First and foremost, congratulations! If your journey to 25 mirrored mine, take a moment to revel in the triumph of making it through. And if you haven’t hit the quarter-century mark yet, brace yourself.
Despite all the videos and jests about experiencing a quarter-life crisis, I used to dismiss it as just dramatic. It never occurred to me that the term had a real place in popular psychology, as defined by clinical psychologist Alex Fowke – a period marked by insecurity, doubt, and disappointment about careers, relationships, and finances.
I have certainly felt a range of emotions leading up to 25, but that’s part and parcel of life. You live, you learn, you love, you get heartbroken, and you lose friends along the way. When I initially turned 25, my birthday weekend was fantastic. I tried new things, savored new foods, and ticked off items from my bucket list. In my mind, I confidently declared, “No quarter-life crisis here.” Little did I know, I had spoken too soon and hadn’t allowed myself the time to process the reality of being 25 – a rookie mistake.
I share this not to instill fear but to be relatable. The experience wasn’t scary, but it was overwhelming. The funny thing about all of this is my “crisis” lasted a week in November. I transitioned from changing my mind monthly to hourly. I questioned everyone around me, despite doing that all year. However, I became more intentional – with my activities, my company, the music I listened to, and the way I expressed myself. I inundated my friends with voice memos, attempting to articulate the chaos within my mind where thoughts refused to connect.
Surprisingly, after that tumultuous week, clarity emerged. I began thinking clearly, speaking confidently, and gaining insight into my situations. Indecision was replaced by a clear sense of direction. I guess it was the storm before the calm. It’s January now, and I feel even better than I did in November. If there were a surgery to fully develop my frontal lobe before 25, I would have eagerly paid for it at 21 to think the way I do now.
I consider the quarter-life crisis I went through as completely normal now. Trust is earned in my book, and if you haven’t faced a crisis, I should question your understanding. That challenging period served as a much-needed hard reset, bringing clarity I didn’t realize was missing. As newcomers to adulthood, it’s crucial to embrace life’s experiences to uncover our passions, dislikes, learn, unlearn, and take risks.
Twenty-five is not just another age for me; it marks the year of a significant “spiritual” awakening or some form of enlightenment. Six months into being 25, I have actively engaged in detoxifying, organizing, shedding old habits, and enjoying music with fewer lyrics. I am feeling better than ever before. The shift from stressing about what tomorrow brings to appreciating today and eagerly anticipating tomorrow has been remarkable.
I can’t quite pinpoint a more effective way to articulate this experience – one moment I was caught up in a whirlwind, and the next, I emerged as an entirely transformed individual. That’s life for you; it’s an inevitable occurrence. Those in their mid-twenties will understand.
The reality is, we’re all still figuring it out. Life will throw new challenges and roles our way (like becoming a mother or a wife). But decision-making is now a simpler task, I’m free from unnecessary negative emotions. Life is no longer taken too seriously; instead, it’s filled with things I enjoy and spent with people who uplift my spirits. I’m definitely more intentional with life especially how I choose to occupy my time. Fortunately, I’ve discovered a fulfilling “job,” or rather, created one, spurred by my quarter-life crisis. And this blog marks only the beginning of my journey.
Love always,
American Girl Meets World
