God loves you, no one is perfect, you deserve to be loved no matter what, never quit, even if you don't achieve, your best self, in this lifetime.
To monetize your hobbies
Side hustle culture is pervasive and toxic. Contrary to popular belief, you can enjoy things and even be really good at them without trying to make money off of them (think: painting, making music, writing, collecting things, etc.).
To own property
While it may have been a smart and accessible investment some decades ago, owning property is increasingly out of reach for many people today. The pressure to buy property is handed down, but sometimes it might not actually be the smartest thing for you specifically. Plus, people today are broadening their imaginations about the kinds of lives that can be lived without the burden of a mortgage and a fixed location.
To always have a good time
We all have at least one experience of being at an occasion—a concert, a party, a night out, etc.—where we should logically be enjoying ourselves, but it’s just falling flat. This unnecessary pressure to enjoy ourselves only adds frustration to the pile instead of being able to simply accept it and move on.
To get married
This pressure comes at all angles, from family and friends to marketing and advertisements. Both single people and those in happy relationships are always being forced to think about the “next step.” But have you seen the divorce statistics of today? Marriage is no longer an indicator of a solid relationship.
To look young
Fillers and implants, expensive treatments and wrinkle creams, and so much more have dominated the beauty industry and emptied people’s wallets. But aging is a natural and beautiful process that happens to every single one of us, so why waste time and energy trying to fight it?
To make the right decisions
Choices shouldn’t feel paralyzing but rather exciting—it’s choices that make up the varying experiences of our lives. Instead, however, choices are burdened with the pressures of making the right decision, and we’ve come to dread them. Consider that making the wrong decision can also be the thing that leads you to the right place in the end!
To be thin muscles
Beauty standards, regarding the body especially, change so much—for example, not too long ago being plump was a sign of royalty—so we should all stop wasting time trying to fit in the fleeting trends. Thinness no longer equals beauty.
To always be upgrading
Whether it’s with the newest generation of phones, a new kind of fashion apparel, a bigger house, a faster car, etc., the pressure to always be upgrading comes in a constant stream from companies and brands. But buy slower, use longer, and really decipher between a want and a need (and whose wants and needs those are) before you fall prey to the rat race.
To travel the world
Travel seems like the supreme good these days, and while it looks very enviable on our social media feeds, it actually doesn’t mean someone is naturally having a better life. Additionally, consider that one trip a year to experience authentic culture somewhere else beats three trips a year to resorts.
To fit in
Maybe you’re 60 years old, single, and about to start a fashion blog, or you’re in your thirties and you’re living in a van and traveling the country while remotely freelancing—just because you’re not following the well-trodden path doesn’t mean your life isn’t interesting or valid or successful. The most successful people will be the first to tell you to stop trying to fit in!
To have a plan
Somehow we can all agree that life hardly ever goes to plan, and yet we still put pressure on ourselves and each other to map things out. But outside of job interviews, when people ask about your plans, it’s likely they’re just trying to make small talk, so don't sweat it!
To say the right things
We all need to have a little more empathy for anyone who says the wrong thing. Words come out scarily easily, and especially in the digital age they can leave a permanent footprint. Learning from our mistakes is essential, and acknowledging that we all have said the wrong thing once or twice is just human.
To update social media
Many people place way too much importance on their appearance in the digital realm, and they’re sometimes trying to keep up on multiple platforms at once like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, with an unhealthy focus on likes and followers. It’s more likely that no one will even notice if you take a break.
To please your parents/family
Family is a huge source of pressure, especially since parents naturally feel some kind of ownership over the human being they raised, but it’s important to shed the pressures and expectations of family if they don’t align with what you actually want.
To get into stocks/crypto
While this can be a very smart and lucrative route for many people—and an extremely popular one these days—there’s no shame in making your money the traditional way.
To be perfect
Even if you’re an expert or a professional at something, you’re bound to make mistakes. It’s legitimately impossible to be perfect. Remember to extend the empathy you have for other peoples’ mistakes to your own.
To be social
There’s the pressure to go out with friends, the pressure to converse with colleagues, to be networking constantly, and even to attend family events. But choosing to prioritize yourself and recharge, or just acknowledging that you’re not in the mood, is not evil or reproachful.
To stay up to date with pop culture
You haven’t seen that show? You haven’t heard that song? What do you mean you never watched that movie? Don’t take it too seriously—there will always be another popular thing “everyone” is talking about. Prioritizing your needs and tasks is more important than seeming cool.
