Heading into 2020, I can finally say I’ve experienced an entire decade as a full-grown adult - with all of the hard-earned knowledge and emotional baggage that comes with it.
Just like a blockbuster movie with all of its sequels, each year builds upon its predecessor with a variable set of plot twists and character changes.
A lot of things change.
A lot of things are out of my control.
But the one thing that doesn’t change is that I am the protagonist - always at the center of the story, writing, directing, and acting in a production of my own making.
It took a while for me to learn this.
I’m the one choosing the lens through which my life plays out.
I’m the one exploring the angles.
I’m the one making the frame.
And with that, I choose to see the world differently with each passing year.
Here are the 10 most important lessons I’ve learned so far:
If you don’t like the story in your head, you can always write a new one.
Take the unconventional liberty to change your mind. What’s worked for you in the past may not work anymore and that’s okay.
Allow much more time than expected for anything worthwhile to pay off. Keep planting the seeds, and keep living your life.
Appreciate every moment as it’s happening.
There is more than one way to be fulfilled. Define success on your own terms, partially by increments of progress vs. tweets of praise.
Make amends with the darker sides of your personality and embrace your mistakes.
Taking responsibility for a situation doesn’t necessarily mean taking the blame. The sooner you can own up to where you’re at, the sooner you can make plans for where you want to be.
Love is motivating. Healthy relationships serve as mirrors to our pain points and opportunities to grow in a safe space. But you have to be ready for the challenge (something only you can gauge for yourself). And just like anything else, it takes time, effort, and commitment on both sides to grasp the benefits in full.
A brand plan is not a business plan and you need both to survive. Number-crunching (while never as fun) is just as important as mood-boarding.
Give it a rest and give it your best. Allow yourself to get messy, sing off-key, and dance off-beat once in a while. Moments of authentic imperfection and intentional downtime give you the space to get inspired in unexpected ways. Plus, when you’ve given your all to the “slow days,” it’s much easier to focus on the “go days.”
Which one of these resonated the most with you this year?
I’m prioritizing my business plans and my relationships in 2020, pressing through the uncomfortable moments to transform into the next version of myself.
Cheers to another year of doing the work :)