A Concerned Young Professional Wants to KNOW Where NEXT. Where do we GO from HERE?

Dear Young People,

You’re probably thinking about where we’re going with this article today but I promise you that you’ll be glad when we do get there! For all the social media consumers (i.e everyone reading this article), I’m sure you’ve come across your fair share of people telling you to do the absolute most and GRIND in your 20s in order to get ahead of the curve and achieve social mobility. On the flip side, you’re sure to have seen the hordes of people telling you to take it slow and go with the flow because you shouldn’t just be a cog in the capitalist wheel. Then there’s YOU; with the knowledge that your goals aren’t going to achieve themselves but also understanding that you want to arrive at your desired destination sane, rested and with your faculties intact. But HOW?

Therein lies the dilemma of the modern young professional! Born to live the “soft life” (whatever that means for you) but forced to get there by hard means. You’re not opposed to working for what you want but you’d rather work SMART rather than HARD. You’d also prefer to have strong boundaries where your professional life is concerned but yet you question how the bills are going to get paid. Does a more relaxed approach truly yield wealth? Does a laissez-faire approach suit a circumstance that is marred by SURVIVAL and NEED? Everybody’s prescribing how you should live and lead your life but none of it fully addresses what YOU need.?

The VOICES vs YOU

??? GO TO SCHOOL: Okay, I went!

??? GET THE DEGREE: Okay, I got it!

??? GET SOME EXPERIENCE: Okay, I’m getting some!

??? SECURE THE DREAM JOB: Yeah, I’m here! It’s lowkey not what I expected though.

??? HANG IN THERE: By a thread but YEAH!

??? Crickets: So, what exactly did I sign up for? Hello? Anybody there? ??

When the path is linear and easy to predict, there’s a myriad of perspectives on how you should navigate life. The issue is life is inherently non-linear. Everything almost never goes the way we initially planned. Our values, beliefs and identities change and morph as we mature. Suddenly, what we thought we wanted isn’t actually what we want. The life we dreamt of, panned out but it didn’t give what we THOUGHT it would give when we dreamt it up. Suddenly, your desires are changing and in some regards you feel guilty that they are but deep down you know there’s no other way forward but YOUR OWN WAY.

Frankly, at the core of our beings, we know quite exactly what is required and necessary for us to thrive in this world. The kicker is learning to reconcile that this may not ideally resonate with what others believe our calling SHOULD be or what we’ve been told seems NATURAL to pursue. Every day a new road map to success is created and then the game of puzzles begins. How do I fit into this new mold? Do I change the game plan or adapt? Should I start over? Piles and piles of questions surmount and the vision ahead seems murky and shrouded with endless doubts and speculations.

Enter the young professional now who doesn’t even have the time to consider WHERE. The destination is wherever their sustenance comes from. They have bills to pay, obligations to fulfil, a family to support, growing duties and lessening time. There isn’t any time for pleasantries and the luxury of pondering on ‘What Next?’. Their daily goal is to get through the day, secure the bag, do what needs to be done and hope to arise the next to do it all over again. It seldom matters to them where and when they dig for gold. The goal is just to find enough to get by every day.

Whether they’re questioning or not, both individuals are drowning. One is drowning in broken promises while the other is drowning in circumstances beyond their control. And this isn’t the oppression olympics, they’re both drowning equally slow or fast. But where do we GO from HERE? TBH no one can answer that question for YOU (as if this articles wasn’t already existential sksksksksk ??).

Seriously though, the answer to that question lies with YOU. You’ve done all that they said you should do; the only thing left is to do what you feel LED to. You have to have the courage to embark on the journey of your own creation and not the one that was foretold and manufactured for you. Your intuition, sheer willpower and discipline will be your greatest guides. Caution though; Rome wasn’t built in a day so don’t expect quick fixes or remedies. It will take time to PIVOT and chart a new course but at least your FOUNDATION is STRONG. Maybe that’s what it was all about in the first place, building a solid foundation.

A foundation gives you the strength to stand and a vantage point from which to contemplate your next moves. Maybe what seemed like a prison is actually the necessary tool for your liberation. As the cliche goes ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’ and truly it did! You’re HERE, reading this article at this moment and getting some semblance of direction or at least a new perspective.

I hope I didn’t lose you too far down the rabbit hole but part of living is acknowledging hard TRUTHS. There comes a time where YOU have to take control of your own ship and steer. That duty was never anyone else’s; it was always yours to carry out. So I ask now, where do YOU go from HERE?

Have a Blessed Week Everyone!

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Welcome to 'Dear Young People'—your go-to source for actionable advice, inspiring stories, and practical tips designed to empower Gen Z to navigate life's twists and turns with confidence and resilience. Join our vibrant community of dreamers, innovators, and changemakers as we explore topics ranging from personal growth and career development to mental wellness and making a positive impact in the world. Let's embark on this journey together and unlock the endless possibilities of youth!