It’s hard to have it all. As I begin my journey to find the perfect internship that will lead to the perfect job in a perfect career where I can provide for my perfect family, the more pressure begins to descend upon me. When did perfection and doing your best become synonymous? What I am imagining truly does sound wonderful, except for the fact it all sounds wonderful and, well—perfect. I expect myself to reach all of these goals in such a short period of time that I am not stopping to consider there will be an alternate route to get there. I have become so focused on the end result that I am forgetting the work that goes into it—and the fact that the work that goes into it might not go perfectly. It’s not fair to write the last chapter of your life when you are just beginning it.
To the person who is trying to have it all, it’s not time yet.
Life is not an evaluation where you just check boxes and panic when one section isn’t completely satisfactory. What we are creating isn’t neat or meant to fit into polished, manicured checkboxes. Life is supposed to be messy, where there can be room for mistakes and learning lessons.
To the person who is trying to have it all, please don’t panic when something unanticipated arises.
Human beings are creatures that can adapt to change. We constantly change with the world, and you are meant to do so as well. Trust it. Let yourself change, and incorporate that as part of your grand plan. We all envision ourselves achieving our greatest dreams, and the temptation sometimes drives us wild. But they can be achieved in many different ways, and you don’t have to figure out every single step at this very moment.
To the person who is trying to have it all, you are not alone.
We are all striving for this elusive success whose definition varies with each person. Be comforted in the fact that everyone else is trying to figure out his or her place in this world, too. And if they seem like they have it together, don’t be intimidated by them and let their accomplishments ignite feelings of inferiority. You can take your own steps to feel accomplished in your life. There is no textbook definition of what you have to do.
To the person who is trying to have it all, there is still a long way to go.
It seems to be expected that as soon as you enter college, you have to find the perfect major and attain perfect grades and find the perfect job within 6.2 seconds after graduation, if not before, and only then will you have succeeded. There’s that word perfect again. These four years of college are meant for exploration. If you don’t end up getting a job in your field, it’s a part of that exploration. The outcome is unknown, but that’s okay. Trust the life that you are setting up for yourself.
All in all, striving for perfection is like trying to grasp smoke. You can try, but in the end, all you are going to be left with are empty hands. Trust that everything is going to work out.
To the person who is trying to have it all, when it comes to finding happiness, you are all that you have.
