10 Brutal Truths I Wish I Knew in My 20s for a Better Life
Here’s the twist nobody told me in my twenties: It’s not always about finding the right answers. It’s about unlearning all the wrong ones you were convinced were true. So if you’re in the thick of figuring life out—read this. These are the brutal (but honest) lessons I wish someone had slapped me with back then.
Michael Koukos
4/25/20251 min read
1. Confidence Doesn’t Show Up First—It Follows Action
I wasted so much time waiting to “feel ready.” Confidence comes after you show up scared, not before.
2. People Are Too Busy with Their Own Sh*t to Judge You
You’re overthinking everything. Truth is, no one’s tracking your mistakes like you are. They’re focused on their own insecurities.
3. You Will Outgrow People—Let Them Go
Loyalty doesn’t mean dragging deadweight relationships. Some people are only meant for a season. Release them without guilt.
4. Health Is Wealth—Literally
I ignored my body and glorified burnout. Big mistake. No success is worth feeling like crap every day. Prioritize sleep, movement, water. Sounds boring. Changes everything.
5. “Later” Is a Trap
Later becomes never real quick. Start now. Imperfectly. Waiting for the stars to align is just fear in disguise.
6. No One’s Coming to Save You
It’s all on you. Harsh? Maybe. Empowering? Absolutely. The second you own your life, everything shifts.
7. Your Job Is Not Your Identity
That title, that salary, that LinkedIn flex? Temporary. Build a sense of self that can’t be laid off or downsized.
8. You Don’t Have to Be Exceptional to Be Enough
You don’t need to be the smartest, the most productive, or the most talented. Just honest. Kind. Consistent. That’s more than enough.
9. Jealousy Is a Map
That envy you feel? It’s not evil. It’s directional. Pay attention—it’s pointing to what you deeply want.
10. Life Doesn’t Get Easier—But You Get Stronger
The challenges don’t stop. But your resilience builds. You stop flinching. You handle more with less chaos. That’s real growth.
If you’re reading this and nodding, good. You’re ahead of where I was. Keep going, keep growing. Life doesn’t come with a rulebook—but these truths? They’re a solid place to start.
