Being in your twenties is confusing, messy, and at times, painfully lonely. You’re trying to figure out who you are, what you want, and how to make your life feel like it’s yours, but everything around you seems to push back. I live at home, I didn’t finish university, and I’ve spent years helping my parents, putting their needs first while wondering if I’ll ever feel like I have a life of my own. At the same time, I’ve dealt with relationships that left me feeling small, unworthy, and unsure of my confidence. It’s hard not to compare yourself to others, not to wonder why your path looks different, why it’s slower or messier, or why you feel like you’re always starting from scratch. And it doesn’t help that the people around you, even those who mean well, often judge or make comments that make you doubt yourself further. Social media is another layer, you see people posting, sharing, living, and everyone seems to have it together. And while I’ve never cared much about strangers online, I felt the comparison with those around me deeply, the ones I love, the ones whose paths I thought I should match.

At first, it felt impossible to untangle myself from all of it. I thought life was about meeting expectations, others’ expectations, society’s, even my own, but slowly, I realized that the first step to feeling better is acceptance. Accepting that you are where you are, that everything you’ve gone through is part of your story, and that it’s okay to be in progress. Stopping the comparisons, especially with people close to you, was a turning point. It’s not that their lives are better or worse, it’s just different. Everyone has their own journey, and the sooner you internalize that, the more peace you find.

One of the things that really shifted me was choosing to romanticize my life. I started paying attention to the small, everyday moments, the walks to work, the coffee I drink in the morning, the music I put on while cooking dinner. I began to put a little positive filter over my eyes, letting myself see beauty and gratitude even in ordinary moments. I allowed myself a little delusion, a little playfulness, because it doesn’t hurt anyone and it makes life feel lighter. I also sat down with a pen and paper and wrote out everything I wanted to change, giving myself promises. Some I’ve kept, some I haven’t, and that’s okay. We are human, we have time, and progress isn’t linear.

I’ve realized that overcoming struggles in your twenties isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about reflection, self-acceptance, and taking small actions that slowly build your confidence and joy. It’s about giving yourself grace, celebrating tiny victories, and creating your own rules instead of living by others’ expectations. Sometimes the smallest mindset shifts, allowing yourself to dream, letting yourself be proud of what you’ve already accomplished, or simply noticing the good around you, can change everything. You don’t need to rush, you don’t need to be perfect, and you definitely don’t need to live by anyone else’s timeline.

So I want to ask you: what small things could you do today to honor yourself? How can you start accepting where you are, stopping the comparisons, and romanticizing your life in ways that feel real to you? How can you take a moment to celebrate yourself even when life is messy? Life in your twenties is heavy, confusing, and sometimes painful, but it’s also full of lessons, discoveries, and moments that remind you who you are. And even if it feels slow, even if it feels hard, every little step you take toward understanding and loving yourself matters.

You’re not behind. You’re not failing. You’re in the middle of your journey, and that’s exactly where you’re supposed to be.