In the last year or so I started to see so many people of my age that have done truly incredible things and still doing more.
For the vast majority of my life my only goals were gettimg academic satisfaction and doing unproductive stuff in the free time to get temporary pleasure. No end goal whatsoever.
I kind of don’t know what I’ve been doing in the last 17 years while someone gets a patent on solar systems, other invents a new recyclable plastic, and another found a successful startup. I mean, they all find what they’re supposed to be doing with their lives and excel in them.
I feel overwhelmed for trying to pace up with these kind of people. Yet I don’t like the way the things are and I can’t do anything but envy those people.
Anyone with experience in this regard? How did you deal with this? Did you eventually “pace up” with these people or was it too late or an unattainable goal?
Edit: Whoops, I didn’t expect so many replies! Thanks, I’ll look into them all
Comparison is the thief of joy. Enjoy others’ success but compare yourself of today with yourself from the past.
It can be, but it can also be the match to the tinder.
For about 5ish years I didn’t do much with my life. Stayed home and worked and only really hung out with people online. It was fun, but never felt satisfying over long periods of time. It was only during the lockdowns that I started watching YouTube videos and realizing what I wanted to do with my life.
I started learning a second language, going back to college, riding a bike again, traveled the world and lived in another country for a short period of time, began accepting my sexuality, and am about a year out from getting my Associate Degree before I get my Bachelors.
Yes, comparison is bad but sometimes you just need to the right amount to realize that you’re squandering your time on this rock and start carving a new path.
That’s another way to word it. As I said, enjoy what other people’s success looks like and be inspired by it. You can try to do the same things, if you find value in them, but just know that your success might look differently.