From My Journal: Reflections on Choosing Peace in a Chaotic World

“Influence is a tender thing.”

That’s the first line of my first book, I Got Issues, written when I was in myearly twenties—a brand new mom, already navigating the emotional terrain ofsingle parenting, family drama, and power struggles over how to parent mydaughter. It wasn’t courtrooms or legal battles—not back then. It was more likelearning how to hold my own as a young mom while trying to emotionallyregulate, pay bills, and heal from wounds I didn’t yet have language for.

I was still becoming.

The Weight of Adulting When Your Brain Is Still Developing

Let me be real with you—writing a whole book in my twentieswhile managing single motherhood, mental health challenges, and generationalfamily dynamics wasn’t just ambitious… it was survival work.

I was fighting for space, for voice, for authority over my own life and my ownchild—all while my brain was still wiring itself for adulthood.

The Comparison Trap + Social Media Boundaries

One thing I didn’t have to navigate back then was Instagramhighlight reels, Twitter hot takes, or TikTok therapy soundbites telling me whoI should be.

But now? The comparison trap is real.

I’ve caught myself scrolling and comparing my life to people I don’t evenknow—or worse—people I know just enough to make the comparison feel personal.

Here’s what I’ve learned (the hard way):

✅ Take social media breaks—sometimes for months at a time.
✅ Use the mute button liberally. Protect your peace without announcing yourdeparture.
✅ Block when necessary. Every person doesn’t need access to your energy—or yourtimeline.

This isn’t about being petty. It’s about survival. Mental, emotional, andspiritual survival.

A Call and Response to My Younger Self

That’s part of why I’m writing my next book:
I Got It: From Aw Hell to AHA!

It’s my answer to the girl who wrote I Got Issues.
It’s the letter from the healed, stretched, still-growing version of me… backto the version who didn’t know how much she would survive and transform.

Almost two decades later, I’m reflecting deeper, loving myself harder, andchoosing peace like it’s my full-time job.

For Any Young Adult Reading This…

If you’re in your twenties—or just in a season whereadulthood feels like a setup—this is your reminder:

You don’t have to have it all figured out.
Take breaks. Unfollow. Block. Log off. Rest.
Your peace is worth protecting—by any means necessary.

Stay tuned for more reflections… and when the new book drops, you’ll be thefirst to know.

With love and lived experience,
Aileen Imana

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