Let’s be real: life doesn’t come with a manual, no matter how many self-help books try to convince us otherwise. There’s no five-step plan, no “correct” order of operations, and definitely no final level you beat when you’ve finally got it all figured out.

The truth? Most of us are just making it up as we go. And yet, we carry around this quiet, heavy belief that we’re doing it wrong. That someone, somewhere, got the cheat codes and we’re just flailing around on level one trying not to die.

Here’s the good news: You’re not behind. You’re just human. And figuring things out as you go isn’t failure—it’s the most human thing of all.

Let’s unpack some of the biggest myths about being human, and why letting go of them might be the most liberating thing you do this year.

Myth 1: There’s a Right Way to Do Life

You know the feeling. You see someone on social media with their perfectly color-coded calendar, their green smoothie, their viral side hustle, and their emotional availability—and suddenly you’re spiraling. What am I doing wrong?

We’ve been sold this idea that there’s a right way to do life. One path, one process, one personality type that wins.

But that’s not how humanity works. Life isn’t a linear progression from A to B to C. It’s more like a weird subway map that keeps rerouting and occasionally drops you off at an abandoned station with no signage. And still, somehow, you find your way.

There’s no “right” way to live your life. There’s only your way—and figuring out what that looks like is the work. That’s the journey.

Myth 2: Everyone Else Has It Figured Out

Let’s end this lie once and for all: no one has life figured out. Not the influencers. Not the entrepreneurs. Not even the people who sell courses about how to figure out your life.

What most people have figured out is what works for them. And what they’re showing you (especially online) is the highlight reel—sometimes with a curated breakdown thrown in to make it look authentic.

But behind every “I’ve got it all together” post is a human just like you—trying, failing, evolving, and adjusting. The sooner you stop comparing your behind-the-scenes mess to someone else’s front-facing filter, the sooner you’ll feel free.

Myth 3: Self-Help Is the Answer

Let’s talk about the self-help spiral. You know the one—where you go from podcast to book to YouTube rabbit hole to seminar to journaling prompts to cold plunge TikToks and somehow still feel like you’re not doing enough.

Self-help can be helpful. But it can also become a trap. A way to convince yourself that the next tip, the next coach, the next system will finally fix you.

But you’re not broken.

The goal isn’t to fix yourself. It’s to learn yourself. To know yourself. To accept and understand your humanity, not escape it.

Sometimes the answer isn’t out there. It’s in you. Call it intuition. Call it inner knowing. Call it gut instinct. But you already carry a lot of what you’re searching for.

Self-Awareness Is the Real Superpower

If there’s one thing more valuable than personal growth, it’s personal awareness.

Growth says “change.” Awareness says “notice.” Growth says “do better.” Awareness says “see clearer.”

Self-awareness is like watching your life play out as a movie. Except you’re both the main character and the editor. You see the story unfolding, but you also have the power to cut scenes, redirect the plot, and rewrite the script.

And the more awareness you have, the more options you see. More compassion. More grace. More freedom to say, “You know what? I’ve been down this road before and I didn’t like where it took me. Maybe I’ll try a different one this time.”

Sometimes, awareness means choosing the helicopter instead of the road. (Metaphorically. Unless you actually have a helicopter. In which case, can we be friends?)

The Lie That Keeps You Stuck: “You’re Behind”

Few feelings are more common—and more destructive—than the belief that you’re behind.

Behind your friends. Behind your peers. Behind where you thought you’d be by now. Behind the made-up timeline you created when you were 16 and didn’t know squat about life.

But here’s the deal: you’re not behind. You’re on your timeline. And the idea that there’s a universal “supposed to be by now” list is absolute garbage.

Behind according to who? The internet? Your high school guidance counselor? That one family member who keeps asking what you’re doing with your life?

You’re exactly where you need to be. And everything that’s happened so far? It’s all data. Data you can use to make your next decision. And when you do that—when you let your past inform your present—you reclaim power. You reclaim possibility. You reclaim the story.

Moving Forward > Moving On

There’s a difference between moving on and moving forward.

Moving on implies forgetting, disconnecting, and bypassing the pain.

Moving forward means carrying what you’ve been through, integrating it, and choosing to take one more step.

You don’t have to “get over” what’s happened to you. You don’t have to minimize your trauma or rush your healing or fake a smile to make people comfortable.

You just have to keep going. Awkwardly, honestly, and at your own pace.

The Power of the Fog

Sometimes, we can’t see what’s next. It’s like standing in a dense fog, barely able to see one step ahead. We hate that feeling. We panic. We assume we’re doing something wrong.

But what if the fog is a gift? What if it’s slowing you down so you don’t run headfirst into something you’re not ready for? What if it’s protecting you while something inside of you gets ready for the next chapter?

Not knowing isn’t failure. It’s part of the path. It invites curiosity. It demands presence. It builds trust—in yourself, in the process, in whatever comes next.

You Are Worthy. Full Stop.

You are not valuable because of what you produce. Or how well you perform. Or how optimized your morning routine is.

You are worthy because you exist. Full stop.

When you really internalize that—when you stop trying to earn your right to exist and just start being—life opens up in new ways. Softer ways. Richer ways.

You stop chasing someone else’s definition of success and start asking, “What actually makes me feel like me?”

If you’ve ever felt stuck, lost, behind, broken, or just exhausted by all the life advice telling you to be “better”—this is your permission to stop. Not stop growing. Not stop evolving. Just stop trying to do it all perfectly.

You’re already doing something remarkable: You’re being human. And that’s enough.

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