What 2018 Taught me: My top 5 lessons from 2018

And just like that, we are in a new year. I can’t believe that 2018 is over. I feel as though 2018 just started. However, the year is over and 2019 is here! I am so excited about this new year. New opportunities, challenges, learning experiences and so much more is possible in this new year. The new year provides us with an opportunity to ‘restart’ while at the same time grow from all the life lessons we experienced in 2018. I learned a lot in 2018 and want to share my top 5 lessons and what they taught me.

1. Strength is a mindset. This year taught me that my strength is connected to my mindset. When I thought that I was strong (physically, emotionally, mentally etc.) I was able to accomplish more hurdles and challenges. When I believed that I was weak, then I felt it in all the areas mentioned above and accomplished less and felt depressed. Your strength is connected to what you tell yourself. Always remember mind over matter. Speak life and strength into all areas of your life and see how far you will go when you believe that you are strong.

2. Always try. This happened to be a hard lesson for me, but I learned that I should always try because you never know what the outcome might be. In Hold on to God, I talked about how I didn’t apply to medical school (at first) because I did not think that I was a strong applicant and would get in. However, eventually, I applied because in everything try. Let someone else tell you no, not yourself. Always try because someone might see that you are rare and unique and will you an opportunity. It is said that you miss 100% of the shots that you don’t take, so take a shot and see what happens!

3. Believe in yourself. Always, always, always, believe in yourself. No one else will believe in you as you will. I have an amazing community of people around me that believes in me but not everyone has this. You have to believe in your dream, your life goal, and most important in yourself to make it happen.

4. Failure is necessary for success. In order to be successful, you have to fail. I failed so many times this year but those failures I used as lessons and learned from them. I like to think about school; sometimes you fail a quiz however if you go back and study and learn from that failed quiz, you can pass the test. The same is true in life; learn from your mistakes/ failures so in a similar situation you can win. Don’t be afraid to fail. Every failure brings you closer to your goal, so be ready to fail.

5. Make time for yourself.  THIS IS SO IMPORTANT! Make time for yourself. Learn how to relax, have fun, laugh, smile, rest and take care of yourself. I make it a point to take care of myself by small simple things like lighting a candle and listening to music. Just make time to care for you.

“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.”-Hal Borland

I hope that in 2018 you learned something about yourself. I would love to hear what things 2018 taught you. Please leave a comment with your top lessons from the year. As we go into 2019, don’t forget to use what you have learned about yourself. Always remember to be real, be unique and be you in 2019. HAPPY NEW YEAR!