Do you ever just wish you could stop feeling behind in life? Like, as in behind in everything? You know what I mean…the gut-sinking feeling you get when you’re thinking, how could I have been more prepared? How could I have had more things planned out so that I never got the feeling of being behind to begin with? Today, I’d like to chat about how it is that we end up here, and what we can do to accept that we are exactly at the place we need to be.

Why Do We Always Fall Behind in Life?

It never occurred to me while growing up that all of those adults were right. Right in time moving more quickly, right in feeling older and wiser, and right in being okay with the fact that we’ll kind of always carry that feeling of being behind in life, just a little bit.

Recently though, I no longer feel bothered by this notion. Instead, I feel enlightened. It feels weird to say that I actually feel good about where I’m at, even though I’m constantly behind in my goals. I think feeling that way is part of what pushes us into figuring out the next steps and then learning how to execute them so that we may actually work toward the path that we want to be on.

The Adulting Curve is Real

The learning curve of becoming an adult is no joke. Taking 30+ years to figure out that you, are in fact your own problem is detrimental to your understanding of the world. It’s a hard pill to swallow especially when you feel that you are doing everything in your power to “fix” what’s going wrong.

I’m not sure why we get to these points as humans, but I am grateful to be able to experience them instead of looking at the glass half empty. Once we get to the realization that we are in fact going to age, going to change, going to get behind in what we want to accomplish, a sort of acceptance sweeps over you.

What Does Trust the Process Mean in 2024?

We’ll Never Catch Up—And That’s Okay

I used to feel like I never had enough time.

Enough time to focus on my personal growth both physically and mentally. Enough time to work toward my long-term career goals. Enough time to spend it with my furbabies or loved ones.

But then something happened.

I learned that no matter what part of life we’re in, we’ll never actually be able to “catch up” unless we hit the ground running from the time we were a baby. (It seems like some children actually do though, check out one of my currently favorite books, Spirit Babies to understand more about what I mean).

And that, my friend, is where balance comes in. That is where we need to turn inward and recognize that we are in fact, only human, and that is actually okay. We are not machines that can work 24/7, or AI that can give answers to anything in the world at the blink of an eye. We are simple beings, and simple beings are what we should be okay with remaining. It’s actually a pretty blissful life if you really consider how good we have it.

In the past, I wanted to learn everything I could. Acquire every skill, learn every language and instrument, read all of the books. So that when I was blessed enough to have children, I could help them with anything and everything that they ever wanted, and have the knowledge to answer any question that may have arisen in their lifetime.

But the best part of being human altogether? We never get to stop learning. We never get to stop growing. Growth is part of everyday life, big or small. And that in itself is a true win. Especially when you get to spend that learning time with those who you love most.

Personal Growth: The Ultimate Long Game

Trusting the Process and Visualizing the Life You Want

Maybe you’re on the path to figuring this out, or maybe you’re already finishing that part of your trip. Whichever part of this journey you’re on, I’m so excited for you. We have so much to figure out in this life and getting just little pieces bit by bit into place is what makes the road to retirement or slowing down so enticing.

I sat down in my backyard today to envision what my future still holds. Behind my eyelids, I saw a beautiful creek bed where my husband and I would build our dream home beside. I saw all the seasons pass by with snow on the trees out in front of our home gym where a baby sat enjoying the views of nature while we enjoyed our self-care time. I saw a new puppy running by my side with my oldest little diva doggie and her trusty pitty sidekick. I saw some stray cats meowing to me from afar where they ran up to their indoor friends in their homemade catio.

I saw a place where I could write to you, beside the creek flowing so smoothy where I could sit with my toes in the squishy dirt beneath the water.

It’s part of what encourages me to keep pushing back at the people who doubt my motives or who say “what’s the point.” Why quit your day job when it’s an easy income and “isn’t hard anyway.” Why go out on a limb to risk what you know for something that you don’t.

The truth is, that becoming more understanding with myself —even when I’m feeling behind in life— has been a huge part of my growth up until this point…and I think it will be for you, too. The more that I recognize what it is that I really want in this life, the more that I start to trust the process of how I got here in the first place.

Finding another human to work through this life with is always helpful to gain a different perspective, whether that be a spouse, a friend, a parent or even a child. Listen to others and talk less about yourself. Find loopholes in problems that make them just a little bit easier to figure out. March forward when others hit the pause button.

Whatever you do, just keep going. <3

Thank You for Being Here—Even If You’re Feeling Behind

Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you’ve been feeling behind in life, I hope this gave you a bit of peace, perspective, or maybe just a reminder that you’re not alone. Life isn’t a race, and your pace is still progress. The fact that you’re here, seeking clarity or simply resonating with these words, means you’re growing—and that matters more than any timeline ever could. Keep going. You’re doing better than you think.