junnaLast year was a time not only of pain but great change and growth for me. I learned many valuable lessons that I will carry with me into the future. Here are the 8 things that I realized last year:
Time is Precious
It’s a cliché I know but when mama died, it made sense to me. Time is finite and making the most of every moment is a privilege. One of the things I realized last year about time is that it’s not only an indispensable resource that should be used wisely but it’s also the currency of life. How you spend your time has its price you have to pay now or later in life.
In the past, I often found myself wasting time on things that didn’t bring me fulfillment. In effect, I lost opportunities that could have helped me later in life. The boundaries between work and life became blurred during the infancy of my corporate life. And for that, I hated my life. It brought unhappiness which cost me a dime. Now, I learned to prioritize my time better and focus on what truly matters. Because let’s face it, we don’t know how much absolute time we have. We simply have what we have.
Enjoy the little things. For one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” – Robert Brault
Relationships Matter
I learned that relationships with family, friends, and colleagues are invaluable. I realized the importance of maintaining and nurturing these relationships. Last year, I made a conscious effort to spend more time with my closest friends and became open with what I was going through. I showed them how much they mean to me by listening to their hearts’ desires. These relationships are some of the most important things in my life and they bring me a great deal of happiness.
Failure is a Stepping Stone to Success
Will you agree that failure teaches us more than success? Last year, I applied for a different post in our company but luck wasn’t on my side and things didn’t go according to my plan. A couple of months later, I applied for the same position, and guess what? I got rejected again. As a human being, I got discouraged and feared failure. It shut me down for a while to be completely honest. However, I realized that this approach was limiting my growth and potential. Instead, I started to embrace failure as a learning opportunity, to view it not as a setback but as a stepping stone to success.
This shift in perspective has allowed me to take more risks, try new things, and approach challenges with a more positive and resilient mindset. Because of those rejections, I get to explore new things like learning the Spanish language and experimenting a little with my career. Towards the end of 2022, I was able to lay out my side hustle plans including digital products. Those rejections are opportunities for growth and development. I discovered my love for analytics and data science. You see it wasn’t a failure after all, it was just a redirection. I may have not landed a higher position but it helped me to identify areas for improvement and to refine my approach to ultimately achieve my goals, career-wise. That alone is a success for me.
Small Steps Lead to Big Changes
I learned that small steps taken consistently can lead to big changes. I recognized the importance of taking small, manageable steps towards my goals whether it’s about investing, starting a side hustle or working on that passion project of yours. In the past, I often set lofty goals for myself without breaking them down into smaller, more achievable steps. This resulted in my goals and dreams being paralyzed. However, I learned that taking small steps consistently can help me to make progress toward my goals and to build momentum over time.
Acceptance is Key
This was my greatest realization last year when things couldn’t get any worse in my life: my mom’s passing and dealing with my major depressive disorder. My psychologist taught me that acceptance is key to inner peace and happiness. Bad things happen and there are a lot of things beyond our control. All those denials led to feelings of stress and anxiety. As I moved on, I realized that accepting myself and the things around me can help me to feel more at peace and to cultivate more positive relationships.
Gratitude Changes Everything
My outlook changed when I started cultivating gratitude. It is such a powerful tool for improving our mental, emotional, and physical well-being. I realized that expressing gratitude for the little things in life has a great impact. Did you notice how you feel more positive emotions when you are grateful? That’s how it is for me and it changes everything.
Forgiving Completely
They say true healing starts when you forgive whoever hurt you. That’s exactly what I did to my kids’ father. I knew I couldn’t move on if I can’t let go of my issues and problems in the past that were weighing me down caused by him. But I found strength in forgiveness. It’s too personal for me but I just have to say that we have an uncommon family setup. Every day, I pray to God that when my kids get older, they will understand.
“My command is this: Forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” – Matthew 6:14-15
Life is Short
Finally, I realized that life is short and we should make the most of every moment. You may have heard of it a gazillion but we don’t always realize it until it’s too late. I just want to live in the present and enjoy the journey. Before, I often found myself worrying about the future or dwelling on the past. Lately, I realized that the only moment that truly matters is the present moment and that I should make the most of it.
