If you’re starting this year feeling stuck, late, or behind in life, this episode gently reminds you that you’re not late, you’re right where you’re supposed to be.

Jay unpacks a quiet truth many of us carry: almost everyone feels behind in love, career, money, or purpose, even when it looks like they’re winning. We compare what we’re struggling with privately to what others show publicly and end up measuring ourselves by timelines that were never real to begin with. When you see only the surface of others’ success, it’s easy to believe you’re behind when in reality, you’re simply on a different path.

Jay reframes what “behind” really means. There is no universal schedule for success, fulfillment, or clarity. Most people don’t find their direction until much later than we’re led to believe, and emotional maturity, financial stability, and creative breakthroughs often arrive in midlife, not early adulthood. The pressure you feel isn’t proof of failure, it’s often the result of unrealistic expectations you set when you didn’t yet know who you’d become. Feeling lost, especially in your twenties and thirties, isn’t a flaw, it’s part of being human.

In this episode, you'll learn:

How to Stop Feeling Behind in Life

How to Break Free from Comparison

How to Build Confidence in Your Own Season

How to Let Go of Outdated Success Timelines

How to Turn Invisible Growth into Strength

How to Move Forward Without Rushing Decisions

Life isn’t asking you to move faster, it’s asking you to move honestly. Trust the season you’re in, honor the lessons it’s teaching you, and keep showing up with consistency and self-belief.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

JAY’S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX

Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe here.

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

00:58 Do You Feel Behind in Life?

01:49 #1: We Compare Our Insides to Other People's Outsides

04:27 #2: You’re Focused on a Timeline that Doesn't Exist

06:41 #3: We Are Wired for Anxiety About Feeling Behind

09:20 You Are Exactly Where You’re Supposed to Be 

12:53 What to Do When You Feel Behind

13:33 Step #1: Compare Less, Connect More

14:16 Step #2: Rewrite Your Timeline

15:49 Step #3: Identify Your Season

16:54 Step #4: Define Progress as Consistency Not Speed

17:42 Step #5: Ask the Question that Changes Everything

18:20 Five Practical Steps to Take This Year

If you&rsquo;re starting this year feeling stuck, late, or behind in life, this episode gently reminds you that you&rsquo;re not late, you&rsquo;re right where you&rsquo;re supposed to be.
Jay unpacks a quiet truth many of us carry: almost everyone feels behind in love, career, money, or purpose, even when it looks like they&rsquo;re winning. We compare what we&rsquo;re struggling with privately to what others show publicly and end up measuring ourselves by timelines that were never real to begin with. When you see only the surface of others&rsquo; success, it&rsquo;s easy to believe you&rsquo;re behind when in reality, you&rsquo;re simply on a different path.
Jay reframes what &ldquo;behind&rdquo; really means. There is no universal schedule for success, fulfillment, or clarity. Most people don&rsquo;t find their direction until much later than we&rsquo;re led to believe, and emotional maturity, financial stability, and creative breakthroughs often arrive in midlife, not early adulthood. The pressure you feel isn&rsquo;t proof of failure, it&rsquo;s often the result of unrealistic expectations you set when you didn&rsquo;t yet know who you&rsquo;d become. Feeling lost, especially in your twenties and thirties, isn&rsquo;t a flaw, it&rsquo;s part of being human.
In this episode, you'll learn:
How to Stop Feeling Behind in Life
How to Break Free from Comparison
How to Build Confidence in Your Own Season
How to Let Go of Outdated Success Timelines
How to Turn Invisible Growth into Strength
How to Move Forward Without Rushing Decisions
Life isn&rsquo;t asking you to move faster, it&rsquo;s asking you to move honestly. Trust the season you&rsquo;re in, honor the lessons it&rsquo;s teaching you, and keep showing up with consistency and self-belief.
With Love and Gratitude,
Jay Shetty
JAY&rsquo;S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX
Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe <a href="https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe">here</a>.
What We Discuss:
00:00 Intro
00:58 Do You Feel Behind in Life?
01:49 #1: We Compare Our Insides to Other People's Outsides
04:27 #2: You&rsquo;re Focused on a Timeline that Doesn't Exist
06:41 #3: We Are Wired for Anxiety About Feeling Behind
09:20 You Are Exactly Where You&rsquo;re Supposed to Be&nbsp;
12:53 What to Do When You Feel Behind
13:33 Step #1: Compare Less, Connect More
14:16 Step #2: Rewrite Your Timeline
15:49 Step #3: Identify Your Season
16:54 Step #4: Define Progress as Consistency Not Speed
17:42 Step #5: Ask the Question that Changes Everything
18:20 Five Practical Steps to Take This Year

I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace.

I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace.
I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

My name is Jay Shetty, and my purpose is to make wisdom go viral. I’m fortunate to have fascinating conversations with the most insightful people in the world, and on my podcast, I’m sharing those conversations with you. New episodes Mondays and Fridays. Please rate and review the podcast if you enjoy it. Live life today ON PURPOSE.

My name is Jay Shetty, and my purpose is to make wisdom go viral. I’m fortunate to have fascinating conversations with the most insightful people in the world, and on my podcast, I’m sharing those conversations with you. New episodes Mondays and Fridays. Please rate and review the podcast if you enjoy it. Live life today ON PURPOSE.

The REAL Reason You Feel Behind (It’s Not What You Think!) Use THIS Simple Reset to Make Confident Decisions

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6f57e902-4578-4b55-8556-b3e9003a5348/transcript