Thrive Wherever You Are In Life
There are many theories about the stages of life we must all pass through to have a life well-lived. You also have your unique views on what you want to get out of your current stage of life. Whatever your perspective on life, one thing is certain: you're bound to encounter new experiences that challenge and, hopefully, help you to grow.
Stage of life wellness refers to the feeling of thriving in your current life circumstances and looking forward to what comes next. Stage of life wellness encompasses the alignment between your desires and your actions, clarity in who you are and what you stand for, and feeling capable of meeting the ups and downs of life.
Whatever your life stage, seeking out new and formative life experiences, sharpening your problem-solving and decision-making skills, and building self-awareness enhance your wellness. To build your stage of life wellness, get to know your personal strengths while also seeking the constructive feedback and learning experiences that will help you thrive in life. To do this, you might take on new roles in school, work, or clubs, engage in deeper conversations with friends and mentors, or explore new wellness practices. It's also beneficial to take the time to get to know your habits and patterns of navigating the world around you.
Your academic career is a time of tremendous growth in and out of class. If you're a student, you know all too well about the academic side of school, but many students overlook the personal leaps they're also making. Take the time while you're here to get to know yourself, your interests, and your values. Make this a lifestyle choice you bring with you after graduation.
Tips for Building Stage of Life Wellness
No matter what age or stage of life brings you here, college and graduate/professional school are times of growing independence and individuality. For traditional students, this is the stage of your life when you're developmental task is to figure out who you are, how you're different from your parents or friends, and what path you want to follow. This is also the time when you face new life experiences, often on your own. For nontraditional students, this is also a time of honing your self-awareness and fine-tuning your unique viewpoint.
Whether you're learning what "adulting" means to you, finding your own voice, or navigating this leg of your life journey while keeping a full-time job and family in the balance, embracing the spirit of individuality and independence can boost your stage of life wellness.
Explore these articles on building independence and embracing your individuality:
Everyone learns and grows at their own pace and along their unique path. It's tempting to compare yourself to friends and measure yourself against an external benchmark of success, but this can often lead us astray. While you can absolutely learn through comparison, such as through role models, comparison itself isn't a great measure of success, worth, or happiness. To boost your stage of life wellness, keep the focus on your path and what you uniquely want and need in life. If and when you do compare yourself to others, keep that comparison grounded in the knowledge that we all have our own journey through life.
Explore these articles and resources about following your own path:
Commit to being a lifelong learner and enjoy the rewarding boost in stage of life wellness. To be a lifelong learner, engage your curiosity and sense of wonder as if you were a child. Learn about the world from your backyard to the other side of the globe. Take advantage of the people and experiences available right next door. Make your exploring your interests an important part of your life, and remind your inner critic that there is value in doing things for the sake of exploration if it tells you you're "wasting time."
Explore these articles and resources to become a lifelong learner:
Life is full of ups and downs, and no one is immune to that. But many of us believe that there is only one way to be successful and view failure as something that shouldn't happen. Your perspective shapes your world and, ultimately, your life. So, consider how your perspective is shaping yours. Does your mindset following a challenge pick you up or put you down? Do you feel motivated or defeated when the road toward an important goal gets hard?
Even when nothing else is in your control, you do have the power to change your perspective. Shift your perspective on success, failure, and negative events to give yourself a break from all the pressure and boost your stage of life wellness.
Explore these articles and resources for changing your perspective:
Your comfort zone is the way of life that feels safe and familiar. We all desire security, and a comfort zone is a healthy way to create that. The trouble is, much of life exists outside of that zone. A great way to enhance your stage of life wellness is to take a look at the limitations of your comfort zone and find small ways to move beyond it. This is not to say that you should never let yourself feel comfortable or must always choose the hardest possible option. Doing less can be just as courageous as doing more. Rather, it benefits your wellness to take the steps that allow you to expand in alignment with what you want in life.
Think about the skills you want to learn or the experiences you want to have. Think about the things you always thought would be fun or interesting to try. Chances are, they carry with them a risk of discomfort, disagreement from others, or failure. Dare to challenge yourself, even if only with a baby step outside of your comfort zone. You never know, your comfort zone might expand to fit the new you.
Explore these articles and resources to inspire your courage:
- For Those Who Want to Break Out of Their Shell
- The Beautiful Balance Between Courage and Fear
- The Breathtaking Courage of Harriet Tubman
- This Is What Happens When You Move Out of the Comfort Zone
- We're All Hiding Something. Let's Have the Courage to Open Up.
- 100 Things to Do Outside Your Comfort Zone
Try One Thing
Setting personal goals, filling your life with meaningful activities, or boosting your skills can all improve your stage of life wellness. What's one step you can take in the next week to put your stage of life wellness plan into action? Here are a few ideas to get you started: