Today is my birthday! I would like to share some life lessons with you based on my 34 years of experience.
Here is a compilation of the life lessons I have discovered during my 34 years of existence. I have experienced ups and downs over the past 30 years, but I have also learned important lessons that have improved my ability to overcome obstacles in life and live each day to the fullest.
In this list, I will discuss some significant lessons I have learned. Personal insights, constructive influences, and self-care are all covered in these lessons. The words that follow are meant to uplift, soothe, and direct you on your journey. Let us explore some of the important life lessons I have encountered in my 34 years.
1. Whenever you feel tired, take a break
Maintaining your physical, mental, and emotional well-being requires self-care and rest. When you feel worn out, it is crucial to pay attention to your body and take a break. Overexerting yourself can have a negative impact on your wellbeing and cause burnout. Please take mental breaks whenever possible, whether for personal or professional reasons. Take a moment to yourself. There are moments when my actions leave me exhausted, but after experiencing hardship, I become aware of it.
2. Always expect the unexpected
Since life is unpredictable, it is critical to adopt an adaptable and flexible mindset. Although we cannot control the future or what will occur tomorrow, it is imperative that we accept both the positive and negative aspects of life. We never know what can happen at any time; just be ready.
3. Prioritize your goals and set a deadline
Your life will have clarity and direction if you set specific goals and give them a deadline. It supports your ability to maintain motivation and focus while allocating your time and resources to the things that matter most. Establish long-term objectives for your growth—personal and professional. Before, I never believed in setting goals and deadlines, but lately, I discover the importance of setting goals.
4. Don't be afraid to say no
You can confidently decline in various settings, such as work, social situations, and beyond. It is perfectly acceptable to say "no" if you have a good reason to. It is essential for your mental and emotional well-being to set limits and stand up for yourself when necessary. It is acceptable to put your personal needs first and turn down things that do not align with your values or goals. Actually, this is one of my pet peeves since I want to finish as much as possible after receiving feedback from my co-worker and design manager.
5. Embrace people who help you grow
As you grow personally and professionally, surround yourself with people who encourage and push you. Seek out people who have the ability to improve your relationships, business, career, or work environment. Aim to make everyone around you feel better.
6. It all starts with trust
Trust is essential for establishing a solid relationship. It can be challenging to build meaningful connections with people without it. From personal experience, it can be difficult to keep up a long-distance relationship. But I have come to realize that building a stronger and more satisfying relationship requires trust.
7. Celebrate small wins. You deserve it
This entails treating yourself well in life and realizing your worth. I usually give myself a reward twice a month. Buying something that makes me happy, like a new Nintendo Switch game, or something as simple as sitting down to a bowl of ramen or drinking your favorite coffee in your favorite cafe, could be it. Why not take good care of yourself? Life is too short.
8. Failures are part of life. Embrace them.
Failure does not define who you are or what you can do. Failure is acceptable and should not be taken too seriously. Failures teach you to try again and do things better. It is a test for you personally, professionally, and in other ways. An inevitable aspect of learning is failure. You can improve your resilience and grow by accepting failure and viewing it as a teaching opportunity.
9. Your ego is your biggest enemy
Having too much pride or ego can be detrimental to relationships and personal development. More success, both personally and professionally, can result from putting humility first and letting go of ego. I suffered with a big ego in my early years as a designer, especially when I got criticism from other designers. But after reading Ryan Holiday's "Ego is the Enemy," everything was different.
10. You don't need to stress yourself out
Maintaining mental well-being and avoiding burnout require controlling stress levels and giving self-care first priority without putting undue strain on oneself. This is something I feel bad about a lot, especially when I am working on side projects and personal projects. I am aware that finishing this task will present a new challenge, but I see it as an investment in my future.
11. Be respectful of the culture and traditions of others
Relationship-building and understanding-promoting practices both benefit from respecting others' traditions and views. Respecting someone else's religion and culture, especially when in a relationship, can be difficult but is essential. It can be difficult to deal with the cultural differences when you have a half-Chinese ex-girlfriend, but it is crucial to recognize and honor their family's culture.
12. Spend more time with your family
Family time is essential to our overall wellbeing. I have made a decision to prioritize my family and spend more quality time with them, especially now that they live in Bataan at my brother's house while we are in Navotas City. We treasure the times when they visit us and talk to each other frequently on Facebook Messenger.
13. Trust your gut. Your intuition is often your best guide
You can make the correct decisions if you follow your intuition and believe in your gut. I frequently trust my intuition to help me make tough decisions. Even though some people might doubt or question your decisions, it is crucial to follow your gut and have faith in yourself.
14. Money isn't everything
While money is important, it should not be your only priority in life. There are many other aspects of life that hold value and bring happiness, such as relationships, personal growth, and experiences. It is a tool, not the end objective. While having a stable financial situation is vital, it is also critical to understand that contentment and happiness cannot be bought with money alone.
15. Communication is the key to success
Effective communication is essential for success in both personal and professional relationships. It is important to develop strong communication skills in order to express yourself clearly, listen actively, and resolve conflicts effectively.
