Coaching Young Adults Through the “WTF Is My Life” Phase
Why coaching is the secret weapon for navigating the messiest, most defining decade of your life.
You’ve graduated (maybe). Or started a job (you think?). Maybe you moved out, moved back in, ghosted your LinkedIn notifications, or secretly Googled “how to be a person” at 2am. Whatever your path, if you’re in your 20s and feel like you're flailing in the deep end of life with no floaties—you're not alone.
This is what a lot of people call a “quarter-life crisis.” But here’s the truth:
It’s not a crisis. It’s a recalibration.
You’re building a life with no script—and that’s overwhelming. Not because you're broken or behind, but because you're human, and no one really prepared you for this part of adulthood.
You’re Not the Only One Asking WTF
According to the American Psychological Association’s Stress in America report, 91% of Gen Z adults say they’ve experienced physical or emotional symptoms due to stress—more than any other generation. Future uncertainty, pressure to succeed, financial insecurity, climate anxiety, social comparison, and trying to function in a world that changes daily? It’s a lot.
This generation is more self-aware, more values-driven, and more open about mental health than ever before. But you’re also carrying the weight of “figuring it out” in real time—often without clear guidance or a safe place to think out loud.
This is where coaching comes in.
What Life Coaching Actually Is (And Isn’t)
Let’s get clear: coaching is not therapy. It’s not a TED Talk or a productivity plan either. Coaching is a structured, supportive space where someone trained to ask the right questions helps you:
untangle the mess in your head
reconnect with your own voice
make values-aligned choices
move forward with clarity and confidence
A coach won’t give you a checklist to “fix” your life. They’re not here to grade you, judge you, or push you toward someone else’s version of success. They’re here to help you get honest about what you want—and take aligned action toward it.
If therapy is about healing the past, coaching is about building the future. (Sometimes, you might need both.)
So What Exactly Do We Talk About in Coaching?
Honestly? Whatever’s real for you.
In my coaching sessions with young adults, topics often include:
“I have no idea what I want to do with my life”
“I’m scared I picked the wrong career/major/job”
“My parents want one thing, but I want something else”
“All my friends seem to have it together—what’s wrong with me?”
“Why can’t I make a decision without spiraling?”
“What does success even mean to me?”
You don't need to have a five-year plan. You don’t even need to know what you want yet. You just need to show up with what’s real.
This work is about helping you:
name what’s true
drop what’s not working
trust your gut
and build a life that fits you—not the algorithm
Why This Decade Feels So Hard (and So Important)
Let’s name what makes your 20s uniquely disorienting:
1. You’re Unlearning Old Rules
You grew up with messages like:
Go to college, get a job, be successful.
Work hard and life will reward you.
You should know what you want by now.
But real life doesn’t follow that formula—and it leaves you wondering, “Did I mess something up?”
Spoiler: you didn’t. You’re just realizing the old map doesn’t match the terrain. Coaching helps you design a new one.
2. You’re Living in the “In Between”
You’re not a kid, but you don’t always feel like an adult. Your friends are getting married, changing careers, moving abroad, having babies—or all of the above. You’re trying to feel stable, make good choices, and still somehow “live your best life.”
It’s no wonder you feel torn in a thousand directions.
This season is where identity is forged. According to psychologist Jeffrey Arnett, who coined the term emerging adulthood, people ages 18–29 experience more identity exploration than at any other life stage. (Source: Emerging Adulthood: The Winding Road).
In other words: confusion is the assignment.
The Coaching Difference: Clarity That Doesn’t Come From Google
Unlike advice from strangers on Reddit or life tips from a TikTok coach who has 3 cats and a ring light, real coaching meets you exactly where you are. No shame. No assumptions. Just space to slow down, tune in, and make decisions you’ll actually feel good about later.
Here’s what shifts when you work with a coach:
From “Should I do this?” → “Does this align with my values?”
From overthinking 24/7 → making calm, grounded decisions
From comparison paralysis → self-trust and forward movement
And the best part? You don’t have to have it all figured out. Coaching is about building tools that help you stay grounded while you grow.
Real Talk: Why Coaching Works for Young Adults
It creates space for reflection that doesn’t come with pressure.
It builds confidence without pretending to have all the answers.
It’s a space where you don’t have to perform or impress anyone.
It turns spirals into next steps.
The International Coaching Federation found that:
80% of people who’ve worked with a coach report improved self-confidence
Over 70% saw improvement in work performance, relationships, and communication
(Source: ICF Global Coaching Client Study)
You’re Not Behind. You’re Just Becoming.
Let’s rewrite the narrative:
You don’t need a five-year plan.
You don’t need to be crushing it on LinkedIn.
You don’t need to “figure it all out” by 25.
What you need is space to hear yourself, support to trust yourself, and clarity to move forward with intention—not fear.
You weren’t meant to hustle your way into wholeness.
You were meant to become the version of you that feels right, not just successful.
Ready to Get Unstuck?
If you’re feeling the “WTF is my life?” energy hard right now, that doesn’t mean you’re broken—it means you’re in a powerful transition.
Coaching won’t give you a script.
But it will help you reclaim your voice and write your next chapter with clarity.
👉 Book a free clarity session with Eileen today:
https://eileenlifecoaching.as.me/?appointmentType=60387647
Sources & Further Reading
American Psychological Association. (2020). Stress in America™ 2020: A National Mental Health Crisis.
https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2020/reportArnett, J. J. (2004). Emerging Adulthood: The Winding Road from the Late Teens Through the Twenties.
https://www.jeffreyarnett.com/winding-road.htmlInternational Coaching Federation. (2023). ICF Global Coaching Client Study.
https://coachingfederation.org/research/global-coaching-studyInstitute of Coaching, McLean/Harvard Medical School. (n.d.). Benefits of Coaching.
https://instituteofcoaching.org/coaching-overview