Here are 10 lessons I learned in 2018. What did you learn? Email me and let me know!
1. It’s important to find a purpose that emotionally drives you. Having a strong “why” behind what you’re pursuing is essential to keep moving forward and will help you on the toughest of days.
2. Being emotionally connected to your purpose is important, but it’s also important to learn to detach yourself from the outcome of certain situations. When things don’t go as planned, our emotions can drag us down a slippery slope. Yes, failure & rejection hurt a lot. It’s okay to feel the pain, but don’t allow those hurt feelings to render you powerless. Don’t allow yourself to dwell in the pain & prevent you from adjusting course & moving on. Control what you can and try to let go of what you can’t.
3. Some people are crazy & there’s nothing we can do about it. Try not to waste your time & energy on getting offended or angry at unreasonable, illogical people. There’s no reasoning with the unreasonable. Your time & energy will be of better use elsewhere.
4. Boundaries are essential. Identify where you draw the line in the sand and hold strong when someone crosses it. Being kind & forgiving doesn’t mean you should allow others to take advantage of you & drag you down. Sometimes it’s scary to communicate boundaries because you’re afraid of losing someone, & sometimes when you express clear boundaries you do in fact lose people- but remember, losing people who don’t respect your boundaries is a good thing. In 2019 it’s time to keep those who care close while letting go of the fear of losing people who don’t add value to your life anyway.
5. There is a difference between having a personal identity versus becoming egotistical and dogmatic. We all need a sense of individuality and to make sure we don’t lose who we are as a person, while at the same time we need to be open to growth and evolving. Don’t let someone steal your light, but also be open to growth.
6. We don’t have to live in extremes. It doesn’t need to be all right or all left – only tough or only gentle. The world runs in yin & yang. We can be soft, feminine & embody grace while also being capable of kicking ass and being a force to be reckoned with.
7. There are 3 mindsets. Victim, Survivor and Warrior Mindset. We can be in different mindsets in different areas in our lives. It’s essential to take an honest look at all areas of our lives and see how we’re showing up. We might have a warriors mindset in our self-development or in the gym, while at the same time have a victim mindset around money. It’s essential to assess where you are & tackle each area.
8. Change & transition is hard. Sometimes we make mistakes. But there is still a silver lining to mistakes – we can’t dwell in the past and wish we made a different choice. This goes back to the 3 mindsets. Shit happens that we might regret, but it’s up to us to decide what we do next.
9. Our environment affects our health greatly. You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with. Let that sink in. Find a good, core group of people who will challenge you to grow but also lend you a hand when you fall. Having the right people in your circle who are supportive and a positive influence will make you happier, healthier & move you toward success.
10. Depression really sucks. 2018 was a year for me that I had the darkest, most frequent & longest spells of depression. Even those of us who look like we have it all going on may be struggling. It’s okay to ask for help, no matter who you are. Talking to someone about it & battling it is strength. You are not weak and you are not alone. This might sound counter intuitive, but one thing that has helped me is to remember that it could always be worse. To remember that so many others are less fortunate. When dealing with mental struggles, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut and stuck in your own head. Getting out and trying to help others less fortunate and serving your community really helps you get out of that mental struggle while making a positive difference.
