5 Of The Biggest Life Lessons I’ve Learned (Episode 51)

Every once in a while, I like to take some time out to reflect and consider life lessons that I’ve learned. I’ve recently developed a new habit of regularly checking in with myself to ask some important questions – what has gone well? What hasn’t gone so well? Is there is a lesson I can take away from this experience? Various experiences and challenges have taught me new things about myself and others. Even amongst some of the most difficult situations and experiences, there is always a lesson to be learned.

In this solo podcast episode, I share key insights on some of the biggest life lessons I’ve learned. You can listen to the full episode via Apple Podcasts, iTunes, Spotify, iHeart Radio or Amazon Music. You can also listen simply by clicking the link below:

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Don’t have time to listen to the episode? You can read the summary below:

5 OF THE BIGGEST LIFE LESSONS I’VE LEARNED

1. WITH ADVERSITY COMES OPPORTUNITY

At the start of COVID, I recognised this period as an unbelievably rare time to do all the things I had wanted to do, but never seemed to have the time for. I decided to double down and officially launch The Boss in Heels Podcast. Whilst the kinds of guests I was targeting were generally hard to pin down, I quickly realised their travel plans had been cancelled, and they were also spending more time at home. I used this as an opportunity to interview guests via the phone from the comfort of their homes. 

The Boss in Heels Podcast hit the top 5 career podcast charts for Apple Podcasts Australia, and was also recognised on Yahoo Finance and Business Insider as The #1 podcast to listen to during COVID. I’ve learned that so long as you are open and willing, with adversity comes opportunity.

2. AN INVESTMENT IN YOURSELF IS THE BEST INVESTMENT YOU’LL MAKE

I truly believe that an investment in yourself is the best investment you could ever make. Whenever I have invested in myself, I have received an ROI 10 times the initial investment. 

I usually set around 10% of my income aside to spend on personal and professional seminars, courses and private coaching. I also invest time listening to podcasts and reading books on a daily basis. 

When you are willing to put in the work and invest in yourself, benefits can be enormous – both in a personal and professional sense. Investing in myself truly is the single best investment I’ve ever made.

3. NEVER TURN DOWN THE SOUND OF YOUR OWN AMBITION SIMPLY JUST TO MAKE OTHERS FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE

Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of finding your own unique voice and honing in to your unique power. As someone who was a people pleaser for so many years, I used to keep myself small simply to make others feel more comfortable or to make myself ‘fit in.’ I’ve since learned, that the right people will find their way to you, support you and stay with you. When you start to own your goals, dreams and ambitions that is when they will actually start to materialise. Surround yourself with people who make your audacious goals feel normal.

4. YOUR MESS CAN BECOME YOUR MESSAGE

I used to be a self-proclaimed perfectionist. I would wear perfectionism as a badge of honour, as though it was something I should be proud to say. One of the life lessons I’ve learned, is that perfectionism can be crippling. This insane pressure we place on ourselves to look a certain way, act a certain way, and produce work / articles / videos / episodes whilst trying to look and and sound perfect – is exhausting. 

I have learned to embrace my rawness. To allow my mess to become my message. To own my story and share my vulnerabilities. I have learned to embrace my flaws and my imperfections. I have learned to become comfortable in my own skin and to simply just be me. This lesson has truly been a gift and allowed me to connect with others on a much deeper level.

5. GRATITUDE CREATES MORE GOODNESS

One thing I’ve learned is that when you focus on the good, the good gets better. Ever since I have started practicing gratitude on a daily basis the amount of goodness in my life has grown exponentially. As Oprah Winfrey so eloquently said:

“The more thankful I became, the more my bounty became. That’s because – for sure – what you focus on expands. When you focus on the goodness in your life, you create more of it.”

When you focus on all of the things you do have, as opposed to what you don’t have, the goodness in your life expands.