The Big Lessons

It’s an odd thing to consider that personal growth can be accelerated when you are forced to confront your limiting beliefs during moments of intense emotional experience. The past six months have catalysed a profound inner journey for me, where I feel I have learnt more in this short period than in the past ten years.

Sometimes you realise that these new revelations are in fact, things you’ve known for a long time but have never had to put into practice. And so the true value of the lesson lays dormant, its weight never being exacted on your conscience until you find yourself in the midst of the unknown.

A whole new meaning is then given to the phrases you’ve nonchalantly repeated as gospel; things that you’ve heard other wise souls say in some distant past. For the first time, it is felt.

I want to share some of the important lessons I’ve learnt with you:

1. Sometimes you meet people who are incompatible with your flavour of life. You may have arguments over differences in opinion and find that your worst selves are brought out during your interactions with one other. That doesn’t make you a bad person, it just means that they are not your people and that’s okay.
2. You can only control that which is within your control. Read that again.
3. Sometimes you have to seek your own truth from within, even if that means accepting you may never hear theirs. Give yourself the closure you deserve.
4. Do not loathe or fear that which forces you to reconsider your entire understanding of self. Instead, befriend the person or thing that has challenged your views, embrace them like an old friend and thank them for inspiring meaningful change within you.
5. Take every rejection as a blessing and protection from a future that was not meant to be.
6. Always keep the inner child within you alive, as she is the one who guards the realm of your dreams.
7. Always chase the things that make you truly happy so that one day when you’re old, you can be proud of everything you dared to try.
8. You alone reap the benefits of whatever decisions you make in life so go and follow that trail of wonder.
9. People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. Don’t be saddened by relationships that are ephemeral in nature, for they brought magic to your life at one point in time. Be thankful.
10. Always be the truest version of yourself and keep your head held high. Do not stoop to other people’s levels when they exhibit toxic behaviour. Move on and have respect for your own boundaries.
11. You are worthy of whatever it is you seek in this world so go and live an extraordinary life.
12. Major change can be incredibly unnerving and is designed to be challenging. As such, it is completely normal to cling to the safety of what is known at first but eventually, you need both feet in the present to be able to experience the now in full.
13. Give yourself permission to really feel your feelings. Everything will be okay in the end, I promise.
14. Always keep a soft heart but arm yourself with tremendous mental fortitude. Remember, no one can take away something that you gave to yourself.
15. Regularly practice self-reflection through journalling, meditation or the like. It is an incredibly rewarding time investment that is nurturing to the mind, body and soul.
16. No joke is worth telling if it is at the expense of another person’s feelings. It is possible to be funny without ever being mean.
17. Whilst actions do speak louder than words, don’t forget to speak your truths and remind your loved ones of how much they mean to you.