This Post: 25 Brutally Honest Nuggets of “Life Wisdom” for Graduating Seniors
Written By: The Raising Teens Today Community
For every graduating high school senior, here are a few (brutally honest) nuggets of life wisdom from moms, dads, grandparents, coaches, and teachers. I hope this wisdom keeps you humble, kind, grounded, and on track as you embark on the next phase of your life.
Always remember, you are capable of creating the life you always dreamed of!
25 Brutally Honest Nuggets of “Life Wisdom” for Graduating Seniors
1. You DON’T Have to Have it All Figured Out Now, But You DO Have to Keep Pushing Forward
While you’re pondering what to do with your life or waiting for the skies to open and an amazing opportunity to magically fall at your feet, everyone around is moving forward.
Life waits for no one. So, no… you don’t have to map out your entire life plan, and you certainly don’t have to have all the answers now, but you do have to keep moving forward – even if it’s baby steps. Action brings more clarity than thought. When you’re moving, you’re learning and discovering and figuring out more about yourself, what inspires you, and what ignites your passion. Don’t sit idle. Keep pushing forward no matter what.
2. Life Doesn’t Always Go According to Plan
Maybe you have it all figured out – the college you want to attend, the military branch you want to enlist with, the company you want to work for, the age you want to get married and have kids. But sometimes, the most meticulous well-planned goals don’t always work out.
God’s plan won’t always align with yours. Don’t get so caught up in what’s next and planning your next move that you forget to live in the now. Life may not unfold exactly the way you envision – and that, quite often, is the most beautiful part of it all.
3. When You’re Searching for Happiness, Look in the Mirror
You might think the important job, the big promotion, the shiny new car, and the cool clothes are what will make you feel happy and successful, but one day you’re going to wake up and realize that true happiness and inner peace can only be found from within.
Happiness isn’t a destination or trophy to be won; it’s a daily decision. Be grateful for every new sunrise. Find the beauty in every normal day. Take time to smell the flowers and always focus on what you have, not what you don’t have.
4. You Become Unstoppable When You Focus on Things People Can’t Steal From You
Your values, attitude, integrity, character, personality, determination, life experiences, skills, passions, education, and YOUR KINDNESS – all things no one can take from you.
Invest your time and energy in things that will carry you through life. Focus on what really matters – things that belong to YOU, things that NO ONE can take from you, things that will make you proud of yourself.
5. Live Your Best Life and Stay Low-Key – Privacy is Everything
What people don’t know they can’t ruin. What people don’t know they can’t question. What people don’t know they can’t cast doubt. What people don’t know they can’t instill fear. Do something amazing and THEN share it with the world. Privacy is everything.
6. Stay in Your Own Damn Lane
You’ve weathered the drama-ridden storms of middle school and you’re leaving behind the gossip girls in high school. Leave them in your past where they belong and start anew.
Focus on YOUR direction, YOUR path, and YOUR future. Stay in your own car, in your own lane, on your own road, in your own world. There’s far less traffic and you’ll get where you’re going much faster.
7. Don’t Agonize Over Your Mistakes; Learn From Them and Move On
You’re going to make mistakes – lots of them. Don’t beat yourself up over it. Mistakes, failure, and adversity will always yield the best lessons in life. Own up to it, learn from it, and move on. (And, avoid making the same mistake twice.)
8. Surround Yourself with Friends Who Choose YOU
Don’t be someone’s backup plan. Don’t hang out with people who don’t celebrate your wins as loudly as you do. Don’t foster fake friendships to avoid feeling lonely.
Fake friends will make you feel more lonely than if you were alone. It might take a while, but keep searching for the right friends who choose you, include you, love you, and care about you.
9. If You Don’t Learn to Be Accountable, You Will Be Held Accountable.
Every decision you make and every word you choose to speak has consequences. Some positive, some negative. You, and you alone, need to hold yourself accountable for your words and actions, otherwise, you’ll surely be held accountable by others. Crush your excuses and take ownership of your words and actions.
10. Follow Your Heart, Trust Your Instincts and Use Your Brain
Your heart will guide you, your instincts will protect you and your brain will ground you. The best internal navigation system will tap into all three of these to make the best decisions. Before making big decisions in life, pause and give your heart, your instincts, and your brain a chance to weigh in.
11. Your Parents Have Paved the Path for You, Now You Have to Decide Where That Path Leads
Your parents have been your steady supporters – guiding you and helping you pave your path in life. Now it’s time for you to grab hold of the wheel.
Even if you don’t know where you’re going, just get going. You can slow down, turn around, pull over to the side of the road, and change your direction any time – just grab the wheel and start driving your own life. Your parents will always have your back!
