That quiet voice that whispers, “Am I behind? Did I mess this up?” It shows up for more of us than we think, especially when life doesn’t follow the expected timeline or look the way we imagined.

This short reflection is a reminder that there’s no single way to do life. No perfect pace. No universal checklist. You’re not too late, and you’re not failing — you’re just finding your way.

If you’ve ever questioned your progress, this is your permission to let go of the pressure and trust your own timing.

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00:06

Hey, this is It's Okay If, bite-sized permission slips. I'm Matt Gilhooly and today's permission, it's okay if you wonder if you're doing life wrong. I don't know about you, but there have been more days than I'd like to admit where I've sat with that quiet little voice, the one that whispers, are you behind? Did you miss a step? Why does it look so much easier for everyone else? I remember feeling this really deeply when I went back to school in my 40s.

00:36

starting over, learning something new. Surrounded by people who seemed to have it all figured out. That voice was loud. You're too old for this. You should be further along. You're doing life wrong. But here's the thing. I kept learning. I keep learning. There's no one right way to do life. No master checklist, no perfect timeline. We're all figuring it out in real time. And anyone who looks like they've got it all together,

01:05

Chances are they've asked themselves the same question too. So if you're sitting with that voice today, wondering if you've taken a wrong turn, if you're late, if you're failing, let me remind you, you're not doing life wrong. You're just doing life your way, at your pace. So if you're up for it, tell yourself, give myself permission to release the idea of doing life wrong. My path is my own. That's your permission slip, friend. Tuck it in your pocket.

01:34

and I'll see you next time.