Disclaimer: Please don't get this confused based on the title. I'm no Rob Hill Senior by far. Nor do I have all the answers, Sway. These are just a few things I've begun to practice in my day-to-day life that have helped me to grow. But I'm still growing :)

As a child many of us can recall thinking that by the time you reached your twenties you'd be completely grown and on your own. But then your twenties come in like a wrecking ball, and life quickly notifies you that having it all together is somewhere far down on the agenda.

Early twenties are those awkward years of figuring everything out while making steps towards adulthood. The pressure to have everything sorted out and set in stone can be overwhelming, and to top it off everyone seems to have opinions and suggestions on exactly how you should be living your life.

While yes, there are some people who really do have your best interest in mind when critiquing your ideas and choices, and some of their thoughts should be taken into consideration, you still are the master of your own fate. So here are a few things to keep in mind as you deal with spastic parents and folks on social media who think their words are gospel.

1. Get Rid of Lame Advice.

This isn't to say "don't listen to anyone", but moreso, use wisdom and discernment when receiving advice. Be cautious of those who throw fluff all over bad/negative advice and call it gold. Some people genuinely have your best interest in mind and know what they're talking about. Wise advice is always a good thing to have. It's the advice from those who don't want to see others doing better than them that needs to be thrown out. It's the advice from people who aren't on the level you're trying to reach or aren't even on the level you're at currently that shouldn't be taken seriously. That's the lame advice. That's the advice that keeps you on their level or beneath them.

You're the one that has to live with your decisions, not the people constantly chucking their two cents your way. Don't let "advice" rule the life that belongs to you. Apply good advice to your life, and get rid of the bad.

2. Do What Works for You

Social media will leave you thinking that everything you do is the epitome of lame, wack, and basic if you allow yourself to get too caught up in the web of opinions that you scroll across daily. I still struggle with the urge not to cut things out of my list of interests when it's deemed "basic" by the general public, but it's just not healthy to be that wrapped up in the thoughts of others. Changing your likes and appearance based on what's trending will leave you exhausted and lacking individuality.

If there's one thing that I know, it's that trends are constantly rotating. What was once considered "weird" is now the new "cool", and that could change any day now.

You don't have to pretend to be into astrology, collect crystals, and enjoy art museums to be a cool or conscious individual as long as you find some way to nurture the person within. Keep in mind there was a time when all of those things were mocked. The world needs different types of people. Enjoy what you enjoy and don't amend it unless you see fit.

Fronting will only attract people and things into your life that correlate to the phony persona you've been keeping up. Your life will become filled with things that really aren't for you, because you're not even being you. How can you grow as the person you're supposed to be if you're too busy trying to keep up a facade of the type of person you think the public will be more approving of?

2a. Appearance-wise

As a female I had to realize that putting a lot of effort into looking a way that pleases your own eyes does not automatically make you superficial. Caring about what you look like on the outside doesn't necessarily mean that you neglect to feed your soul. If wearing your natural hair and a bare face is more your speed, then it'll show in your walk that you feel your best in that. But understand that being a naturalista does not automatically make your heart more golden than your counterpart's. If you feel your best with bundles of Brazilian and your eyeliner winged to perfection, then you don't owe anyone an answer for stepping out that way. And it's definitely not some unwritten rule that you have to choose between being all natural or the latter. Being able to do both makes you versatile, not confused or a poser, as long as you're doing it because it's what you like and not because it's what's "in". What's most important is putting equal or more effort into working on your inner self.

3. Don't Use Comparison as a Tool of Motivation.

From a business standpoint, sure, it's smart. Dunder Mifflin constantly checked on what other paper companies were doing to make sure they stayed ahead. From an athletic stance, yep, review that other team's game film so you can have them all figured out when it's time to face-off.

But, on the subject of bettering yourself, the goal isn't to "stay ahead" of someone else, it's to reach your full potential. Reaching your full potential has nothing to do with what someone else is doing, and it has everything to do with you.

If your mission is simply to 1-up the next person, you're going to be content as long as you feel like you're doing better than them; even if "better" isn't your best. When you're in constant competition, the pace of your betterment is dependent upon the pace of the person you're competing with. You're not worried about improving until you feel like you're being outdone by someone else.

To be inspired by someone is one thing; to be jealous and operate out of envy is something totally different. The foundation of all that you do is negative when you're operating completely out of jealous competition. Focus on you, and see how hard you can push yourself. You'll get much farther much faster.

I say all of this to say:

Drink water, mind your business, and progress.

If you stay positive and most importantly, have a good heart, good things will eventually come out of being yourself and doing what you love.