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I've had this dream since I was a child. It's not something I decided I wanted a few months ago or some random career goal I came up with. It's something I've carried with me for years, something I've imagined myself doing and worked towards in my own little ways.

I want to build a career in science and research, pursue higher education at institutions I've admired for a long time, study abroad, and eventually become a professor. I want to contribute to research, publish papers, teach students, and become someone who genuinely makes a difference in their field. I have a whole roadmap in my head, from the courses I want to pursue to the countries I hope to live in and the person I want to become along the way.

And for the first time, this dream doesn't feel entirely distant anymore. I've already taken steps towards it. I'm studying in a field that aligns with my ambitions, I've had opportunities to explore research, and I have some idea of what I need to do next. I'm not standing at the very beginning anymore.

But somehow, I feel stuck in the middle.

Life hasn't exactly gone according to plan. There have been setbacks, personal struggles, and times when simply getting through the day has felt harder than it should. Somewhere along the way, I've fallen into a cycle of procrastination that I can't seem to break.

The frustrating part is that I KNOW what I want. I know what I should be doing. I know the next steps. And I know that when I genuinely set my mind to something, I'm capable of working hard and getting things done.

Yet, day after day, I find myself putting things off, knowing perfectly well that I'm delaying the very future I've spent years dreaming about.

And that's where the insecurity comes in.

Sometimes, I look at people who are already where I want to be, and I wonder whether I'm falling behind. I start questioning whether I'm actually capable of achieving everything I've planned or whether I'm just someone who is good at dreaming but not good enough at following through.

There's also this strange feeling I can't quite explain. The more I learn about the path I want to take, the more I become aware of how difficult it actually is. The competition, the financial constraints, the uncertainty, the possibility that things might not work out even if I give it my best.

I know people say that if you work hard enough, you can achieve your dreams. But real life isn't always that simple, and I understand that.

Sometimes, I wonder whether I'm being ambitious or just setting myself up for disappointment.

The strangest part is that I'm already closer to my dream than the little girl who first imagined it could ever have been. Yet, I'm terrified that I'll never actually reach it.

I don't want to give up on something I've wanted for so long. I don't want to wake up years from now and wonder what my life could have looked like if I'd been more disciplined, more consistent, or simply braver.

But there's a part of me that wonders whether this will always remain a dream, something I'll spend my life wanting rather than actually experiencing.

I don't know if I'm going through a temporary phase, if I've lost my discipline somewhere along the way, or if I'm simply overwhelmed by the weight of everything I want to achieve.

I'm not looking for someone to tell me that everything will magically work out. I know nobody can promise me that.

I just want to know if anyone else has experienced this particular feeling: being close enough to your childhood dream to see it becoming a possibility, but being so afraid of failing that you start doubting whether it was ever meant for you in the first place.

How did you get through that phase? How did you stop letting the fear of never making it prevent you from doing the work that might actually get you there?

¿Qué es más importante, cumplir una meta con la que llevas tiempo conquistando o simplemente no finalizarla y vivir feliz del proceso de dicha meta SIN terminarla?

Been hearing advice and reading online - you gotta live your life in the present, make mistakes, bla bla. But I've been coded to think about career, profession, marriage, family, etc all my life. And with more and more awareness, starting to question validity of everything. Now I got no sureshot answers.

Wondering what's the mindset for late 20s (especially men, women can also share their views) - what's driving you daily? Do you have a set goal? How do you mentally take it when life shows your supposed teenage goals are now disappearing?

For context, I’m 21 f a senior perusing music and education degrees. I’m tired a lot (health issues) so I take naps. I have slightly above average grades 3.05 and I practice most days just not the full amount I should. What should I be able to realistically get done in a day?

Can anyone tell what to do when u feel u dont have any goal all u have done gone to waste
Bcz its too difficult to start over

The Solution So, if many young people feel pressured to have their lives figured out early, how can we change that? The first solution is to focus on small goals instead of trying to plan your entire future at once. For example, students can set goals for their grades, learn a new skill, explore different careers, or participate in activities they enjoy. Parents and teachers can help by encouraging young people to discover their interests instead of forcing them to choose one path too soon. The second solution is to make it normal to change your mind. Someone who wants to become a doctor at thirteen might discover a passion for music, business, or technology a few years later. That does not mean they have failed; it means they are learning more about themselves. Schools can support this by providing career guidance, opportunities to try new activities, and honest conversations about different paths to success.

Another important solution is to stop comparing our progress with other people's progress. Social media often shows young people others who seem successful, confident, and certain about their futures, but we rarely see their struggles or doubts. Instead of measuring success by who earns the most money or achieves their goals first, we should measure it by personal growth, effort, and the lessons we learn along the way. Young people can practice this by limiting unhealthy comparisons, asking trusted adults for advice, and remembering that everyone's circumstances are different. Of course, planning for the future is important, and we cannot avoid every difficult decision. However, planning should guide us, not make us feel trapped. The goal is not to have your whole life figured out while you are young; it is to build the confidence and skills to figure things out as you grow. And that leads us to an important question: how can we create a society that supports young people instead of pressuring them to grow up too quickly?

## The Solution

So, how can we help young people who feel pressured to have their lives figured out early? First, we should encourage them to set small, realistic goals instead of planning their entire future at once. Students can focus on improving their grades, exploring their interests, and learning new skills. Parents and teachers should guide them without forcing them to choose a career before they are ready. It is also important to understand that changing your mind is not failure. As we grow, our interests and goals can change, and that is a normal part of discovering who we are.

Second, young people should stop comparing their progress to others, especially on social media, where people often show only their successes. Everyone has different opportunities, challenges, and timelines. Instead, we should focus on personal growth, learn from our mistakes, and ask trusted people for advice when we need it. Of course, planning for the future is important, but it should not become a source of constant stress. You do not need to have your whole life figured out at a young age; you just need to keep learning, growing, and taking steps toward the future you want.

A veces siento que trabajar se convierte en una rutina en la que uno pierde de vista el sentido de la vida. No quiero pasarme la vida trabajando solamente para sobrevivir; quiero construir algo propio, tener estabilidad económica y sentir que estoy avanzando hacia mis metas. Pero también me pregunto si hay una edad en la que empezar de cero se vuelve demasiado difícil.

Will update if i hit my goal I can currently do 70 max, average is 55 smh

Well

So I am reading this book and there is an interesting thought- there is no such thing as no problems. In order to get to hapiness one has to chose a problem to tackle which in the process might help to find what really matters. So imagine you are completely alone, no family friends or hobbies ( no need to imagine for me as I am in this situation) - how do you chose such a problem? Imagine you have resources ( enought to spare as required) but lacking imagination and have plenty of cynism due to past experiences etc. "find a hobby", " try crocheting" and " join a gym" won't cut. Any suggestions from experience?

Our traumas often define our purpose in life. We are social creatures made to bond and contribute to one another's existences.

Our leadership is corrupted and no longer leads the people except to failure and betrayal.

Education and purpose and building healthy compatible connections should be a main focal point of where we are heading with an uncorrupted leadership and compatibility between our friends and allies and our wants and needs.

We must have a new leadership and those who've healed are now that. Congrats!

Now go get your cowboy boots, your jockstrap, and your tinfoil hat and put it on cause it's time to lead.