7 Signs You’re Farther In Life Than You Think

There will be days when you feel down. Days you feel like your life has plateaued or is stagnant. You’ve overcome obstacles before, but you feel like the mental rut you experience now is never-ending. But this is all part of the process. It’s a cycle. You cannot have highs without the lows. On the days you’re feeling low, here are seven signs you’re farther in life than you think. 

1. You’re in a much better place than a year ago. Whether it’s a job, a house, or a relationship you were trying to get away from, you’ve somehow accomplished that for yourself. You didn’t know how you were going to make it happen. But you did. And even though it feels like nothing grand is happening, you’re still in a much better physical and emotional place than before.

2. You’re more aware of yourself. You can recognize your different emotions. And you’ve learned how to cope with different feelings. You know that going for a walk or taking a bubble bath takes you back to yourself when you’re feeling sad. Screaming or journalling is your savior when you’re angry. You’ve become more in touch with your emotions, which are nothing else but just emotions. You learn to move on. 

3. You’re more aware of your surroundings. Even though you spend a lot of your days in your head, you take the time to notice your surroundings. You’re aware of the chair you’re sitting on. Of the four walls around you when drinking coffee in the morning. Of the green trees and blue sky when you walk outside. Of the people that are present in the room. You realize you’re not the only person who has problems in this world. 

4. You have better standards in life. Your past has taught you many lessons. And one of the most crucial things you’ve learned is to have better standards. You no longer tolerate the person, the job, or the situation that brings you down. You only accept things that are in line with your values. You mostly say ‘yes’ to things that make you jump out of bed when you wake up. You spend your night being grateful for the life you’ve created.

5. Your current life was your younger self’s dream. I bet that the younger version of you wouldn’t believe your words if they knew what you’re doing right now. They’d think you’re crazy. But you’ll tell them, “I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s happening because you are more capable than you think.” 

6. You’re subtracting in life more than you’re adding. You can count in one or both of your hands the things that truly matter to you. You’ve learned that you have a finite source of time and energy and that you don’t have time for things you don’t care about. You try to work part-time to have a full-time life where you’re involved in activities you genuinely care about. You nurture the relationships you have in life instead of looking for new ones. 

7. You want your life to be something greater than you. As the world becomes more conscious of capitalism’s working conditions, you realize that you want to do meaningful work. You want your work to matter to other people. You care about creating a legacy. You want to be seen and make a real impact whatever you do in your day-to-day life. And you know that you will.