12. Be Strong Enough to NOT Get Hooked
You’ll be venturing off on your own whether it’s to college, trade school, the military, or the working world. No parental supervision and plenty of opportunity to try new things. Don’t get hooked – on vaping, weed, prescription drugs, or anything else that can derail your life. BE STRONG and be smart enough to realize that getting hooked is easier than you think!
13. You’re Not Invincible
You’re at the glorious stage in life when you feel invincible and you’re sure you’ll live forever. But heed this warning, you are not invincible. You can die. You can get injured. You can make decisions that impact the lives of others. Bad things CAN happen to you. Make choices wisely. Think about the consequences of your actions. Don’t take unnecessary risks.
14. Everything is Temporary
Every struggle you endure and every blissful moment you enjoy in life – it’s all temporary. So ride the storms of life with resilience and relish in those beautiful seasons. Remember also to embrace those you love – your parents, siblings, extended family, friends, and loved ones. They won’t be here forever.
15. Life Isn’t Fair – Plain and Simple
It’s one of the harshest realities of all but one you’ll quickly learn. You may not get into the college of your dreams even though you earned it. And, you may not get the job you desperately want even though you’re highly qualified. You can either crumble or carry on. You can either become bitter or better. Choose better and carry on.
16. Life Can Change on a Dime
Don’t take anything for granted – your friends, your family, your health, your job, your life. It’s easy to forget how fragile life is. In the blink of an eye, life can shift and things can never be the same. It can also positively change on a dime – remember that when life is hard or a situation seems hopeless.
17. In This Fast-Paced World, Aim to Slow Down
We live in a world that runs on high-speed internet and caffeine. When you slow down you’re more mindful and intentional about how you live your life. It’s okay to hang out in the fast lane, at times, but we sure to pull over and enjoy the scenery. That’s where the beauty is.
18. Unless it’s Someone You Love, Admire, or Work For, Learn Not to Care What Others Think
There will always be people who have an opinion about how you should live your life. Don’t listen unless the advice comes from someone you love, someone you admire, or someone you work for. If you need advice or want an opinion, be careful whom you seek it from. Not everyone is qualified to offer you advice.
19. Aspire to Be a Life Learner
Be curious. Ask questions. Seek out new experiences. Talk to new people. Read. Keep learning and keep an open mind. Above all, adopt a growth mindset. Curiosity is your superpower.
20. If You Want It, Work For It – Plain and Simple
The world doesn’t owe you anything – not your parents, your professors, your boss, or your friends. If you want something bad enough, you’re going to have to work for it. When you’ve put everything toward something you want, you’ll appreciate it far more than if it was handed to you on a silver platter. And, you’ll feel empowered by your ability to reach your goal which will only inspire you to reach higher.
21. It’s Not All About You
You’re not the epicenter of the universe. As a teenager, you’ve been hyper-focused on yourself – your life, your plans, your friends, your dreams. And, that’s understandable. But you’re growing up and you need to be more aware of what’s happening around you. So, be careful what you say and do… you are impacting the world around you.
22. Every Second You Spend Comparing Your Life to Someone Else’s is Another Second Spent Wasting Yours
Don’t waste precious time comparing your life to others. Don’t get jealous of people who are doing better than you are. If you meet someone who’s doing better than you, get to know them! They likely have a lot of valuable insight to offer.
23. Seek to Find Your WHY
Far too many people wake up dreading the day, despising where they work and what they do. Don’t go through life miserable. Find your WHY – what will inspire you to approach each new day with anticipation and joy? Write down (yes… put it on paper!) what your dream life looks like and then make decisions that align with that goal. You CAN build the life you want, but it takes discipline, intention, and patience.
24. Take Care of YOU
Your health, happiness, and mental well-being are more fragile than you realize. A poor diet, stress, and a relentless schedule can take its toll – even if you ARE young and healthy. Be your own best friend. Take a mental health day when you need it, focus on eating healthily, and create balance in your life – invest in YOU!
25. Call Your Mom and Dad
They dreamt of you before you were ever conceived. They sacrificed for you beyond words. They lost sleep over you night after night. They cheered for you, always wanted the best for you, and loved you every moment since the day you were born. They want to hear your voice. They want to be included in your life. Pick up the phone and call them… please.
If you enjoyed reading, “25 Brutally Honest Nuggets of “Life Wisdom” for Graduating Seniors,” here are a few other posts you might enjoy!
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Share your thoughts and wisdom! What are some nuggets of life wisdom for graduating seniors you’d like to pass along?