What I Wish I Knew Sooner: 12 Lessons on Faith, Love, and Confidence
1. Not everything needs to be online
There’s so much pressure to put your whole life out there, and I used to feel it constantly. If it wasn’t on Instagram, did it even happen? But I’ve learned that keeping some things private can actually be really powerful. Some of the best moments like date nights, family dinners, and beautiful travels are even sweeter when they’re just yours.
And just because you didn’t post it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Releasing the pressure to document everything has brought me so much peace. Whatever it is, I don’t have to share it all to make it real.
And when I do post, I want it to feel authentic. Something I’ll look back on and smile about, not just something I shared because I thought it would perform well. Social media can be fun and creative, but it doesn’t define what’s meaningful.
2. Trust God’s timing
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to trust that life unfolds exactly when it’s supposed to. There’s so much pressure from friends, family, even society to hit certain milestones by a certain age. But some of the most beautiful parts of my life happened later than I expected, or in completely unexpected ways. Getting married, starting new projects, building my dream career…none of it happened on the timeline I thought it would, but all of it happened right on time.
I’ve learned to stop comparing my path to anyone else’s and to release the pressure of keeping up. Things don’t have to happen according to someone else’s timeline to be right for you. The older I get, the more I realize peace comes from being present and trusting that what’s meant for me will come when it’s supposed to.
3. The love you’re praying for exists.
I’ve walked through heartbreak more than once in my life. At the time, it felt heavy and confusing, but looking back, those seasons taught me exactly what I wanted and needed out of love. They made me realize what I would never settle for again.
Because of that, I can say with confidence: the love you’re praying for does exist. I know it, because meeting Jack is proof of it. The right kind of love feels steady, intentional, and rooted in something bigger than you. It won’t leave you questioning your worth or wondering where you stand or waiting around for commitment. It will feel like an answered prayer, because it is.
4. Make wellness a priority without obsessing.
In my early twenties, I treated wellness like an all-or-nothing thing. Either I ignored it completely or I obsessed over every little detail. Real wellness is about balance. It’s about taking care of yourself in a way that feels sustainable. Fueling your body, moving in ways you actually enjoy, resting when you need to. You don’t have to be perfect to be healthy.
5. The friends who truly matter stay.
Not every friendship is forever, and that’s something I wish I learned sooner. Some people are only meant to be in your life for a season. That doesn’t mean you did anything wrong. The right friends will celebrate you, stick by you, and grow with you. And they’ll still be there even when you change.
6. You’re allowed to dream bigger than “normal.”
For a long time, I thought I had to keep my dreams realistic. Something that felt safe, practical, or acceptable to other people. But I believe in taking risks and just “going for it” with all of my heart, and if God gave you a desire for something bigger, it’s there for a reason. Don’t apologize for wanting more out of life. The “safe” path isn’t always the one that’s meant for you. Don’t try to fit your dreams into a box just to be accepted.
7. Home is sweeter than the best adventure.
I spent almost all of my twenties traveling, chasing new places and experiences, and while I don’t regret it for a second, I learned that nothing compares to home. Not just a physical home, but the people, the comfort, the grounding that comes with it. Adventure will teach you a lot, but home will always be where the heart is.
8. You don’t need life figured out at 21 (or 25, or 30).
I put so much pressure on myself to have a perfect plan (and failed miserably). Career, love, purpose…I thought I had to have it all together by a certain age. But life doesn’t happen in a straight line. You’re supposed to change your mind. You’re supposed to try things, mess up, learn, and try again. No one has it all figured out. Trust me, you have more time than you think.
9. Your body is not your enemy.
My relationship with my body has been complicated, especially after being diagnosed with PCOS a few years ago. Since my diagnosis, I’ve fallen into comparing myself to women who didn’t have the same struggle and felt like my body was failing me. But now I know that your body isn’t the enemy. It’s carried you through so much already. It lets you experience life, love, joy, and growth. It deserves gratitude, not criticism. And it definitely doesn’t deserve comparison.
10. Confidence isn’t about how you look.
Let’s be honest, we all fall for this one. I used to buy into the lie that when I hit a certain number on the scale, wore the right outfit, or got the attention I wanted, the confidence would come. But none of that lasts. Real confidence comes from knowing who you are on the inside and where your worth comes from. For me, my confidence is in my identity in Christ, because it doesn’t disappear when my jeans don’t fit the way I want them to.
11. Privacy is Power
I used to overshare sometimes because I wanted approval, sometimes because I wanted people to understand me. But with time I’ve learned that privacy is powerful. You don’t need to explain yourself to everyone. Some things are better kept between you and the people you truly trust. Not everything is for everybody.
12. Following Jesus changes everything.
If I could sum it all up, it’s this…nothing compares to walking with Jesus. No relationship, no career, no “dream life” will ever fill you the way He can. I spent so much time searching for peace in other places before realizing He was what I needed all along. Choosing Him is the best decision I ever made.
Looking back, I realize my younger self worried about a lot of things that didn’t matter and rushed through moments I wish I had slowed down for. But that’s the beauty of getting older…you gain perspective. I hope some of these lessons meet you right where you are, and maybe even give you permission to breathe a little easier in your own journey. Trust God’s timing with your life. There is so much goodness in store for you.
