This message is kinda contradictory with your username, /u/Motivation_Man ;)
Let me tell you my own life path, if it can give you any kind of perspective. I'm soon-to-be-22[F]. I came to the conclusion, last year, that the "traditional way of life" I was engaging myself on had failed me so far. That is, being an A+ student, studying in something I am passionate about, getting in a LTR relationship with a serious, somewhat quiet but truly wonderful guy, moving together on our own, having healthy relationships with my friends and family, working out and being careful about what I eat, and miraculously getting my dream job as a graphic designer in a family-run business close to my core values. Add to this fairly good genetics, and I was all out for glory. Right?
Guess what? Only a year from now, from June 2013 to May 2014, I was in that ideal place described above, and thought I had it all figured out. Serious partner, dream job, decent income, nice apartment, no debts, a pretty damn neat start, right?
...Except, in May 2014, I couldn't help but feel a terrible void. I was working out and eating healthy, but my partner wasn't exactly following that path. We weren't sexually compatible, either. Which seems kind of shallow, but a very important chunk of a successful long-term relationship is, IMO, matching sex drives. My friendships, while healthy, were nowhere near fulfilling intellectually. We were all living our lives, merely small-talking stuff instead of truly challenging ourselves. Coworkers were super nice to work with, but older than me, with kids about my age - not much in common outside work.
First, in May 2014, I quit my then-boyfriend. The day I realized I didn't love him anymore, it felt like a terrible betrayal to stay with him and pretending that all was fine. Something had to be done, and it started by this.
I then moved on my own - I've been renting since I'm 17. I moved from my parents to study in a bigger city - which felt wonderful. I gained my autonomy back and stopped to see myself as an "ideal girlfriend with her life figured out". Instead, I was "the girl questioning the status quo and everything society expected from her from such a young age". I spent that summer meeting new people, dating, exploring my sexuality, figuring out my attirance for ladies VS men : since puberty, I felt attraction for women, but I never explored that during my teenage years, since, you know, it was "unusual" and "non-conventional". I traveled on my own to see a friend of mine with cystic fibrosis, her last summer before a life-time in the hospital. I dabbled in polyamory, only to realize monogamy is what feels right for me - at the moment. Welp, I kinda just broke all of my own personal standards in order to broaden my views on life and relationships - and I am much, much more open-minded and tolerant than I was on that level.
Then, starting last November until April, I went through a pretty darn serious depression. Now that I had figured my social needs and shattered my expectation, I was free to think about work, and gosh, that was a rough patch. I ended up not working out anymore, making poor eating choices, picking up an habit of drinking occasionally. All of that? To cope with that "dream job". It started to feel dull when I realized how the values they promoted weren't translated into everyday's procedures. Felt like a gimmick put in place to justify their incompetence in many other areas. I didn't feel like it was a place for growth anymore. It just felt like I was the one trying to hold it all together. It IS truly terrifying to realize your dream job doesn't feel like a dream job anymore. Is graphic design for me at all? Should I jump into new studies? What's next?
Well, I did it, I just quit my job in April. Been living the frugal lifestyle and focusing on a passion of mine I always neglected - illustration - ever since. I got a part-time job as a graphic designer and co-editor at a publisher for children's learning book this summer, so I can prepare to find a more steady job this autumn. Depression is getting in-check now that I got my eating and working out habits back in order - energy that was wasted over getting super anxious about keeping my last job.
Oh, how I still frickin' struggle with the fact I need to do stuff, or work for company I do not believe in in order to make a living. But it gets better. The more you stick to your guns and stay true to yourself - not a partner, not your parents', not society's expectations, but yours, and do whatever your heart beat for, you can hardly, hardly fail.
Getting in the real world is hard. And it is easy to slip, just as I did last year up to last month - but welcome the lows as much as the highs, as you will keep on fluctuating from one point to another. Fortunately, with experience and time, the gap between both of them will be less and less important and you will feel that you reach a point of balance. Like you are doing just what you should be doing. I find I'm at my best when I got my own life habits (sleeping, eating, working out, hygiene, cleaning your room, etc) in order, and focus on bringing the best out of myself, which inevitably inspire others to do the same and bring out their best, too. By doing so, you attract the right people in your life, and usually, they bring with them wonderful stories and opportunities to share with you.
Slowly eliminates whatever is too negative in your life. Focus on what makes you happy, excited, curious. Focus of that. Go out. Meet new people. Sign up for classes. Do some volunteering. Reach out to people you admire, and let them know you enjoy what they do. Learn from them. Always try do what feels right, even if it doesn't sounds right, as long as it doesn't directly harm others. (ie. when I quit my ex, my job, and had a fling with my then-best-friend. Ah.)
Nurture your gift of "getting" people. Be there for them. Be as human as you can be - and that includes being vulnerable, making mistakes, and learning from them.
No matter what you end up doing with your life, you can be sure of one thing - it won't go as you expect it. Things you thought would be amazing end up making you miserable, people you trusted will sometimes turn your back at you, and you will end up doing things you never thought you would do!
Find your safe place. Avoid exposing yourself too much, if you end up hurting yourself that way. Cut toxic people from your life, even if it is hard. Take responsibilities over what you can, like life habits, and let go of things beyond your control. Find balance, always.
Ah... This is something I would've love to tell my 16 years-old self. I hope it can, at least, bring you a somewhat uplifting perspective on life. Do not live out of fear. It gets better, as long as you follow your own inner voice and do nothing to harm others. :)