The Pressure to Have It All Figured Out in Your 20s — And Why It’s Okay If You Don’t ✨

By Bond

“By 25, I’ll be successful. My dreams will be in motion. I’ll have a stable job, travel the world, maybe even own property.”

That was the plan. My plan.

And maybe yours too.

But here’s the thing no one really prepares you for: the 20s hit different. They come with ambition and fire, sure—but also confusion, pressure, comparison, and the kind of mental rollercoaster that no one posts about on Instagram.

As I write this blog, I’m 26. My name is Bond—founder of LA'BOND, dreamer, hustler, father, artist, caregiver, and a man still figuring things out one lesson at a time. This post is for everyone who's ever felt like they're falling behind. For everyone who thought they’d be further in life by now. For everyone in their 20s walking through the fog, still searching for their breakthrough.

Let’s talk about it.

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The Dream vs. The Reality

Growing up, we’re fed this linear story: work hard, graduate, get a job, build a life.

Simple, right?

But the reality for many of us is far from linear. Life doesn’t follow timelines. It breaks them. Reshuffles them. Mocks them even. You can spend months planning for one big opportunity only for it to delay—or worse, disappear. You can give your all to a relationship and still watch it crumble. You can pursue a dream and feel like it’s still out of reach.

In 2024, I applied to AAHM Group to pursue a caregiver job in the UK. I passed the interviews, completed the assessments, even bought the required courses, submitted everything on time—and waited. Then came the news: the first batch had gone ahead, and I had to wait for the second.

That waiting season… it wasn’t just about time. It was about doubt.

“Did I do enough?” “Was I overlooked?” “Will my dream ever come?”

I started overthinking. I’d be having a good moment with my daughter Gianna, then suddenly feel a wave of worry crash in. It felt like the clock was ticking while I was standing still. Sound familiar?

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Everyone’s Timeline is Different—But Comparison Will Lie to You

Let’s be honest—social media is a beast.

Scroll for five minutes and you’ll see someone your age (or younger) buying a house, launching a business, getting married, living abroad, or driving a dream car. Meanwhile, you’re just trying to survive Monday without a breakdown.

It’s easy to feel behind when you measure your timeline using someone else’s ruler.

But here’s what I’ve come to understand: life doesn’t reward the fastest; it rewards the most faithful. Faithful to their vision. Faithful to the grind. Faithful even in silence. What you see online is someone’s highlight reel—not their silent battles, late-night tears, or internal wars. Don’t let curated success kill your organic process.

At one point, I felt ashamed telling people I was still “waiting to travel.”

Now? I proudly say: I’m working on it.

Because my journey isn’t delayed—it’s being built properly.

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Pressure from Within (and From Others)

Your 20s are wild because you’re not only chasing your dreams, but also carrying the weight of other people’s expectations.

For me, that meant being a role model for my sisters. A responsible father to Gianna. Someone Cutty could still respect even after we went our separate ways. It meant building LA'BOND not just as a brand—but as a legacy. It meant being the son, the friend, the partner, the man everyone believed in.

But the more I tried to please everyone, the more I lost pieces of myself.

One night, I looked in the mirror and didn’t recognize who I was becoming. I was tired, not just physically—but emotionally. That’s when I decided: I can’t let pressure steal my purpose.

If you’re in your 20s and feeling like you’re drowning under expectations—breathe.

Let go of who they think you should be, and hold on to who you’re becoming.

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Finding Peace in the Process

You don’t need all the answers right now.

Let that sink in.

There’s peace in not knowing exactly where you’ll end up—but trusting you’re headed somewhere meaningful. I started writing more, working on my music under the name Bond, and sketching plans for LA'BOND CREST ACADEMY and LA'BOND DYNASTY. I dreamed of building a simple but beautiful maisonette for Cutty in Kenya by her birthday, and even began shaping a perfume brand under LA'BOND.

None of these things happened overnight. Some haven’t happened yet. But each day I put in work, I take a step closer. That’s progress. That’s purpose. That’s peace.

You don’t have to be perfect or complete. You just have to be in motion.

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Lessons the 20s Are Teaching Me

Here’s what I’ve learned so far—and maybe you’ll relate too:

1. It’s okay to change your mind.

You might start chasing one dream and realize it’s not for you anymore. That’s growth.

2. Healing is part of the hustle.

You can grind and still take time to feel. Don’t numb your way through life.

3. Not everything needs to be figured out now.

You’ll evolve. Your goals will evolve. Let that be okay.

4. You can be a masterpiece and a work-in-progress at the same time.

Be proud of what you’ve done, even as you reach for more.

5. Your story is yours.

The delays, the detours, the wins, the breakdowns—they’re part of your unique journey.

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To Everyone Still Figuring It Out

I don’t know exactly where life will take me next. Maybe by the time you read this, I’ll be in the UK, or maybe still tying up loose ends in Kenya. Maybe LA'BOND will have dropped its first hit track. Maybe I’ll be doing interviews, or just quietly building behind the scenes.

But I know one thing: I’m not giving up.

If you’re in your 20s and feeling lost, late, or left behind—don’t let that stop you. You’re not behind. You’re not broken. You’re becoming. Give yourself permission to be unfinished.

We put too much pressure on ourselves to “have it all together” by a certain age, when really, life is about growing through what we go through. The 20s are a season of planting, not just harvesting. Water your vision. Trust your timing.

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Final Words from Bond

If I could go back and tell my younger self anything, I’d say this:

“You won’t have it all figured out. But you’ll figure out enough to keep going. And that’s what matters.”

So whether you’re building a business, chasing a dream, trying to heal, or simply learning how to survive—you’re doing better than you think.

Stay grounded. Stay hungry. Stay real.

And never forget—LA'BOND: We Connect.