In this world we live in, a lot of people measure success by timeline. For example, they will say; by this age you should have graduated, you should get a job by this age, you should be married by this age, you should achieve this before this deadline, etc. But when life does not follow the timeline, they may begin to feel like they are left behind. Especially when they look around and see others achieving more, moving faster, or achieving the goals that they have not even touched yet. What you need to understand is that everyone does not grow at the same rate. When you understand this, you will have more peace, and you will see that you are not left behind.
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You have to understand that growth is not a race, rather it is a journey. Not just a journey, but a personal one, which is unique to an individual. If you are a farmer or you have ever experienced farming before, you will understand that the growth rate of every seed is not the same. You may plant a seed today and by the 5th day, it has already started germinating, and then begin to sprout, then in months, it has already started flowering and bearing seeds. Like the maize for example, it takes just a couple of months to bear fruits. But if you plant something like palm or cocoa, it may take you years before you start to harvest it. It does not mean that it is slow, but it has a different timeline from the maize. This is also applicable in life; you do not have to judge your success based on what other people are achieving. After all, everyone grows at a different rate, which is totally fine.
It is worthy to note that your path must not look like someone else's path. If you compare your life's journey with someone else, you may end up losing your confidence, and you may also lose your joy. Sometimes the person you see their success, you may not even know the story behind it; the sacrifices, struggles, failures, or even the added advantage that they may have had. Imagine someone who started from a place of advantage, with a "well-to-do" background, and maybe exposed to opportunities early, and someone else from a humble background is trying to compare their life's journey with, they may not really understand their story. You do not really know the story behind what you see in others, because life is more complex than it appears. So do not feel pressured by the achievements of others. Always remind yourself that you are neither late nor left behind.
Your pace is not really what defines your potentials. Some people can discover their passion very early in life, while for some others, they may take time to explore, make mistakes, then discover what matters to them. That someone is getting something done in their own field does not mean that you cannot achieve greatness in your own field. Your timeline is unique to only you. In this era where everyone is showing off certain lifestyles on social media, a lot of people, particularly the young ones, are thinking that if they cannot achieve what they have seen on social media that they have failed. Well, the real world is very different from what you see on social media.
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Sometimes growth may not even be visible. It can come as a change in mindset, emotional strength, discipline, and your ability to endure tough times. These things may not be visible, but they are foundations for long-term success even if they do not bring immediate success. You may not have been where you want to be, but it does not mean that you are not growing. After all, you have left where you used to be.
In your life's journey, you have to learn patience and trust the process. If you rush growth, you may become burnout, you might even stand the risk of making avoidable mistakes, taking poor decisions, or may become frustrated. But if you allow yourself to develop naturally at your own pace, you will build something that is stronger and more sustainable. Always have in mind that your efforts, no matter how small they may look, will add up over time to become something great.
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