5 Truths About Life We Are Not Taught.
If we want to prepare the next generation, and ourselves, we must be real about life and what it takes to create one that's whole and thriving.
With that said, here are some truths about life I wish I knew about before making decisions like going to college and who to surround myself with.
There are a million and one ways to make money.
And no, you don't need to figure out how to be a millionaire in your twenties or go to college and get in debt for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
You do not need to become an entrepreneur, and you do not need to have a college degree.
More importantly, you don't have to choose one or the other.
You can work full-time or part-time while figuring out what you want to dedicate yourself to.
You can go to community college or take classes online practically for free.
There's also no deadline or timeline you have to follow.
The guy who founded KFC, Colonel Sanders, didn't start selling chicken until he was in his sixties.
You don't need to crack the code for overnight success in your twenties.
It's a myth, and you've got plenty of time.
You haven't failed if you're not a successful influencer entrepreneur in your twenties and paid for your college education in full.
The key to success is not giving up on yourself and your dreams.
The only way to deal with conflict is to deal with it.
You need to learn to be comfortable having uncomfortable conversations.
I have never met a joyful and successful person who pleases everybody.
What does this mean? It means people, even the ones who are close to you, at some point will not like what you're doing.
Even though it may be uncomfortable telling them it's your life, not theirs, you need to stand up for yourself in moments when you feel you're being treated poorly.
Your friends, family, and even strangers do not have the right to make fun of you and what you choose to do.
Their lack of understanding is not a pass or an okay to be disrespectful.
Call out their poor behavior, and watch as they and the world realizes you're not someone to be messed with.
Another way to say this — set boundaries.
Don't be afraid to tell people what is and isn't their business.
Your peace is more important than your comfort.
Your career or job will never be as satisfying as the relationships in your life.
Genuine friendships and a real relationship with your family are what make life sweet.
It's a true joy having people in your life who can accept you for who you are, flaws, and all.
As important as it is to build a life and ensure your financial house is in order and thriving, do not neglect the people in your life who treat you this way.
If you have people who care about you and are there for you when it's not convenient for them, you're blessed.
Those are true friends and genuine relationships.
These are the people you will want to celebrate with when you achieve your goals.
Always make time to invest in these relationships. If you invest in the right people, the return will be tenfold.
This leads to my next point.
Healthy and thriving relationships, not just romantic ones, require effort from both parties.
You can't have genuine relationships if you are the only one putting in the effort.
Have standards for the people you allow a close and intimate look into your life — whether it's a romantic partner or a friend.
Make sure their intentions are genuine towards you and the friendship or relationship they're trying to build with you.
I have made the mistake of letting people too close and investing much more of myself than they did.
I had the false impression that I was valued as much as I valued them.
When difficult circumstances came to pass, my friends gave up on me instead of trying to work things out.
You want friends who care about the relationship and see the value you provide.
You want friends who don't give up when you get into disagreements — friends who are okay with not seeing eye to eye on everything.
You want friends that see you as a whole person and not just as an accessory to their lives.
Who you choose as a partner is one of the most important decisions you will make.
This is the person you've chosen to build a family and a life with; make sure they're ready for the responsibility.
Too many people waste time dating.
You may be confused about what I just said.
Dating IS the way to find someone we can create a life with.
Sometimes we get too caught up in the superficial and shallow aspects of dating and forget to look at the person.
Dating can be fun. But if you're only doing it for fun, you won't find someone who takes you seriously.
The point of dating is to get to know a person and figure out if they are a good match for you and what you want for your life.
Too many people are dating to pass the time, to feel less alone, to have their dinners paid for, to have sex, etc.
As I mentioned above, you need standards — the standards for the person you want to create a life with should be higher.
They don't need to be Prince Charming or Cinderella, but they do need to have character, morals, and values.
Figure out what those are, and take your time getting to know people so you can figure out who fits your standards best — and vice versa.
Things like how you view finances and money, raising children, and goals for the future need to be discussed before you decide to get into a relationship.
As I said before, you want to make sure the person you choose is ready for the responsibility of being a contributing partner.
I hope these help you on your journey to creating a life you're satisfied and proud of.
