The 20s are THE GHETTO!

Hello My Lovely readers and happy Saturday! I hadn’t planned to write this blog post, but I saw a tiktok video the other day and it inspired and prompted me to write and hit publish. It’s a slight diversion from what I have been posting lately, but yea. Hope you enjoy :).

As per the topic, I’m discovering that the 20s, are the GHETTO, seriously.

If you’re reading this, I’m probably on my way, or preparing to leave the house to get to my graduation shoot. I am happy and grateful that this day has finally come, because your girl, at one point thought university would finish her off, especially that research project (sigh), but she made it, so yaay!

On the other hand though, I can’t deny the fact that I have been having some anxiety and wild thoughts, about what the future holds and what’s next, and I think many of us are in the same boat. These are just some of mine, can you relate?

Should I look for a job, or begin following my dreams?

After school, it’s an unspoken rule, that it’s time to get to work, and begin looking for a job. Now it’s that time to get your CV together, your LinkedIn profile popping, your cover letter, prepare for interviews. This is the part that gives me stress, and I get analysis paralysis because it’s a lot. And don’t get me started with the limited employment opportunities in our country, for those of us who don’t have much experience.

On the flipside, I think all of us have those dreams in our hearts, of things that we want to do and achieve by a certain age, maybe it’s starting a business or establishing a company, or it may actually be working in your dream company.

Now, the dilemma is ‘should I just get whatever job I can get, work for some time then when I have enough capital, go for my dreams? Or should I just jump in and move by faith right into what I’ve always wanted to do?

What about money?

So, in your 20s, you’re basically an adult now, and adulting comes with responsibility, including finding ways to finance yourself. If you’re fortunate enough to still be supported by your parents or guardians, that’s great and it’s important to make the most out of that. The fear is, I know one day, the parents will be like ‘okay, now you need to begin being independent’ , cause they’re going to retire one day, and may be looking to you to help them out, at least to some extent. Well, what if I’m never able to fully and comfortably support myself, more so my parents or siblings?

‘So, what are you going to do, now that you’re done with school?’

I can’t tell you the number of times I have been asked this question. Usually I’m just like, ‘I’m going to do my best’, while in my head am like, ‘I don’t know either’ lol. But, do any of us know what the future holds? Because you could have some sort of plan for what you’ll do next, but how is it going to turn out?

These are just some of the thoughts I have been having, but I don’t want to leave this post on a sad note. I’m going to share some tips that have been helping me to tame my thoughts, and hope to help you :).

1. Guard your heart and mind

The Word of God, in Proverbs 4:23 says, ‘Guard your heart, for out of it flows the issues of life’

And

As a man thinketh so is He.

Proverbs 23:7

Be vigilant of what you allow your eyes to see, and your ears to hear, because it has an effect. You become your thoughts, and what you allow in your heart, postures how you will approach life. If being on social media and seeing how everyone seems to be doing amazing and you feel like trash, then it may be time to get off it, for a while. It’s a highlight reel anyway.

In real life, you could try to set up some boundaries with people who are constantly asking you on what you’ll do next, like ‘I appreciate your concern, but I prefer to not talk about this right now.’

2. NO ONE has it all figured out

Seriously, no one! Life is just a journey of one step at a time, one season at a time, one day at a time. who knows where they’ll be in ten years? Heck, who knows where they’ll be tomorrow? Nobody, Only God. You may have a vision in your heart for what you’d like your future to be, but how it’s going to unfold and the minor details, leave that in God’s hands.

3. Be proactive, it’s better to do one thing, than nothing at all

Anxiety can be crippling, to the point of not being able to function, but try to take action. Stay busy, even if it’s doing one thing, that’s better than nothing. You could learn a skill and increase your knowledge in your area of interest. Put your bundles or wi-fi into good use, go on YouTube and learn something for free, google offers free digital courses, also, you can get one month free use of Skill share. Your favorite influencer probably has a link to it. I tried it, and guys, you can learn sooo much in a month.

Also, if you’re in the job search, follow these people;

JoanTheCareerCoach

Jonathanwordsofwisdom

Daniel Mutuku

Even if you can’t pay for their services, you can still learn a lot from them, from the information they share, on CV prep, cover letters, interviews and such.

4. Even if you’ll be afraid, put yourself out there

It’s hard and scary, but people will not know what you bring to the table, if you don’t say or do anything. It does make you susceptible to rejection, which will most likely happen, and rejection SUCKS, but it builds that resilience, persistence and strength you need to make a great impact in this life. It pushes you to be better, to be excellent and an asset everywhere you go.

5. Pray

Like I said, none of us know what the future holds. So we look to the One who created us, knows all things, and holds our future.

I’ve been listening to Christina Shusho’s song, ‘Wa Kuabudiwa’. And at one point she sings, ‘Uzima wetu uko mikononi mwako, Ee Mungu’ which translates to, ‘Our strength/good health/life is in your hands, Oh God’. Listen to it here.

And honestly, it’s true. We humans are simple dust and ashes, and our lives are just a vapor. We don’t know what the future holds, we don’t even know if we’ll still be alive to see that future, so when it gets super stressful and hopeless, cast your burdens unto God, He’s held you for this long, there’s no way He’ll leave you now.

As I conclude, let me share some scriptures I have been meditating on, that have been reminding me of God’s truth when my thoughts run wild. Feel free to save these somewhere and glance on them so that they build you up.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path

Proverbs 3:5-6

Cast your burdens unto God, for He cares for you

1 Peter 5:7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, make your requests be known to God, and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? Or, what shall we drink? Or, wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek :) for your heavenly father knows that you have need of all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things itself. Sufficient unto the day is evil thereof.

Matthew 6:31-34 (I recommend reading from verse 25)

I hope this post spoke to you in some way. For those of us going through this, you’re not alone, I’m right there with you :).

Congratulations to all graduates this year, God bless you all!

Xoxo,

B.