Why Your Twenties Aren’t About Perfect Decisions — They’re About Momentum

If you are in your twenties, I bet you have felt this before: the crushing pressure of needing to make The Perfect Decision. The perfect degree. The perfect job. The perfect life path that will define you forever.

Let me tell you a secret. Most of that pressure is made up.

The Aptitude Test That Was Supposed to Decide My Life

I remember sitting for aptitude tests, trying to figure out what I wanted to study, and feeling like the entire course of my life hung in the balance. I genuinely thought, This is it. This is the moment that decides everything.

Now, looking back, I can see it was just a drop in the ocean. Yes, what I studied shaped part of who I am today, but it was not the content of the course that changed my life. It was the experience. Going to university, surrounding myself with people who thought differently, learning how I study, how I handle adversity, how I push through hard seasons. That is what shaped me most.

The truth is, it was never about making the perfect choice. It was about the process, the growth, and the discovery that came along the way.

Gary Vee and the Reminder That You Have Time

If you follow entrepreneurs like Gary Vaynerchuk, or Gary Vee as many people know him, you will have heard this message loud and clear: you have time. So much more time than you think. Gary regularly tells young people to stop worrying that every decision they make in their twenties will lock in or doom their future.

Your first job is not your last job. Your first business idea is not your last idea. Your first degree is not your only option.

Your twenties are not the decade where you need to nail down a flawless life plan. They are the decade where you test, explore, fall on your face, get back up, try again, learn, and keep moving.

Momentum Beats Perfection Every Time

When I look back, I see this pattern repeated over and over again. It happened when I moved to new countries, when I switched careers, when I launched and relaunched businesses, and even now, as I work on writing a book. None of these came from having a perfect master plan. They came from movement.

Momentum matters far more than perfection. When you move, you learn. You uncover what fits and what does not. You stretch yourself, stumble, recalibrate, and realise you are stronger than you thought. You cannot discover any of that if you are frozen in overthinking, waiting for the “right” answer to appear.

There Is No One Perfect Path

There is a myth that life has one right path and that if you miss it, you are ruined. This is simply not true. Most people who are successful, fulfilled, or deeply happy got there through a messy, non-linear journey.

They made choices, adjusted, made new choices, adjusted again. They made mistakes, learned, pivoted, and tried again. That is the reality behind most success stories. It is rarely about making the perfect decision. It is about staying flexible and moving forward.

So if you are standing there, panicking about whether the degree you chose, or the first job you took, or the path you are on will seal your fate forever, let me reassure you. It will not. It is only a stepping stone, just one part of a much bigger journey.

It’s About Who You Are, Not Just What You Do

At the end of the day, your life is shaped less by the specific choices you make, and more by who you are as a person. Are you curious, open, adaptable, willing to learn? Do you keep moving forward, even when things feel uncertain? Do you stay engaged, even when you are not sure exactly where the road leads?

These qualities will take you much further than the “perfect” degree or job title.

Practical Tips to Build Momentum

✔ Choose action over overthinking. Even a small action creates movement and energy.

✔ Set flexible goals. Big, rigid goals can feel overwhelming. Small, flexible goals let you adjust as you go.

✔ Test and learn. Think of your twenties as a time to experiment. You are not locking in your forever plan.

✔ Celebrate adaptability. Being able to adjust is a strength. Do not cling to the idea that commitment means never changing your mind.

Final Thoughts

It is okay if your twenties, or any decade, are full of exploration, mistakes, and shifts. What matters is that you keep moving, keep learning, and stay open to growth.

You do not need a flawless plan. You just need the courage to start, to explore, and to trust that momentum will teach you what perfection cannot.

Take care,

Lindi

PS: If you want help turning your momentum into meaningful progress, or if you are feeling stuck in overthinking, book a free 15-minute session with me. Let’s figure out your next step together.

https://stan.store/Lindivanheerden/p/book-a-11-call-with-me-a6x2d7wq

About Lindi van Heerden

Lindi van Heerden is a coach, mentor, and speaker passionate about helping young individuals navigate life’s big questions with courage and confidence. Through her Young and Purposeful – The Clarity Blueprint programme, she empowers young adults to break through self-doubt, take bold action, and create a life they love, even before they have it all figured out.