The problem with us Millenials (especially our age group vs. others), is that we have an irrational pursuit of perfectionism that naturally has a negative side effect on our psyche. However, everyone striving for this so-called perfection – more academic titles, high paying jobs along with the respective job title, more skill sets than ever before has become part of this non-stop machinery of pressured success. In my opinion, we need to become more conscious of this fact and protect ourselves from so-called societal perfectionism, because ultimately when you grind it down to the bone, all this really does is rob our precious life and energy.
- How can he/she have such a body with two children?
- How does a 20-year-old build a multi-million dollar empire?
- How do they travel without seeming to work all the time?
These and other questions are surely what goes through a majority of Gen Y minds when browsing social media and seeing the wide range of comparable people, not only within one’s own surroundings but across the globe. The colorful mix of posts on various networks from professional success stories to personal goals and a variety of other triumphs leaves most people questioning everything within a millisecond and it makes us believe that everyone else is happier and more self-confident than you are.
We all have our own pace. Naturally, we should take care of ourselves – that includes eating well, sleeping well, exercising regularly, and pursuing our own goals. But most of all in this “social media world” it means self-love. And I don’t mean narcissistic self-love believing you are the center of the universe. What I mean is being content with who/what/where you are including not making the wishes and goals of others your own. Logically, be motivated through others, however, do not be dissuaded of your own path. If you are happy falling asleep on the couch at 1 am with a bag of chips after watching a movie on a Friday night, so be it. This does not mean you are less successful than the person who goes to bed at 10 pm and gets in their 7 hours of sleep to get up at 5 am and goes running. The same goes for your professional environment. If you feel comfortable with what you are doing and the employment relationship you have, then that is just as good as if you needed to start your own company.
Because the question you need to answer with a yes to yourself when looking in the mirror is – does it make me happy?
You are living your life, not someone else’s. Don’t mistake all the noise in our ever-online world for who you need to be. Utilize it for your own goals. Be motivated, learn, take certain elements from others along your journey in life, however this constant pressure for success and only success is a superficial creation I believe society has built especially around Gen Y. Again, do not misinterpret what I mean to dispel. Strive for success, but know that you should do whatever you want to do. If you do not feel like taking a digital marketing class or up-skilling in Tableau, or getting six-pack abs, or building your own business, etc, etc – totally cool. Let’s get back to our roots of “being” more than “doing”, especially in the online world.
Recognize what makes you happy, whether you want to be sports-like or live completely relaxed, are an early bird or night owl, or a mix of anything. Be who you want to be and recognize that everyone (including yourself) has their own definition of happiness and contentment. Know this and pursue life with purpose. Base this year’s leftover goals on you as you head into 2024!
Make it happen.
