"Welcome back to Equanimity: Letting Go of Attachments. I'm your host, Master Rinda."
Through my own journey of moving between cultures, raising a family, and rebuilding myself after difficult seasons, I've learned something that took me years to understand: life is not a race. We do not bloom at the same time. We do not move at the same pace. And we are never as "behind" as we fear we are.
Today, my intention is to sit with you gently, especially if you've been feeling pressure from comparison, timelines, or expectations—your own or someone else's. This is a space to breathe and come back to your own rhythm.
Many teens and young adults feel like they're supposed to be somewhere else by now. More confident. More successful. More certain. And adults feel it too, in quieter ways. But the truth is, there is no single timeline for a meaningful life.
Let's explore this together.
There comes a moment when you look around and feel like everyone is ahead of you. Someone your age has already accomplished what you're just starting. Someone younger than you is doing what you wish you could do. Someone older seems to have figured out something you still don't understand.
And suddenly your life feels too slow. Or too messy. Or too uncertain.
But comparison creates an illusion. It tells only one part of the story. You rarely see the struggle behind someone else's highlight. You rarely see the waiting, the fear, the detours they had to take.
Your journey is not late. It's yours.
You don't need to rush to catch up to an imagined finish line. You simply need to return to your own pace.
Comparison is one of the reasons so many people feel behind. When you measure yourself against others, you lose sight of your own path. You stop listening to your inner wisdom. You stop noticing what feels right for you.
Equanimity teaches us to let go of timelines that don't belong to us.
Your life doesn't need to match anyone else's rhythm. You are allowed to move slowly. You are allowed to change directions. You are allowed to grow at a pace that feels sustainable, not stressful.
And here is something important: seasons matter.
Sometimes life asks you to pause. Sometimes it asks you to rest. Sometimes it asks you to focus on healing before building. Growth doesn't always look like progress from the outside.
Your season right now might be preparation. Or recovery. Or quiet learning. That is not being behind. That is being human.
When you begin to trust the timing of your own life, something shifts. You stop forcing. You stop comparing. You stop believing that your worth is tied to speed.
Your value does not decrease because someone else is ahead. Your life is not measured in milestones. It is measured in awareness, integrity, and presence.
Success is not a straight line. And it's not the same for everyone.
Sometimes you grow slowly. Sometimes you leap forward. Sometimes you transform quietly without anyone noticing.
Progress is not always visible, but it is always happening.
And uncertainty is not a sign that you're failing. It simply means you're still becoming.
If you've been feeling behind, take a slow breath. Soften the pressure you've been carrying.
You are exactly where you need to be for who you are right now.
You are not late. You are not missing your chance. You are learning at your own pace.
Thank you for spending this time with me today.
If this episode brought you comfort or clarity, I invite you to follow the podcast.
I'd love to hear from you: what expectation or comparison has been weighing on you, and what would it feel like to release it?
For deeper reflection, resources, and gentle guidance, please visit rinda.one
Until next time, be patient with your journey. Your timing is not wrong. It is yours.
