Afraid of Post-Mission Life? How Conference Helped Me Feel Peace About the Future
The thought of adulting is terrifying, but messages at general conference reminded me that I can control the focus of my life.
In a few weeks, I’ll finish my service mission. I’m looking forward to spending more time writing, reading, playing sports, and hanging out with friends. One thing that I’m not looking forward to is adulting.
Dating, going to college, and choosing a career are major decisions that will shape the rest of my life. Life after my mission feels like a blank canvas—it’s both exciting and terrifying. There are so many choices to make!
So I’ve been wondering: How can I find peace through all of this change?
Finding My “Why”
As I pondered my fears during general conference, Elder Ricardo P. Giménez of the Seventy’s talk resonated with me because it focused on my favorite topic: goals! He said: “In our world, we usually focus on what we do and on consistently accomplishing tasks and goals. In a spiritual sphere, we have the opportunity to go beyond just doing things or achieving goals by understanding why we are doing them.”
Later, Elder Sergio R. Vargas of the Seventy talked about how salmon will swim upstream each year using their magnetic map. He said, “Like the salmon, we have our own magnetic map, or Light of Christ, to guide us.”
It may not be easy for salmon to swim upstream, but they have a purpose. They know their “why”! Similarly, I can start by finding my “why” for the goals I have now and use the Light of Christ as my guide.
To avoid debt, I can work in the summer to save money for college. At college, I can focus on launching my career to help me support my future family. When dating, I can be intentional by being willing to have open and honest conversations with whoever I’m dating.
Changing My Focus
President Russell M. Nelson taught, “The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.”
The way I feel about my future is often tied to my circumstances. The daunting tasks of adulting make it easy to fear, worry, or doubt my abilities.
Instead of focusing on those negative feelings, I can make Jesus Christ my focus and feel joy. I know that with Jesus Christ by my side, I can learn, grow, and overcome.
After listening to general conference, my soul has found more peace. My circumstances haven’t changed, but my focus has. When I look to the future, I can see Jesus Christ as part of the equation, and He has helped me and will continue to help me along the way.
I’ve learned to consider the deeper “why” behind my goals, which brings me peace and purpose as I think about what the future holds.