THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN YOU ARE IN YOUR TWENTIES

In this life we encounter different  people, different situations, different events and different experiences. All these teach us various lessons and as you grow older you realize there is much more to life than you thought when you were younger. Priorities keep changing at each stage and us you get into your twenties you get into a really confusing era of your life. You start to compare your life with those of your age mates and start questioning whether life is fair, just, equal among many other questions. Some of your age mates seem to be succeeding, have their life together yet you seem lost in a hopeless pit of frustration, disappointment and confusion. Take heart because people bloom at different levels so just because things don’t seem to be working out now, it doesn’t mean they never will.

So, here are some of the things I’ve learnt in my twenties and I think can help other twenty year olds or teenagers transitioning into their twenties:

1.What You Can’t Afford Live Without

As you are in your twenties you realize that quality is greater than quantity. You learn that saving is a skill that can help you through a lot of problems. Just focus on purchasing what you have the capability of and anything above that do without until you can afford it.

2. Never Settle at a Comfort Zone

Most people in their twenties tend to reach at a point in their life and they feel that they no longer need more or need to struggle any further. This is not good because you are just in your twenties and the life ahead is way tougher and more demanding than the one you are living now.

3. Be Grateful for the Little Joys

This life is full of challenges, frustrations, disappointments. The goal though is to find the good in every situation. The more you appreciate what you have rather than what you don’t have then you will always be at peace and have a smile on your face.

4. Learning and understanding The Struggle is best _ to be a success.

Nothing in this life comes easy. Everything you want requires some sort of sacrifice and initiative so as to acquire it. Hence, the only way to acquire true success is to understand the journey and what it takes to actually get there.

5. Listen to Your Parents/ Guardians Advice

When you get in your twenties, you realize that your parents/ guardians are actually the best source of information because they have been where you are and they have the best interests of you in their heart. Take advantage of the fact that your guardian or parent is still around and get as much as you can from them right now when they are still alive.

6. Change is Inevitable

As you grow older, you realize that you can not control every situation or plan. Hence, you have to learn to adopt to the prevailing conditions and circumstances. The only constant in life is change so always be ready to adapt to it because the faster you do; the better life will be for you.

7. What Other People Think Of You Is Not Important

When you are in your twenties, you need to stop making decisions based on what others think you should do but rather make decisions that suit you best. The most important thing to remember here is that what you think about yourself is very crucial because it determines how you view yourself and what you will pursue.

8. Seek Counsel From People Slightly Older Than You

In your twenties you realize that there are some issues you need help with but talking to your parents/ guardians may not be easy. This is where you need to identify people who are slightly older than you that you consider as role models to help you figure out other aspects of life.

9. Positive Thoughts Bring Positive Things

I’ve learnt that your attitude determines your thoughts and your thoughts determine everything else you do. Every time I adopt positive thinking, all I see are opportunities and every time I have negative thinking, all I see is problems. Stay positive to always have a positive outcome.

Remember that your twenties are a time to learn the necessary life skills that you will apply throughout your life.

One of the most important things in life is to remember that if you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t you’ll find an excuse.

Most of all,  never forget that the reason most people give up is because they tend to look at how far they still have to go instead of how far they have come.

By Eva Mwangi.