16. Lead with excellence
One can attain their objectives and gain the respect of others by aiming for excellence in all facets of life. Giving advice or serving as a mentor to others can be equally fulfilling when you see the positive effects of your guidance on their lives.
17. Be brave and step outside your comfort zone
You can grow personally and discover new opportunities by stepping outside of your comfort zone. You should push yourself outside of your comfort zone if your main goal is personal growth. You will eventually learn about its advantages.
18. Be contented with what you have
To start with, you can feel happier overall, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve your positive outlook by learning to appreciate the present moment and being content with what you have. In order to achieve a deeper sense of contentment and well-being, the focus of this practice is on learning to be grateful for the things that already bring you joy and fulfillment.
19. Become a better listener and speak less
I listen more intently than I react to their criticism when I present my work. Understanding other people's viewpoints and developing meaningful relationships both depend on the ability to actively listen. Another way to avoid misunderstandings and miscommunications is to practice speaking less and listening more.
20. The imposter syndrome exists
A lot of people experience the imposter syndrome, which makes them believe they are not worthy of their achievements or that they are frauds. It's important to recognize that these feelings are common and often unfounded.
21. Accept constructive criticism
Although it can be difficult, accepting constructive criticism is necessary for one's development as a person. Getting constructive criticism can help you discover your areas of strength and growth as a person. Gaining the ability to take criticism without getting defensive is crucial for development on both a personal and professional level.
22. Become more confident by overcoming your shyness
You can develop confidence and accomplish your goals by overcoming shyness or social anxiety. Through incremental social situation exposure and pushing your comfort zone, you can improve your social skills, boost your self-confidence, and form more satisfying relationships.
23. Pay off debt as soon as possible
One of the most important aspects of personal finance is managing debt and financial obligations. Paying off your debts as soon as possible will help you save money on interest and raise your credit score.
25. Sleep early and wake up early
Consistency in sleep schedule maintenance can be beneficial to general health. It might be difficult to stick to an early bedtime and wake-up routine as a designer who also works multiple side jobs, full-time work, and plays video games. Nevertheless, I have succeeded in doing so—unless I get sucked into binge-watching a fresh Netflix series.
26. Keeping your relationship simple and not showy
To avoid seeking validation through shallow displays of affection on social media, it's important to prioritize key aspects of a relationship like communication, trust, and respect. You don't have to post about your relationship online, even if you've been together for a long time. Introduce your partner to your friends, coworkers, and classmates instead. Personally, I prefer keeping my relationship low-key, and it benefits both of us. Only immediate family and close relatives know about it, and I'm happy with that because it allows personal growth and strengthens the relationship.
27. Always remain humble, wherever you are
Since the world is small, it is crucial to maintain humility in all circumstances, whether favorable or unfavorable. It is important to maintain your groundedness, no matter how successful you become. Being too confident and haughty can make people uncomfortable and impede one's own development.
28. Your passion matters
Following your passion is the way to achieve fulfillment in both your career and personal life. Make it a priority in your life to pursue something you are passionate about and that you truly enjoy. You will have more success and fulfillment in both your professional and personal endeavors as a result of this, in addition to feeling happier and more purposeful.
29. The power of a positive mindset
Your life can significantly change if you have self-confidence and an optimistic outlook. It can support you in overcoming obstacles, maintaining motivation, and drawing in favorable circumstances.
30. Never stop dreaming
Dreams give our lives direction and purpose, sparking our imagination and inspiring us to achieve greater and better things. Let us say that you are working for the company you have always thought was just a dream because you never gave up on your goals.
31. Just let go for perfection
Make progress instead of striving for perfection, as it is an endless battle. Accept the idea of "good enough" and put more of an emphasis on ongoing development than on achieving perfection.
32. Be patient
You can make a big difference in your life and relationships by practicing patience. It lets you deal with difficulties in a graceful and compassionate manner and gives others the room and time they require to develop and change. Being patient with yourself and others is important when navigating life's journey because some things take time to accomplish.
33. Comparison: The thief of joy
Creating unnecessary self-doubt and dissatisfaction by comparing oneself to others is counterproductive. Rather, concentrate on your own development and progress. Acknowledge your successes and cherish your individual path. As was mentioned in the previous lesson, "Be patient," everyone moves at their own pace.
34. Enjoy the journey. Life is short, so make the most of every moment
Life is short and unpredictable, so it's important to live in the moment and cherish every experience, whether good or bad. Enjoying the little things in life and seizing every chance that presents itself are important values.
Thank you for spending the time to read the 34 life lessons I have discovered in my 34 years. I hope these insights and solace have been helpful to you. Life is a journey of growth and learning. Accepting responsibility for mistakes and overcoming obstacles are essential for growth and self-discovery.
In closing, allow me to express my gratitude for your amazing fortitude, perseverance, and resolve. You have the power to conquer every challenge and create the life you have always wanted. Stay steadfast, goal-focused, and never stop getting better.
Once again, I want to thank you for being a part of this amazing journey. I hope my experiences serve as an inspiration to you and that you take away valuable life lessons. Let us take advantage of the chance for growth and learning that exists every day. ✌🏻