“What do you want to do after college?”
“Are you guys getting married soon?”
“Do you really think that’s the right decision?”
In the fast-paced, always-ready-for-the-next-step world that we live in sometimes, it's easy to lose sight of who you are and the goals that you once wanted so badly. Doubt and fear sink in and you become unsure of what the correct next step is-- especially in this day and age, where there are so many options when it comes to higher education, career choices, places to live, etc.
I mean sometimes it's hard enough to pick a place to eat, much less a life-long career. But it’s okay to not know what you want, no matter what stage of your life you are at. We all only have one life, so sometimes big decisions like college, careers, and partners may seem scary because no one wants to mess these decisions up.
But it’s okay to wake up and be scared of what the future holds and to say “I don’t know”. It’s okay to have doubts about your life, and it’s okay to change your mind. The world around us is constantly changing and that means that as people, we are also constantly changing.
So what should you do when you find yourself at a crossroads?
Trust yourself. You are the only person who can truly know what you want, and if you listen closely to your brain and follow your heart, you will find that the answer will be there. However if that doesn't work, and it's okay if it doesn't, it's good to have a good support group that will help you find a new goal or help you talk out all the pros and cons of the choices you want to make. If you think you have a good support group, but they put down your ideas and make you feel stupid for doubting yourself... I have a secret for you-- they aren't a good support group.
Another piece of advice that may help you along the decision-making path is to take time in making your decision. Make sure you know all the pros and cons, think about how this decision will affect other aspects of your life, and make sure that the change you want to make is reasonable. If you know all the background, all the good and the bad, it will be harder to doubt yourself later.
In the end, there is no instant solution to doubting and not knowing. It's a part of life. If you figure out what you want out of this life, I applaud you. And if you are still unsure and find yourself doubting and wondering about the unknown, I also applaud you. There is no shame in being unsure of the next step, but with some thought and some support, I'm sure you will find what's best for you.
