Navigating Lostness as a Young Adult in 2024

Being a young adult in today's world is arguably one of the hardest times to be a young adult in modern history. The state of the world is intense and can be scary.

Social media compounds the negative impacts on our mental health, inflation and the high cost of living create additional pressures, and obtaining a college degree doesn't provide the same guarantees it did 20 years ago. 

These factors, among others, are contributing to an epidemic of lostness among young adults and people in their 20s. So, how can we navigate this feeling of being lost? What can we do about it?

Starving for Effective Action

One of the significant contributors to this epidemic of lostness is the overwhelming amount of information and possibilities available to us. This abundance can be paralyzing, making us feel even more lost because we don't know where to start.

When we're lost, we are starving for effective action. This is a key concept to understand. To navigate feeling lost in your 20s, it's crucial to find something you can be effective at. 

Focus on Action, Not Perfection

You might be wondering… What path do I choose? How do I know if it’s the right thing? 

Don't worry if what you choose to focus on isn't the "right" thing. It doesn't need to be your end-all, be-all. You simply need to build momentum and start being effective at something. If you're unsure where to start, that's okay. It's normal. The chances that what you're doing in your 20s is what you'll be doing in your 50s and 60s are slim. People often look back and are surprised at where they've ended up.

Don’t get held up trying to focus on the “perfect” job, career path, or project. There is no such thing. The key is to start, and the path unfolds as you continue down it.

Build Momentum

It's not knowing exactly what you want to do that makes you successful in life; it's taking action. By getting involved in something, opportunities will present themselves, and you'll gain clarity as you go. 

And if you start something and realize it’s not for you, that’s valuable information. But you only gain that insight and clarity by being in action.

Taking the First Steps

So, start taking action. Commit to something, whether it's a job, a daily routine, or a project. Be consistent and start building effectiveness and competence in whatever you choose. Let that momentum carry you forward. 

The antidote for lostness in your 20s is effective action. Build your confidence by gaining competence in something.

Remember, it's not knowing what you want to do that makes you successful; it's doing something that allows you to build momentum and let life unfold.

Utilizing Ren Resources

Our course, The Fundamentals, is an invaluable tool for understanding and implementing effective action. It provides practical guidance on what effective action looks like and how to incorporate it into your life today to create meaningful change.