10 substack essays you need to read if you feel stuck
on being brave enough to take what's yours, even if it's uncomfortable
For anyone feeling overwhelmed, paralyzed by choice. This is a gentle reminder that you are not alone, and that you know more than you think you do.
“you cannot hang on to rotten fruit thinking it will ripen.”
Caroline was brave enough to say what I think we all know but are too afraid to admit: you may have to take a pay cut to find your calling. As someone who makes much less than they did before but is also way happier, I found comfort in this essay. It reminded me that every decision I make gets me closer to where I’m supposed to be, and that how much I earn does not define my worth.
Learn to listen to your body and to trust yourself.
Another reminder that you deserve to live a life worth living, whatever that means for you. It’s easy to mistaken what other people want for us as what we want for ourselves, but doing so is such a disservice to ourselves. This essay is a reminder that it takes time and introspection to figure out what we truly, deeply want—but once we do, we must be brave enough to seize it lest we let ourselves down.
“I want to look in the mirror and know, without a doubt, that I earned everything I once believed was just a matter of luck.”
A gentle reminder that everything is earned and nothing is given. I often find myself feeling bad about myself when my writing doesn’t get the engagement I expected. I then have to remind myself that writing on the internet is notoriously competitive, and that I must continue to put in the work to earn my place. I must have the “no matter what” mentality to make this dream come to fruition.
“I no longer feel like I am running out of time. I feel like I am creating the life I want one step at a time.”
It’s easy to feel like your twenties are passing you by quickly and that you don’t have enough to show for it. It’s easier to think this way when the lives of those around you seem linear. Few will admit that your twenties are a time to experiment, to figure out what you really want. Even fewer will act on it—Alexis isn’t one of those people.
“what’s yours will always find its way back to you, even in the most unexpected of ways.”
I stopped believing in coincidences a long time ago. As I get older, I’m getting better at following my gut, even if it goes against logic. I quit my job despite people in my life telling me not to, and it sent my down a wonderful path I never expected—opening doors that were sealed shut, as though the key was in my pocket the whole time.
“I want to stay up late and go to bed at 9:30 p.m.”
Your twenties are overwhelming, in part, because there are so many roads you can take but you only get to go down one. But I like to think all, or at least most, of the roads take you where you’re meant to be. You cannot let fear silence you into indecision—there may be obstacles and diversions along the way, but there are no dead ends.
saying “yes” to our potential puts us (un)consciously at social risk
A reminder that, in order to become all that we want to become, we must be willing to shed the expectations others—family, friends, society—put on us. We are only free and able to live authentically when we accept all of ourselves. You only get one life; do you really want to live it for others?
“the people who are truly happy in their work seem to be the ones who aren’t afraid to pivot.”
A beautiful essay that reminded me that sticking to one path your entire life is actually not the norm. We are fickle beings attuned to chase the next thing that captures our curiosity. We must be brave enough to keep answering our calling, even if it leads off paths we thought were set in stone.
“Write that book that you can’t stop thinking about.”
A reminder that you cannot go through life indecisive. No matter what choices you make—regardless of whether you regret them—you must own your decisions. You cannot let the fear of failure paralyze you; you must keep moving, continuing down the branches of your life.
“when you give away your best hours, you give away your dreams”
A precious reminder that not hours are created equal, and that the only way to fulfill our dreams is by giving them our best hours—this is the very least we can do for ourselves.
I love such collections. Most of them become immediate bookmarks as I like to savour them as morning reads. I follow this account that does collections only, https://dailylong.substack.com/?utm_source=global-search
These all sound great, I especially want to read Alexis's essay. Thanks for sharing!