What I would tell my 30 year old self about success

Now I'm in my mid-30s, but I remember in my 20s I truly believed I'd have achieved all my dreams by the time I was 30. Looking back, my 30th birthday, well, it wasn't my happiest. I cried a little and I didn't even want to celebrate it with friends. Instead, I escaped to the Netherlands And you know what? This feeling is so common. Society puts so much pressure on us to have it all figured out by the time we are 30. The career, the business, the life plan, and everything. But honestly, I was nowhere close when I turned 30. I still was experimenting, still searching for what I really wanted to do with my life. I also used to think that people who knew their path from the beginning were very lucky. The life seemed to be much easier. But as a multi-passionate person, my struggle was that I liked so many things and I couldn't clearly see which path was the right one for me. Just to paint a better picture, let me give you a little bit of a backstory. I'd been teaching English since I was 19 to earn income. I had received my master's in architecture but realized I didn't enjoy working as an architect. Then I became interested in business and was even working on a business idea at the time, which later failed. But that's another story. And on top of that, I was preparing myself to apply for a PhD in the US. So yes, I was juggling multiple things at the same time, just trying to figure out my path. And physically, mentally, and emotionally, it was a very difficult time for me. I felt unclear, lost, and honestly very much behind in life. But if any of this resonates with you, I want you to know something. You're not alone. Looking back now, I really wish there were five things I had known back then. They would have saved me so much stress and helped me find clarity much sooner. And this isn't just for people turning 30. If you're feeling lost at any age and you haven't yet achieved the dream you imagined for yourself, this will help you too. I really wish I knew that success isn't what society tells us. Some people look successful on paper, the big career, the money, the status. But inside, they're miserable. True success is holistic. It's not just what you achieve externally, but how you feel as a whole person. Your mind, body, and soul. That means taking care of your whole self. First, mentally and emotionally. So one of the things I would tell my 30-year-old self is to journal, meditate, reflect, to connect with your inner self. You have all the answers inside. Then on a spiritual side, I would try to clarify my purpose, values, and vision to create my own version of holistic success. I would also try to set some time aside for taking care of myself physically. Eating well, moving my body, and building habits that give me the energy to actually follow through on my dreams. Because here's the truth. Even if one area is out of balance, it impacts everything else. You may get to a point that you achieve success by society's standards, but still you don't feel successful because it kind of feels like something is missing. Real lasting success comes when you dedicate time to each part of yourself and learn to show up fully in every dimension. And that brings me to the second thing I wish I had known when I turned 30. Comparison is honestly the fastest way to steal your joy. Back then, I would constantly look at my friends who already had stable jobs and clear careers, and I felt like I was falling behind. But here's what I wish I'd known. Everyone is running their own race. What looks ahead for someone else might not even be the kind of life you want, and what feels behind for you could actually be the exact path that's shaping you into who you need to become. The truth is, we all start from different places. Our timelines are not supposed to look exactly the same, and when you finally accept that, you can stop wasting energy comparing yourself and start focusing fully on your own journey. And that leads perfectly into the third lesson I wish I had known at 30. You can make all the plans, set all the goals, and take action, but you also need to trust the process. Back then, when I tried very hard and I didn't see the result I wanted, I felt like I was failing. But the truth is that the journey itself is shaping you. It's not just about what you achieve, it's about who you become while moving towards your dreams. Progress isn't always visible at first. Sometimes you're just laying foundation, building resilience, or learning lessons that you'll only understand later. So if you're in a season where things feel slow or unclear, don't give up. Stay patient, stay consistent, and keep aligned with your holistic vision of success. The result will come in their own timing. And that brings us to the fourth lesson. If I could go back, I'd remind myself that it's still okay to experiment in my 30s. It's okay to experiment in life at any age. Life isn't a final destination to have everything figured out from the beginning. I remember when I first started experimenting with different business ideas, most of the early projects didn't succeed in the way I imagined. But each one gave me something valuable. I learned how to combine my passions, how to pivot when things didn't work out, and how to face uncertainty with curiosity instead of fear. What I know now is that too much planning and overthinking only keeps you stuck. Action, even messy imperfect action, is what moves you forward. And that clarity doesn't come from thinking or planning, it comes from doing. And that brings us to the final lesson. What I've realized is that success isn't just about doing more. It's about truly getting to know yourself. Building self-awareness is the key, because you get an understanding of what you have and the powerful tools within you. So you need to learn how to use them. When I first started this journey, I didn't really know who I was or how I worked better. That's why I dove deep into psychology, neuroscience, and mindset work to get a better understanding. Some of the things that really helped me was learning how to work with my nervous system, how to balance the feminine and masculine energy, and how to recognize my strengths and weaknesses. When you know these things, then you can use them all in your advantage. This makes achieving your goals so much easier and more enjoyable. So that's all for today's video. I'd really love to hear from you which part resonated with you the most and is there anything you would tell your younger self? Thank you so much for watching and see you in the next video.