Finding out what excites you and going for it. Something you can do that isn’t tied to work. A creative side of you that you’ve never explored.
Or just a hobby that you can fully immerse yourself in in your free time. This will help take out that monotonous feeling of doing the same things everyday. And helps you breathe easier.
Locate the root cause of the feeling and make new plans
Figure out what you are feeling left behind on and make new plans to bring you closer to achieving it. If it’s marriage or say, finding a partner, think of what things you can do now that will expose you to meeting new people. Do you have to go out more, put yourself more out there, join social clubs or groups, attend more parties etc. Just make plans. This will get you excited and make you have something new to look forward to.
Take social media breaks
Social media has a way of making lots of people feel less than themselves. You are scrolling through Instagram and getting fully immersed in the glitz and glam of the online world. But unconsciously also comparing your own reality to the virtual person’s controlled reality. Whilst feeling your life a little bit drab and ordinary compared to theirs.
Which ends up making you feel overwhelmed, unfulfilled and unsatisfied with your life as it is. And this is exactly why it’s healthy for you to take social media breaks from time to time. I wrote all about that here.
Compare yourself to yourself
This might sound a little bit cheesy and insincere. But comparing yourself to others can be a big source of heart break and disappointment. So what works is to quit that and instead compare yourself to yourself. Pick up your journal and read through some of your old entries. Compare your present self to your past self and see just how much you have changed and grown.
And how much you are actually so not behind but moving forward at the exact pace that is right for you. Life is ultimately not a race so taking it one day at a time is one way you can live a life of peace. Whilst also giving yourself enough room to grow and get even better.
What did you think of this piece. Please type in the comments section. I would love to hear from you.
