10 Life Lessons I’ve Learned
10 Life Lessons I’ve Learned.
“Quality questions create a quality life. Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers.” – Tony Robbins.
These past few years have been a time of deep reflection, learning and personal development. I have overcome a number of challenges and obstacles. I have said yes to more things that scare me. And most importantly, adopted a growth mindset which has opened up more opportunities for me than I could have imaged.
Through these experiences there are a number of valuable life lessons I have learned. Here are 10 of my biggest breakthroughs:
1. AN INVESTMENT IN YOURSELF PAYS THE GREATEST REWARD
This past year, I have invested in myself more than ever before, and it has paid the greatest reward. I invested in a private coach who specialises in delivering powerful presentations. I attended 8 personal development seminars, hearing from some of the world’s greatest entrepreneurs and mindset coaches.
Investing in my body and mind was equally important. I listened to at least 5 podcasts per week, reading 1 personal development book per month, working out at 5am 5 times per week and incorporating meditation and gratitude practices into my daily routine.
These investments in myself have been amongst some of the best investments I’ve ever made.
2. WE ARE MORE POWERFUL THAN WE REALISE
Attending Tony Robbins Unleash the Power Within (UPW) last year was an incredibly powerful experience for me, and I learned some valuable life lessons. I always felt that I was a powerful being, however I would often hold myself back in fear of failure or fear of being judged.
Throughout the course of UPW, I went on a journey that resulted in me freeing my mind from my limiting self-beliefs. This experience enabled me to understand what I needed to do to ensure I live my life to its fullest potential and to live life as the highest, truest version of myself.
3. OVERCOMING FEAR UNLOCKS POTENTIAL
This past year for me has been all about feeling the fear, and doing it anyway. I overcame my fear of public speaking when I said yes to presenting in a room full of 250 + people. I overcame fear when I said yes to an opportunity, resulting in me launching my own podcast. And again, when I faced my fears doing the Fire Walk at Tony Robbins UPW.
The thought of doing all these things terrified me. But I did it. And it’s only by saying yes to the the things that terrify me, that I’ve been able to start tapping into my full potential and truly living out my passion and purpose in life.
4. HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE
This past year has been one of the best, yet simultaneously one of the worst years yet. I’ve had some of my highest highs, and faced some of my lowest lows. I realised that sometimes, you have a plan, and then nothing goes to plan. I’ve learned to make the best of the set of cards that has been handed to me.
It’s been said that life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you choose to respond to it and it could not be more true. For this reason, I’ve come to the realisation that happiness is a choice. We are solely responsible for choosing to live in a beautiful state and for our own happiness.
5. TIME IS OUR MOST VALUABLE COMMODITY
One of the other life lessons I’ve learned is that time is non-discriminatory in the sense that we are all given the same 24 hours in a day. The variance lies in how we choose to use our time.
I’m a big advocate of following a solid and consistent morning routine, and have done so for many years. However, this past year I learned the beauty of fine-tuning my morning routine so that I am able to achieve more in my day. I start each morning my rising early at 5am, following a gratitude practice, meditating, working out at the gym and then working for myself before going to work for someone else.
Every day, we are presented with a choice. A choice to get up vs. sleep in. To go to the gym vs. to skip it. To watch Netflix or work on your side business. I’ve learned that success is found in the small, daily actions and decisions that we make.
6. SAY YES & WORK OUT HOW YOU DO IT LATER
This past year, I truly learned the meaning of saying yes to an opportunity and working out how to do it later. An incredible opportunity to interview Elena Cardone landed on my lap, and I knew there was no other option other than to say yes. The challenge was, that I had never done a podcast before. I also didn’t have any podcast equipment, cameras or microphones, and I only had a 48 hour window to pull this off.
Despite all the odds, I managed to pull together a great team of people to help this come into fruition for me. I hired a videographer and sound technician and had them agree to working with me for the first time early on a Sunday morning. Interviewing Elena for my podcast has been one of my proudest accomplishments to date, and has opened up many more opportunities for me.
7. THE ART OF SAYING NO
Whilst I have learned to say yes to opportunities, another one of the life lessons I’ve learned is that it’s equally important to say no to requests, meetings and people who are not in line with who I am and where I want to go. Learning how to say no has been a challenging lesson for me, as in the past I have been a people pleaser and haven’t wanted to let others down.
One phrase that has stuck with me through Tim Ferriss is that “every time you say yes to something, you’re saying no to something else.” This year I have learned the art of saying no gracefully, in order to focus on the things that matter the most.
8. YOU ARE THE AVERAGE OF THE 5 PEOPLE YOU SPEND THE MOST TIME WITH
As Jim Rohn so wisely said, “You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with.” I have always been conscious of who I choose to spend my time with, however this has taken a whole new level of meaning for me. One of the life lessons I’ve learned is that the team of people around you are critical in achieving your goals and success.
As I’ve climbed higher up the corporate ladder and have made certain decisions in order to get ahead, I have naturally become more susceptible to judgement and jealousy. I’ve learned that those who are not genuinely happy for me or willing to support my big vision and goals, are simply not my people.
9. SLOW DOWN TO SPEED UP
Another one of the life lessons I’ve learned is the value of slowing down in order to speed up. I am a highly driven individual and constantly need to feel like I am accomplishing as much as I possibly can in a day. However, it was only when I took some time off to travel that I realised just how much of a break I needed.
I pride myself on jamming as much as I possible can in a day, week or month. However, taking some much needed time off reminded that sometimes it’s important to go device-free. Put the tools down and simply be present and enjoy all the goodness that life has to offer. You will return to work feeling more refreshed and ready to take on the world.
10. TIME WILL PASS ANYWAY
We are at the beginning of not a new year, but a new decade. One lesson I’ve learned is to not let the fear of time it will take to accomplish something, deter you from doing it. I have been chipping away at a project for the past 18 months and irrespective of whether I started or not, those 18 months have passed anyway.
I’ve learned to make the most of every moment in this life. I know that if I don’t I will be more disappointed by all the things I didn’t do, than the ones that I did.
LIFE LESSONS LEARNED
What have been some of your biggest breakthroughs and life lessons you’ve learned? I would love to hear your thoughts, please leave your comments below!
