The Quarter-life Crisis: Faith-centered Ways to Find Your Purpose
“Do not be afraid. Do not be satisfied with mediocrity. Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch” (Pope St. John Paul II).
Many of us have heard of the infamous mid-life crisis, when some people, facing down the second half of their life, reassess their current trajectory and take action—sometimes trading in their car or job for things they’re more passionate about.
What about the quarter-life crisis? Is it an inevitable part of your 20s? Does it hit right at 25?
A Challenging Transition
The quarter-life crisis can be the transition from adolescence to adulthood, a developmental episode with a beginning and end that can last for several years and centers on major life changes. It can occur after you graduate from high school or college or after the first few years of your career. The accompanying life changes can include moving out of your parents’ house, going to college, or starting or ending a serious relationship. Being a crisis, it is a stressful and difficult time.
In the U.S., we put a tremendous amount of pressure on one question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Over and over, from the time we are small, the adults around us demand an answer. So, when we reach 18 and the time comes to choose a major, start a career, or learn a trade, it can bring up a lot of feelings and concerns. At that point, we may not know how winding a career path can be, how many niches and options there are, or how flexible it can be.
You can also enter the quarter-life crisis at a later age. Sometimes, we graduate with confidence and begin our career or enter a religious vocation, only to look up after a year or two and think, “What am I doing here? Is this what I was meant to do?”
I changed my major three times. I started in psychology, with a focus on neuroscience. My second semester was in elementary education. As an English major, I finally found my passion, but it would take time to discover what I was meant to do with the skills and opportunities I accessed in college. At times, it felt like I could truly be anything, and at others, it felt like I was free-falling.
The amount of opportunity, without much lived experience, can be intoxicating and overwhelming. And, you might be facing other pressures, like an expectation from your family of what you should be or the financial need to immediately provide for yourself.
How to Navigate the Quarter Life Crisis
One of the wonderful things about being Catholic is the many tools we have at our disposal for seeking guidance and solace. Here are a few that can help you through the quarter-life crisis:
Adoration
Spending time praying and listening to God without distraction may give you more insight into what to do next.
Retreats
Maybe cutting out the noise of your everyday life—and the people around you and their influence—is what you need. Check to see if your parish or diocese has a silent or other type of retreat coming up that might help you.
Novenas
If you’re on the precipice of a decision, perhaps praying with an open heart to a specific patron saint can lead to a meaningful sign.
Spiritual Advisers, Young Adult Ministers, and Friends
Talking to someone who’s aligned with your values might be just what you need to uncover a path forward. Some people process through talking, and the person you’re talking to may bring up things you haven’t thought of yet.
Pilgrimages and Mission Trips
Traveling can give you a different viewpoint, and your experiences visiting sacred sites, communing with others, or helping a community can inspire you to pursue something new or give you more clarity and focus.
Savanna Polasek is a nonprofit communications specialist, freelance writer, and creator of Memoir Ink. She is a Catholic convert and lives with her charming husband and daughter in Austin, Texas. In her free time she enjoys exploring Texas, listening to Catholic podcasts, reading, and writing fiction. You can connect with her on LinkedIn.