8 Things You Only Fully Understand As You Get Older

True freedom is to own yourself.

Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash

Growing older isn’t solely about the physical changes in our bodies; it’s also the culmination of personal growth and wisdom that comes with it.

Certain things about life don’t make sense when you’re much younger. You feel invincible, like you can do whatever you want and get away with it.

But as you get older and have the benefit of retrospect, things begin to take on a deeper meaning. You begin to appreciate the hidden implications of your decisions and actions.

And all of a sudden, you can see aspects of your life where you wish you’d taken a different path or done something differently.

Here are critical life lessons that I’ve found to carry increasingly more weight as people get older.

Life is not about proving yourself.

At 34, one of the things I’ve learned is that the average person has a natural tendency to want to fit in and seek validation.

This is often stronger when you’re younger. You’re still figuring out your identity, finding your place in the world, and navigating societal expectations and peer pressure.