Often times after I reach a goal I find myself wondering “what now?” It seems as though after spending so much energy keep my eye on the prize, that when the hard work pays off, I am at a standstill. But what do I do after if finish one adventure? Where do I go?

The answer is higher. If you are consistently looking for that next chapter of your life, you are never going to find it. Instead, I highly encourage anyone in the same position to continue doing what they love and what makes them happy. Try new things, talk to new people, you do not need to know where you are headed to constitute it a new phase in life. Have faith that you are meant to be where you end up. The cliché saying stands, everything happens for a reason. It may seem difficult to let it all go, to trust what is hiding in the dark, but if you look at how much life has changed and how far you came from this day a year ago, the results may be surprising. Strength, wisdom, adventure, compassion, and loss—these are the words that come to mind when I think about all the different chapters in my life and what distinct lessons they have taught me.

The best memories are always the unexpected ones. Those are the ones you never forget. When trying to find that next adventure, the next goal to reach in your life—do not let the process consume you. Stay true to who you are and what you stand for and that new chapter will start the moment you let it. Recently I learned to enjoy the little things in life and embrace the ones you love every time you see them, you never know what will happen the next day. So never have a spotlight focus on these now goals, remember to live.

Now, don’t get me wrong it is good to have life planned out. Growing up, I was raised to having the mindset that if you were five minutes early, you were late. In fact, I considered myself a very straight-laced kid when I was younger. But being raised in this environment taught me the beauty of setting goals while continuing to enjoy life. I was taught that when one goal is accomplished, you have to aim bigger for the next one, using that previous achievement as a stepping-stone getting you closer to the target.

Reaching your next goal is important. Finding that new adventure or passion can open up a completely new chapter in someone’s life, but remember to have fun while doing it. Live your life without regrets and to not shy away from something because you are afraid you will not reach your full potential. It's good to plan, but there is only so much you can do without it consuming you. So the next time you find yourself asking “what’s next?” do not stress because you are already starting that new chapter and you didn’t even realize it.