There’s No Right Way to Do Life!

Do you feel exhausted from trying to keep up with everything in life? Perhaps you often compare yourself to others who seem to have it all together? You keep trying to get organised and on top of things yet you feel like you keep falling short?

Sometimes it seems like there must be some secret formula to living life successfully and that someone out there knows the best way to do it. It certainly seems like some people have it all figured out! From religious leaders to self-help gurus to our own opinionated friends, we look for guidance in those who seem to be smooth sailing. But the truth is, there is no right way to do life.

This is a conversation I’ve been having with my daughter lately. She often expresses the feeling that there’s something wrong with her, that she’s not doing life the “right” way. For her, stress or sadness can easily fall into the category of not OK emotions, especially when she’s tired… and I understand where she’s coming from. We all experience wobbly feelings and we’re all searching for answers, trying to make sense of the world and our place in it.

But honestly, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Even though your friend might try to sort you out with what has worked for her…you generally know, as the words tumble out of her mouth, whether they are going to work for you. What works for one person may not work for another. We each have our own unique paths to follow, and no one can tell us exactly what that path should look like. Just as no one can tell us what we are supposed to experience, feel or how we should react.

This can be a scary realization. It means that we have to take responsibility for our own lives and decisions. There’s no external map to guide us, no set of rules to follow. There are people who can help us, guide us, support us and that is certainly needed and helpful at times. However I think the understanding that there is no right way for you to do life…especially based on comparison with others, can be more helpful.

This can also be an incredibly liberating idea. When we realize that there is no “right” way, we’re free to experiment and explore. We can try new things, take risks, and make mistakes without feeling like we’re failing some imaginary test.

So how do we navigate this uncharted territory? How do we find our own way when there’s no map?

The answer is simple, but not easy: we have to trust ourselves. We have to listen to our own inner voice and trust that we know what’s best for us. It’s a scary and vulnerable thing to do, but it’s also incredibly empowering.

There’s no denying that life can be super challenging at times. There will be bumps in the road, moments of doubt and confusion. But when we let go of the idea that there’s a “right” way to do it, we free ourselves to live our lives on our own terms. And that, in the end, is what it’s all about.

Lisa xx