12 Brutally Honest Life Truths I Wish I Knew Earlier.

12 Brutally Honest Life Truths I Wish I Knew Earlier. I have a birthday coming up next week. It’s a big one. I’m feeling reflective about it. It is hard to believe that I’m turning 30. I don’t feel like an adult yet.

I still feel like a teenager. I have a mortgage, a husband, and a baby. I’m still not sure how I got here. I think my husband and I did a good job of faking it until we made it.

12 Brutally Honest Life Truths I Wish I Knew Earlier!

I’ve learned a lot in the last 30 years. There are some things that I wish I knew earlier. Here are 12 brutally honest life truths I wish I knew earlier.

1. No One Knows What They’re Doing.

No matter how much someone may seem like they have it all together, they don’t. Not really. We’re all just doing the best we can. Those who seem like they have it all together are simply good at faking it.

This is especially true in the professional world and entrepreneurship. I know many successful people who don’t feel like they’ve “made it” because they’re still learning and growing.

I also know many people who are still learning and growing who feel like they’re not successful because they haven’t “made it” yet.

2. You Don’t Have to Have It All Figured Out.

The only thing I knew for sure when I was in college was that I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life.

I was envious of those who seemed to have a clear path and a plan, but I can now see that even those people had to change course at some point.

The idea that you should know what you want to do from a young age is a myth. It’s not a race to have your life figured out.

Life is about the experiences and the journey, not the destination. Enjoy the ride and don’t stress about having it all figured out.

3. You Are the Only Person Responsible for Your Happiness.

I used to think that if I could just find the right person, the right job, or the right amount of money, then I would be happy. I’d look at people who had what I wanted and think they must have some secret to happiness that I didn’t.

I now know that happiness is a choice. It’s a choice to be grateful for what I have, to stop comparing myself to others, and to focus on what I can control.

There will always be things that happen in life that are out of our control, but we can always control how we respond to them. And that is the key to happiness.

4. You Are Not Perfect.

I used to be one of those people who wanted to be perfect. I thought that if I am not perfect, I am not good enough. I wanted to be the perfect daughter, the perfect student, the perfect employee, the perfect girlfriend, and the perfect friend.

But you know what? I am not perfect. And you know what? I am more than good enough. I am who I am, and I am not willing to change that.

I am not willing to change the way I look, the way I dress, the way I talk, the way I write, the way I think, the way I love, the way I live. I am not willing to change anything about myself to fit someone’s standards of perfection. And neither should you.

You are not perfect, and you don’t have to be. You are more than good enough just the way you are.

And That’s Okay.

You’re going to be so many different people throughout your life, and that’s not only okay, but it’s also normal. People change, and that’s a fact. You change.

Your needs, wants, and desires change. Your goals and dreams change. Who you are at 20 is not who you’ll be at 30, 40, 50, and so on.

We have to give ourselves permission to change and grow. We have to allow ourselves to become who we’re meant to be, and that means not getting stuck in the past.

It’s okay to reflect on who you were, but it’s not okay to hold yourself hostage to who you used to be. You are not your past mistakes. You are not your past. You are who you decide to be today.

5. You Are Not Your Thoughts.

This is a concept I wish I had learned about much earlier in my life. We tend to believe that everything we think is true. But the reality is that the vast majority of our thoughts are not facts.

Our brains are constantly chattering away with thoughts and opinions about everything. But just because we think something, it doesn’t make it true. It’s important to remember that you are not the voice in your head.

You are the one listening to the voice in your head. And you can choose to follow the thoughts that serve you and let go of the ones that don’t. You are the master of your mind, not the other way around.

6. You Are Not Your Emotions.

You are not your emotions. You are the observer of your emotions.

In order to master your emotions, it’s important to understand that you are not the emotions you are feeling. You are the observer of your emotions. You are feeling your emotions, but you are not those emotions.

You are not anger. You are feeling anger. You are not sadness. You are feeling sadness. You are not love. You are feeling love.

When you master your emotions, you master your life. When you master your life, you master your destiny. And when you master your destiny, you master the world.

