Hi R-claire,
I hear what you are saying, but it is so far from the truth. At 26, you are meant to be having adventures, finding yourself, making mistakes. That is what life is all about.
People who usually present their lives as "perfect", are usually far from it. It's nothing to aspire to. And trust me, as you get older, you realise that more and more.
And, as someone who has worked for large, international companies, I am going to tell you a secret... I have never hired a person who has stayed at the one workplace their whole life. It usually means they play life safe, lack diversity of thought and are not generally someone who adapts well to change.
Comparing yourself to others that "look" like they have their stuff is not the way to live your life. I had friends that were married with kids, had good jobs, beautiful house.... we then found out that they were living in separate rooms, mortgaged up to the eyeballs, nearly bankrupt and they ended up divorcing because they had tried so desperately to look "perfect" to everyone else, they forgot to look internally and remember what makes them happy. The husband has now quit his corporate job, running his own small business, living in a beach shack and he has never been happier. Because he finally stopped living his lives by other people's expectations, and is just doing what makes him happy.
Now - put that to the side and focus on you. Focus on working on what is driving the anxiety, learn what makes you happy, and take the pressure off yourself.
I would really like you to take a look at the below link. I think it might be helpful in challenging some of your thinking:
https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/~/media/CCI/Consumer-Modules/Perfectionism-in-Perspective/Perfectio...
I know it's hard when you are the person living in it, but we have all been there at some point. Please take the time to focus on you x
