How do I deal with feeling like I'm not where I'm supposed to be in life?

Feeling like you're not where you're supposed to be in life is a common source of Anxiety disorder that often stems from comparing your actual circumstances to an idealized timeline of where you think you should be at your age. This feeling might arise when you look at peers who seem to have achieved certain milestones - career success, marriage, homeownership, children - while you feel behind or off-track from these conventional markers of progress. The pressure to follow a specific life timeline is often reinforced by family expectations, cultural norms, and social media presentations that make it seem like everyone else is hitting life milestones on schedule while you're struggling or taking a different path. You might feel like you should have figured out your career by a certain age, found your life partner, achieved financial stability, or reached other goals that society presents as normal developmental markers. However, the concept of being 'supposed to be' somewhere specific assumes there's a universal timeline for human development, which simply doesn't exist. People's paths vary enormously based on factors often outside their control, including economic conditions, family circumstances, health issues, educational opportunities, and personal interests that develop at different rates. Some people find their calling early while others discover their passion later in life. Some face obstacles that slow their progress while others have advantages that accelerate their journey. Sometimes feeling off-track actually indicates that you're following your authentic path rather than conforming to external expectations. What looks like being behind might be you taking time to explore, heal, learn, or develop in ways that don't fit conventional timelines but are necessary for your personal personal growth. It's also possible that you're measuring progress using metrics that don't align with your actual values - perhaps you're focused on career advancement when you actually value Interpersonal relationship, or worried about material success when you find meaning in creative or service-oriented pursuits. Consider redefining success and progress according to your own values rather than external standards. Focus on your personal personal development, the Interpersonal relationship you've built, the challenges you've overcome, and the unique path you're creating rather than comparing yourself to arbitrary timelines or others' apparent progress.