Your 9-5 Job Is The Real World

The above statement is proposed to you as a question or a remark. How will you read it?

Returning back to the United States after 13 months of backpacking alone is one of the realest moments in my life where I can distinguish my Knowing versus the Telling.

Spending 13 months alone out in South America with minimal Spanish was difficult to say the least. I met people from all across the globe where I got to listen and see their definition of the Real World.

In the United States, my parents and community have drilled into me the idea that the "Real World" means a 9-to-5 job where you might face depression, mental illness, and a loss of free will. It's as if you surrender your autonomy and become a cog in a hierarchical system. You alter the way you talk, dress, and express yourself, all in pursuit of validation. Is this truly the only way to live life?

Now don't get me wrong here. A lot of people find joy in their jobs but I can promise you one of the few reasons people are working the 9-to-5 job is tied to the financial outcome where having more money will provide you with a good life. Maybe it's because of the way you were raised thinking you need to pass it on. On top of a forced and artificial Real World, we are met with a consumerism mindset to cover up our pain with possession. Working hard will provide you with a good life they say. What is a good life? Spending more money on things? Traveling to expensive places to post it on Instagram? Having gigantic homes across the nation?

This way of life is nothing other than a borrowed agenda from someone who once did well from it. For those people who beat themselves up for not having enough money at the age of 28, not loving their occupation at the age of 37, not retiring by the age of 55...Maybe it's because you didn't listen to your Real World but instead of the told Real World. You were so afraid to take the leap of faith and now you're tangled in a big mess of what your Knowing is versus the Telling you were given. I pray to all the people who are sitting here right now beating themselves up because they aren't at the point of life where their friends, acquaintances, family, and/or social media influences are. It's not your fault.

There is no rush to the finish line. There is no finish line. The finish line is death in this physical realm. You don't need a ton of money to be happy. It doesn't take a lot to be happy.

Each individual has the free will to determine what their Real World looks like.

My Knowing tells me that no matter how daunting or unfamiliar my path may seem, following my heart is the right choice. The universe always supports me and provides what I need for my growth and prosperity. I hope to one day inspire others to explore their own true potential beyond the conventional world they were taught. While I can’t predict what tomorrow, next week, next month, or next year will bring, the uncertainty is both frightening and freeing. Following my heart will give me all the abundance and support I need to thrive.

So, what is your Real World? Is your 9-5 job the Real World?