What to Do When You Feel Behind in Life

The timeline you are comparing yourself to does not exist. It is a collage assembled from the highlights of dozens of different people, none of whom are living your life with your history, your constraints, or your particular set of gifts.

There is no schedule for becoming yourself. Some people find their path at twenty; others at fifty. The ones who seem ahead may be running toward something that will not satisfy them. Instead of measuring your position, ask a better question: Am I moving in a direction that matters to me? If yes, your pace is irrelevant. If no, that is useful information — not proof that you are behind.