But it all starts with mastering your emotions. And it starts with understanding that you are not your emotions. You are the observer of your emotions.

7. You Can’t Control What Happens to You.

You can’t control what happens to you, but you can control how you respond.

I’ve had to learn this one the hard way. I’ve lost family members, friends, and relationships. I’ve had to close companies and lay off employees. I’ve had to deal with lawsuits, and I’ve had to deal with being broke.

I’ve also had to deal with the fact that life just doesn’t go as planned. I never planned on being a single dad, but here I am.

You can’t control what happens to you, but you can control your response. You can choose to be a victim and let life’s challenges define you, or you can choose to be a victor and let life’s challenges refine you.

But You Can Control how You React to It.

You can’t control what other people do or say, but you can control how you react to it. You can’t control the weather, but you can control how you dress. You can’t control how you’re feeling, but you can control how you act.

You can’t control what happens to you, but you can control how you interpret it (and what you do about it).

When you realize that the one thing you can control is you, it’s incredibly empowering. It’s like you’ve been given the remote control to your life, and you can decide what channels you want to watch.

You can’t control what’s on every channel, but you can decide which ones you want to tune into.

8. the Grass Is Not Always Greener on The Other Side.

One of the biggest mistakes we make is to think that we can change our life by changing our circumstances. If we could only get a new job, a new house, a new car, a new partner, or a new wardrobe, we’d be happy.

But the truth is, the grass is not always greener on the other side. In fact, the grass is greener where you water it. When you put time and effort into improving and appreciating what you have, you won’t feel the urge to look elsewhere.

When you learn to water your own grass, you’ll be able to see it’s greener than you thought. And if it’s not, at least you’ll have the skills to make it so.

9. You Are Not Running out Of Time.

We are all too familiar with the feeling of not being where we are “supposed to be” at a certain age. Whether it’s career success, relationship status, or financial security, this feeling of urgency can be all-consuming.

But just like there is no “right” way to live your life, there is no right timeline. We are all on our own paths, and the more we can accept that, the more fulfilling our journey will be.

The only time you have is right now. You can’t change the past, and you can’t predict the future. All you have is this moment. So, make it count.

10. You Have Enough.

One of the most important realizations I’ve had is that I have enough. I am enough. I don’t need to buy anything, achieve anything, or be anything more to be happy and fulfilled.

I have the perfect amount of money, success, and everything else right now. I’m not saying I don’t have goals, but I’m not using them to fill a void. I’m using them to expand my life and be of greater service to the world.

When you come from a place of enough, you can give and receive love in a healthy way. You can build your life on a solid foundation.

You can be grateful for what you have and still want more. You can be more successful and still be you. Coming from a place of enough is a powerful way to live.

11. You Are Not Your Past.

Your past is one of the most powerful teachers you will ever have. It’s also one of the most powerful liars you will ever have. Your past can teach you how to be better in the future, but it does not have the authority to define you.

I spent too many years believing I was the worst parts of my past. I was not. You aren’t either. You are the person you choose to be, moment by moment. You are the good you do in the world. You are the love you share. You are not your mistakes.

You are not your past. You are the person you choose to be right now. And you can always choose to be better.

12. You Are Enough.

You are enough. You are enough. You are enough.

You are not your job, your car, your house, your bank account, your looks, your clothes, your social status, your past, or any of the other things that you might use to define yourself. You are none of these things.

You are enough. Period.

Conclusion: 12 Brutally Honest Life Truths I Wish I Knew Earlier!

As I reflect on the journey to 30, I’ve come to realize that embracing my own worth is crucial. In a world often preoccupied with comparisons and achievements, it’s vital to understand that your intrinsic value isn’t tied to external markers.

Instead, it’s rooted in who you are at your core. This understanding fosters resilience against the pressures of societal expectations.

It allows you to pursue passions freely without the relentless need for validation. Recognizing that you are inherently enough empowers you to live authentically and generously, transforming not just your life but also positively impacting those around you.

What other life truths do people learn along the way? What do you wish you had known earlier? Share your thoughts and wisdom in the comments below!