Five things I learned in a year

Every year has its issues. But every year I reflect on my learnings and take something good from it. Why? Then I won’t have the same problems the next year – upwards and onwards people. So here are five key things I learned from 2022 that I thought might be (somewhat) worth noting.

Time is precious.

During the act of thinking, most of the time you are unaware you’re doing it – thinking is unconscious until you become aware of it. I can’t even calculate how many hours/days or even weeks I sat obsessing over a problem. All it does is put more emphasis on the issue, resulting in a perceived “bigger issue”. Fuck that. Time is precious.

I’ve learned that the time I spend dwelling, is time that could be spent living, embracing, and accepting the present moment. What is the point of stressing about something before it’s happened anyway? You practically live it TWICE!

The first step is becoming aware of your thoughts. Challenge the negative ones, ask yourself if it’s true – is there evidence to support it? Exercise helps to reduce stress, as done talking it through with a trusted person.

You’re loved.

The only person that showed me I was not loved, was myself. I used to fill my head with so much negative self-talk. I convinced myself I wasn’t good if I gained weight or got pimply skin. Only to realise that nobody actually cares. Your boyfriend still loves you, your friends are excited to see you, your mum thinks you’re awesome, your brother is eternally grateful for your existence, and your boss values what you do. So, yes, you’re loved. Very much. Because it’s about what is on the inside, that’s what makes you, you.

The big tip on this one is practicing self-care – your physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Make time to do things that make you feel good.

Find better things to care about.

I’ve learned that it’s important to consider what you really care about, and what you focus your attention towards. We only have so much energy to give, so sometimes it’s worth looking at the bigger picture, and asking yourself – “do I really give a shit?” Then you have the choice to be selective about what is truly worth your attention. It’s not as nonchalant as it sounds, personally, I think it’s an underrated life hack.

Like Mark Manson once said:  Not giving a fuck doesn’t mean being indifferent. It means being selective about what you care about. There are only a limited number of things that you can truly, deeply care about — you have to nurture the ability to care only about the values that are important and under your control.

Things feel better when you’re enthusiastic.

APPROACH EVERYTHING WITH ENTHUSIASM!

Without being extra, when you tackle matters with a touch of enthusiasm, a pinch of excitement, and of course, a cup of passion – you are winning. Most of the time I’m enthusiastic about my work. After all, it’s what we do best – content marketing – we get talking to business owners with the purpose of getting them excited about their business, which in turn gets their audience excited too. Even if Lisa and I aren’t keen some days, we fake it. And I’m not kidding, it works. It’s all a mindset, ladies and gentlemen.

I don’t mean burn yourself out with enthusiasm either, it’s just one for the toolbox for the days when you need a shift in mentality.

Spend some time changing your perspective – find the silver lining and work from there.

Nurture relationships.

It always felt like I was too busy. I’d reply to my loved ones, “I miss you so much, we must catch up” – and I really mean it. Nothing but good intentions. But do I follow it up? Nope.

Not because I don’t want to, but because my priorities weren’t straight. And I am one of those people that are ‘all or nothing” – that means I may dedicate too much time to one person, project, or matter. Only to neglect all the other good stuff. These may be your friends for life, but it’s still important to nurture the relationship and keep filling up that bucket. The first step is literally getting out the door or picking up the phone.

In summary, life is not the events that happen to you, but rather it’s about how you react to it. It’s all the little moments that make life big. Life comes with no guarantees, no timeouts, and no second chances. Tell someone what they mean to you, stand in the rain (or dance or whatever), hold someone’s hand, visit your mates, fall asleep watching the sun come up, be a flirt, and laugh until your face hurts. These are the small moments that make life worth living.