As you learn new skills, find new resources, and gain new experiences it is easy to feel regret for not knowing these things earlier in life. I’m still young and yet there are times when I reflect on the behaviours and perspectives I had as a teenager.

I think about all the things I wish I could tell my younger self so that she could be more prepared for adulthood. Learning from mistakes and growing as an individual is how you become a better person; the best version of yourself that you can be.

Because of that, it is incredibly important not to feel regret for learning things later in life than expected.

Like snowflakes, every person’s path in life will be unique and specific to them. We cannot compare and question our paths. All we can do is move forward, continue learning, and be grateful for the lessons we take to heart along the way.

Today, I’m sharing 3 life lessons that I’ve learned in the last few years as a university student (and graduate). Sometimes, I wish I’d had this advice at an earlier age.

Regardless, I’ve accepted that I learned this information at the right, precise moments in my life when I needed to learn them. If you’re seeking inspiration and helpful advice, stay here and read the rest of this post.

It takes time before you know what you want in life.

Have you ever felt the pressure or expectation to have your whole life figured out before you are 21? I know I have.

As a teenager, you’re encouraged to figure out what path you will take as early as possible. Some people have their answers, while others do not. I’ll be honest and say that it is helpful to have some of the answers. This will help give you a sense of direction.

But it is insane to think that every young person must write their memoir before living their life.

Adolescence – and especially early adulthood – is supposed to be a process of exploration. Of trying new things until you find something you like. It can be dating different people, studying a range of subjects, or even trying new hobbies.

For my part, I always enjoyed literature and the process of writing. It wasn’t until my university graduation that I decided to pursue content writing as my career path. Similarly, when I graduated I also knew I wanted to pursue creative writing on a deeper level.

I used to feel regret for not coming to this decision earlier. Now that I’m wiser, I understand this decision had to happen at this point. Before graduation, I was still learning how to be a better writer and developing my creativity. This was the moment that I was ready to make this choice for my future.

So, you see, it takes some time before you know exactly what you want in life. It’s like the spaces you must move across a board game before you can win the game. Small milestones and decisions will eventually build up and help you make the bigger, harder decisions.

There is no right time to start changing your life.

When I was younger, I didn’t know what personal development was. I didn’t have the role models and the resources that I have today. Even then, there seemed to be this idea that you can only make positive changes to your life after experiencing negative changes. This simply isn’t true.

There are no boxes you have to tick off to pursue interests like personal growth, mindfulness, or wellness. While it is good to find areas in your life where you are struggling, you can also build on the positive habits and mindsets you already have.

My journey in self-development started around 12 months ago. At a time when I was experiencing much change. It just so happened that around the same time I started to find new information on social media that resonated with me.

The more I looked into it, the more I started to learn and practice what I learned. And now the people around me can see the positive changes in me.

You can start to change your life whenever you want. Whether something negative or positive has impacted your decision, all that matters is that you are passionate and committed to learning something new.

There is no rule book, and if there was one it would be full of blank pages. You get to set your own rules about how you choose to learn more and improve your lifestyle.

Create your perception of beauty standards.

Beauty is subjective despite the makeup and fashion industries’ efforts to make you think you have to behave, look, and dress a certain way to fit in.

A lot of the time, trying to adhere to public beauty standards can be harmful. It can be harmful to your sense of self and other women because it promotes this idea that we all have to look the same.

But that’s crazy! People are varied in a thousand different ways (and probably more). We should celebrate and explore those differences instead of trying to look the same.

For a long time, I didn’t like my curly hair – I would straighten it every day before school or going out with friends. One day I just decided I was fed up, so I stopped straightening my hair. It’s become a staple of my style and beauty today.

The same can be said of choosing not to wear makeup. To me, beauty means being myself, at my most natural. Beauty is more about my well-being and health than my physical appearance.

Your sense of beauty should only be influenced by you. Not media outlets, or the makeup and fashion industries, or the people around you. Figure out what makes you feel comfortable and confident.

It will be different for every individual. For a long time, there were trends and expectations about how women (or men) should look. And while it’s important to groom and look your best, you should do so for yourself first before anyone else.

There it is! These are 3 important life lessons that I’ve learned over the last few years. To recap, it takes some time to figure out what you want in life, there is no right time to start making changes to your life, and you must create your perception of beauty standards.

You must trust yourself, care for yourself, and love yourself. Learning and practising these tips now will help you to become more confident in yourself and the path you’re on.