5 Life Lessons: What 2020 Taught Me
I took this photo in the summer of 2019 during my trip to Dubai. I traveled a lot that year and in hindsight, I’m so glad that I did. I am a frequent traveler on a normal basis, but in 2019, I traveled for both work and pleasure. Well 2020 brought that to a screeching halt. This past year came with much change, disruption, pain and discomfort, but for me it also brought greater clarity, increased my faith, and gave me a deeper sense of purpose. It also forced me to prioritize the people and things that are most important to me.
The lessons that I learned in 2020 are almost innumerable, but I don’t have the time to share them all and I’m sure you don’t have the desire to read them all either. 😄 Therefore, I’ll share the Top 5 Lessons that 2020 Taught me instead.
PLAN BUT ALWAYS BE READY AND ABLE TO PIVOT.
I’ve said this over and over this year, but this was hands down my most important lesson of the year, especially as it relates to the changes I had to make in my business to remain successful. No matter how prepared we are, life has a way of bringing things our way that we never saw coming. It’s important to have a vision for your life and to have goals, but the best part about goal setting is the ability to be agile. Being able to adjust, as the factors that impact your vision and goals change, is critical to success in business and in life.
HAVING A SOLID SUPPORT SYSTEM IS VITAL TO YOUR OVERALL SUCCESS.
People were built for community. It doesn’t matter if you’re an introvert, extrovert or ambivert, we’re not meant to do this life alone. Many who were used to spending lots of time around people were forced into solitude. We were all challenged with the opportunity to deal with ourselves, learn about all of our quirks and idiosyncrasies and to learn to enjoy our own company. Those who are introverts had to get creative on how they would continue to grow personally and professionally while being isolated. Being isolated may not be a problem for an introvert, but imagine searching for a job during a pandemic as an introvert. That in itself presents its own set of challenges. As we continue to move forward through what may be a challenging time for many, let’s find ways to create our own support system and community that can support continued growth and overall well-being.
On the other hand, AS LIFE CHANGES, THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU MUST CHANGE AS WELL. Each season that we go through requires a tailored mix of resources to carry out that season or to perform well at that particular level of our lives. A big part of our success, especially in times of crises, is tied to the people that we spend the most time with. This year, I was forced to re-evaluate my personal and professional relationships. I got closer to some people, spent less time with others and made some divine connections that I know will benefit both me and the other person for years to come. Be courageous enough to know when your season with a person has either shifted or is over. Move on, without guilt, knowing that you have both served your purpose in each others lives. This allows all parties to move forward and to open up intentional space for the right people to enter your lives.
LET GO OF YOUR NEED FOR CONTROL. If it’s one thing 2020 revealed, it’s that there are certain things that are in our realm of control and others that are not. Although we inherently know this, there is nothing like feeling like things are spiraling out of control to make this really hit home for you. Any time I find myself being obsessive over certain things or feeling like I’m losing control, I always recite the Serenity Prayer out loud. It’s an oldie, but goodie and a good reminder to focus on the things that we can actually impact.
MAKE TODAY COUNT! They say all the time that life is short and this is so true. Life seemed so fleeting this year as it often does when we experience death and grief. However, even if you live to be 100 years old, wouldn’t you rather make the most of your time and fully experience all that life has to offer?
As we enter 2021, let’s take the lessons we’ve learned from this past year to make this year and the coming years better.
Live your life!
Live it with boldness!
Live it out loud!
Live it unapologetically!
And Live it authentically, without shrinking back or sacrificing who you are or who you were created to be.