Live the life that’s meant for you, not someone else

Sadie Kolves

On March 27, 2025
Choose your own life, don’t copy and paste
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It’s easy to get caught up in the comparison game. You scroll through social media, see someone’s seemingly perfect life, and suddenly question your own. You hear well-meaning advice from family or friends and feel the pressure to follow a path that doesn’t quite fit. You watch others hitting milestones—career promotions, new relationships, dream vacations—and wonder if you’re falling behind.

But here’s the thing: You’re not meant to live their life. You’re meant to live yours.

Your Path, Your Pace

It’s tempting to measure your progress by other people’s timelines. But the truth is, you’re not late or early—you’re right on time for your life. You might take a winding road while others seem to move in a straight line. You might pause when they rush forward. You might leap when they hesitate. And that’s okay.

There’s no one-size-fits-all path to happiness, success, or fulfillment. What works for someone else may not align with who you are. And that’s not only fine—it’s necessary. The beauty of your life is that it’s uniquely yours. It doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s highlight reel.

Stop Letting “Should” Steer You

How often do you catch yourself saying, “I should be further along by now.” Or, “I should want what they have.” The word should often carries the weight of outside expectations. It’s the voice of comparison, guilt, and self-doubt.

But here’s the reality: You don’t have to want what everyone else wants. You don’t need the big house if you feel more at peace in a cozy apartment. You don’t need the high-powered career if your heart is in creative work. You don’t need to travel the world if you find joy in building a simple, quiet life.

Let go of the “shoulds” and lean into what truly fulfills you—even if it doesn’t make sense to others.

Define Your Own Version of Success

Success isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s not always the six-figure salary, the dream vacation, or the picture-perfect family. Sometimes, success looks like having the freedom to live slowly and intentionally. Sometimes, it’s prioritizing your mental health over productivity. Sometimes, it’s simply waking up and feeling at peace with where you are.

When you stop chasing someone else’s version of success, you free yourself to build a life that actually feels right for you.

Honor Your Unique Desires

You’re allowed to want different things. Maybe you value freedom over stability. Maybe you crave creativity over consistency. Maybe you prioritize presence over productivity. Your desires are valid, even if they don’t align with the norm.

Living the life that’s meant for you means being brave enough to honor those desires. It means making choices that feel authentic—even if they raise a few eyebrows. It means standing firm in who you are, not who the world expects you to be.

Let Go of Comparison and Trust Yourself

It’s hard to stay in your lane when you’re constantly glancing at everyone else’s. But comparison is a losing game. It distracts you from your own progress and convinces you that you’re not enough.

Instead of looking around, look inward. Trust your instincts. Follow the pull toward what feels right—even if it doesn’t look flashy or impressive to others. Your life doesn’t need to be validated by likes, applause, or external approval. It only needs to feel true to you.

You Were Made for More Than a Copy-Paste Life

You weren’t born to be a carbon copy of someone else. You were meant to chart your own course, make your own mistakes, and celebrate your own victories. You were meant to embrace the quirks, passions, and values that make you uniquely you.

So, give yourself permission to live the life that’s meant for you. Not the one that looks good on paper. Not the one that checks all the boxes. Not the one that makes sense to everyone else. The one that feels right in your soul—the one that’s unmistakably, authentically yours.

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