The REAL Reason You Feel Behind (It’s Not What You Think!) Use THIS Simple Reset to Make Confident Decisions
Fri Feb 06 2026
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How to Let Go of Outdated Success Timelines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
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.