I'm figuring it out

When we are kids, we think being in the "I'm figuring it out" zone is normal. Figuring out how to learn science and Math, how to write essays, how to make friends, how to play a sport, how to draw, how to cook, how to bungee jump (if you're into that sort of thing)...the world is our all-you-can-eat buffet. Sure, parents and teachers set some rules — You must pick two veggies and chew slowly. Other than that, it’s all cool.

No one expects you to try and answer any of the big life questions. What kind of work will you do, where will you live, who will you marry....you have enough time to figure it out. You have dreams, you have ambitions, and you have plenty of time to figure it out. 

You pass out school, go to college, get a job, marry...have a home, spouse, children. By this time, your family depends on you. Your kids look up to you. Your parents are proud of you for becoming a responsible adult. Your friends, colleagues everyone knows you are sorted. You know what you're doing. You got everything under control.

Unfortunately, that's not always the case. 

There comes a time — in fact, many times in your life — when deep within, you feel like you're still a child trying to figure things out. What is it that matters the most to you, what is it that makes you truly happy? Is it the job where you just got promoted? Or is it a side project you’re working on? Questions like What's my purpose, what am I doing, am I living a life that I want to or am I living the life others expect from me?

You need to figure things out. 

There’s just one problem. You're not a kid anymore. By this time, you are supposed to be “sorted”. I mean, look at everyone else. They got it all figured out...your friends, your boss, your colleagues, your neighbor, the guy you bump into every day on the street, the woman you greet every morning on your ride to work, everyone knows what they are doing. So how can you still be in the figuring-it-out zone?! 

Sounds familiar? 

Although it might seem like it, no one has it all figured out. 

What differs is the things that need figuring out. Maybe you need to figure out how to make money but you figured out how to raise happy kids. Your friend might be minting money but he's still figuring out how to lose those extra pounds. Your boss looks like she got it all but she is struggling to get out of a crappy relationship.

So what if you are 60 and haven't figured out how to ride a bicycle?

So what if you are 40 and haven't figured out how to initiate a conversation?

So what if you are 80 and don’t know how to cook? 

No one — no one at all — my friend, has it all figured out. Your Instagram feed will beg to differ. It will show you perfection, scroll after scroll. It will hide the “unsurities” people have become good at hiding.

Maybe there should be an app dedicated to the I'm figuring it out theme, where all people can post, is what they are struggling with. It will help. It will help us all. It will encourage us to stop being our worst critic. 

It will give us the confidence to march in the I don't know yet but I'll figure it out zone with pride. 🥁💂💂💂🥁

No matter your age, it's okay to be figuring things out. That's what makes you human.

So stop being so harsh on yourself and go figure it out. It's never late.