One of the hardest things to do is to let go of the idea of how your life should be.

Growing up I thought I had it all figured out. I would go to college, get the degree I always imagined, find the boy of my dreams, not gain the freshmen 15, and all would be good in life. I have never been more wrong. Unless you're the perfect person, life is more than likely going to get in the way a few times.

The problem with planning the perfect vision of your life is trying to accept when things go wrong. I had such a great mindset of what my life would be like after high school, that I wasn't prepared when life threw me some curveballs. I couldn't see that just because things weren't going my way, didn't mean better things wouldn't follow. It's easy to compare your progress to others and be hard on yourself about where you're at in life when it seems like everyone around you has it all figured out. But, there is no comparison and there is no set schedule as to how you become successful in your life.

So what if you change your major, or it takes you a little longer to get the degree of your dreams? Many people have this utopian idea that we'll all finish college in four years, and have the perfect start to our life. Coming out of high school, I felt so much pressure to know what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. While this may be realistic for some, for the majority it is not. What 18-20-year-old isn't going to change their mind a few times? I used to spend so much time agonizing over the fact that it might take me a little longer to get to where I want to be in life. Now I realize there is no set time schedule for achieving your dreams. There is no shame in your progress being different than others. Looking back on your life at 80, you will not regret the extra time it took you to get to where you are in life.

Throughout our lives, there is always going to be times when life throws us unexpected challenges. But, it's all in the way you decide to approach things. You could let failing that test, going through a breakup, changing your major, and feeling lost, dictate your life. Or.. you could decide to use the hardships to become a better person. While there may be times when you feel absolutely everything is working against you, or you are completely lost in life, God always has a bigger plan than the one you have in mind. It's all in your mindset.

At the end of the day, know that you are not the only one. We are not meant to have it all figured out, but to simply learn as we are going.

A few setbacks does not mean failure, it means an even greater comeback.