9 Life Lessons 2020 Reminded Me

With all the plot twists that 2020 gave us, it also allowed us to think more about what’s truly essential in our lives. As cliché as it may sound, most of the time, we come through these difficult times stronger than we used to be.

Here are 9, not so new or unique, realizations that I will be carrying forward to 2021 and beyond. I’m sure this is not the first time we hear about these statements but it’s always inspiring to be reminded of them.

Wishing everyone a better year ahead.

1. You create your own plot twist.

• While we continue to trust the Lord’s plan and timing for us, we also need to remember that we make our own decisions. And each decision we make in life propels us forward, opens us to more lessons and realizations, and allows us to have deeper self-awareness.
• Choose how you want to create your own life story. Write it one page at a time.

2. Self-care empowers you to help others.

• We can’t give what we don’t have. As much as we want to be selfless and focus on helping other people especially in these tough times, we also need to fill up our own cup. If not, we feel burnout, unmotivated, and empty. Find ways to recharge your own battery. Try out things to know what works well for you — whether that’s praying, reading, or workout, etc.
• Be inspired to become a better version of yourself so you can also inspire others to do the same.

3. Words are extremely powerful.

• Everyday we read and hear a lot — from social media, loved ones, to friends. And from these, we feel different sets of emotions and even urges us to act or react. Words can influence others to do the rights things or believe in a negative perception and make it their own reality.
• Be mindful of what you say, especially micro aggressions, towards other people. Your words are more a reflection of you than a reflection of the person you are talking to. Be a voice that makes other people smile. Be a voice that encourages people change the world for the better.

4. You don’t owe anyone an explanation.

• When people try to push you to a corner and force you to do or say things, destroy the wall behind you, similar to how we should start tearing down all the toxic stereotypes that society built around us. Don’t limit yourself and satisfy other people’s need for their own self-validation.
• What you decide to do or how you live your life is yours to make. Gone are the days to let yourself give in to societal pressure of what’s normal and what’s not. You do you. Do what makes you happy, no explanations needed.

5. Nourish the relationships you deserve to have.

• When times are difficult, there will always be a select few who truly care and will reach out to us. These are the people who make an effort to check-up on us and how we are doing. These are the people who provide us a safe environment to speak-up and be vulnerable. We feel comfortable talking to them because we don’t feel any amount judgement and bias. They just listen and support. They let you be you at all times. Build deeper connections with them. On the opposite side are toxic people, you don’t need them. Cut them off.

6. A step back can be a huge leap forward.

• It’s always easy to be trapped in a downward spiral feeling of failure, especially when things are taken away from you and you seem to be left with no choice. You feel unworthy. You feel that you never did anything right. You feel unappreciated.
• Only when we start to shift our mindset on how we view failure, that we begin to see all the other amazing things we can do for ourselves and others. We start to realize that our true impact on other people’s lives is not tied to a certain title or status. It is in how we maximize what we do with what we are given that we get to become stronger, better, and more resilient. At the end of the day, people remember what you do for them, not your status.

7. A smile doesn’t always equate to happiness.

• They might just be hiding so much pain and telling you about it hurts them even more. We need to continue talking about mental health more moving forward. We start realizing that everyone goes through their own sets of difficulties. We understand better that we we see at the surface is not necessarily the whole story. This gives us more reasons to stop judging people based on our own version of what’s right or our own perception of what they should be.
• We need to normalize checking-up on our friends. We need to normalize seeking for help. We need to normalize just listening and not automatically giving advice (especially advise clouded with judgement and bias).

8. Take that one small step past fear.

• “Ang lahat ng takot ay imbitasyon upang maging matapang.” (All fears invite us to be courageous.) — Gaya sa Pelikula
• Fear can always be overwhelming. We tend to overthink and imagine all the worst case scenarios that can happen. We end up asking ourselves if these matter at all if we don’t feel happy anyway.
• Then we soon realize that we just need to gather all the courage to take a single step forward and everything else will follow. It’s always freeing especially knowing that the people who truly matter to you continue to love you regardless. No judgement. No questions asked. No micro aggressions. No biases. Nothing.

9. Live in the present.

• As much as we want to control everything in our future, we can’t. We are easily blinded by pursuing what’s ahead and working hard on what we want to achieve in the future that we might forget the blessings that are already given to us today.
• As we create our own plot twists, we also should remember to appreciate what we have now. We also need to focus on what we can do now and how we can maximize living each day as it goes. At the end of the day, we only live in the present. It’s one of the few certain things in life. Treasure each moment. Make each memory a great one to remember, one that will make us smile today and always.