Most Valuable Lessons I Have Learned This Year 3
70 lessons for serenity, self-improvement and growth.
“Hi! It’s great to have you back. Here’s some hot chocolate. Have a seat while we get ready to begin.”
“Welcome, everyone. I hope you enjoy your stay. My name’s Eileen, and tonight, our special show is called ‘The Most Valuable Lessons I Have Learned This Year.’”
1. Consistent average work will always beat out inconsistent excellent work.
2. Nobody is ever too busy. If they truly care, they will make time.
3. You will know exactly how to do something the moment you do it and not a moment before.
4. If it’s not a solid yes, then it’s a no.
5. “Walk slower. Don’t leave your soul behind.” (Honkai Star Rail)
6. If you loved the wrong person this much, imagine the right one. Being rejected by someone who wasn’t good for you is a blessing in disguise.
7. Do not concern yourself with the outcome.
9. Some people will only remember your existence through your activity on social media. I’ve given up on watching other people’s stories a while back because if I want to know what someone has been up to, I’d rather ask them instead. I think it’s such a wonderful feeling when our friends come to us to open up and talk about their day. Quietly watching from behind the screen, judging, and comparing makes us all less humane.
10. A diary is a good habit for a lady to keep. It’s also a good habit for a boy. Your mind should be free to think, to create, to dream…not be stuffed like a shelf. Let your thoughts and feelings pour onto the pages.
11. When trying to comfort someone, even if what you’re about to say is obvious or already understood, it may still feel nice for them to hear it from you.
12. You don’t have to be in peak mental or physical shape to be worthy of love.
13. Do the things you want to do. What makes you happy? What makes you feel alive? That’s what life is all about.
14. Over time, hidden truths tend to surface.
15. Give the people you fall for a couple of chances and then be confident enough to walk away if the feelings aren’t mutual. Respect yourself and the love you’re looking for by making room for it.
16. Self-sabotage is the most common reason why we fail.
17. True friendship, love and loyalty in one is rare. Hold on to it as best you can.
18. People do what’s best for them, and that’s okay. Don’t take things personally or blame yourself because, most of the time, it’s got nothing to do with you.
19. “When you need to do something, channel the person who you know is best at doing that.” It can be a friend, a professional athlete, or even a fictional character. (@cleocelestecleo)
20. Smile more often. Put the phone down and have a look around.
21. Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.
22. Stop waiting for the right time to get started. Take a small first step and see what happens from there.
23. Your peace of mind should always come first.
24. “Do not suffocate your love. Do not ignore the way someone makes you feel in order to keep them in your life.” (@disneyolaff)
25. “When you care about people, hurt is kinda part of the package.” (Beth, The Walking Dead)
26. Some things are just going to happen, whether you try to control them or not. C’est la vie.
27. “Physical damage can be easily repaired, but it takes a long time to heal the wounds in people’s hearts.” (Honkai Star Rail)
28. A long-lasting relationship means you have to stay curious about each other. People are everchanging, so why would you assume your person is going to stay the same after you get to know them? Allow them to grow. Ask each other questions, time and time again.
29. Collaboration is better than compromise.
30. How you frame or say something can make all the difference in the world.
31. You have a much bigger impact on the people around you than you believe.
32. “Paint is meant to stain. Perfume is meant to be sprayed. Candles are meant to be burned. Clothes are meant to be worn. Stop waiting for a good day to use things. Use things to have good days.” (@imsonyafaye)
33. When you habitually avoid external conflict, you end up creating internal conflict.
34. In the blink of an eye, everything can change.
35. Perspective is good, but the answers have to be your own.
36. Not all that glitters is gold.
37. The reason you fall in love with every person you meet is because you are great. Figure out if you like them or if you just like you by doing the following: if you think they were funny or interesting, or anything else, think back to one of those funny or interesting moments and ask yourself who started that conversation. It might be entirely you.
38. How we deal with disappointments is what decides the person we are.
39. I believe that everything happens for a reason.
41. “That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet.” (Emily Dickinson)
“You will never be lovelier than you are now. We will never be here again.” (Homer)
Enjoy the present moment.
42. You should allow yourself to feel what you feel. We are far from perfect, but that shouldn’t stop us from caring or trying.
43. “Things always turn out well for me.” Say it. Believe in it.
44. Your significant other should be like a ray of sunshine piercing through the darkness, with hugs, kisses and a very contagious smile.
45. Sometimes you will have to put the needs of few over the needs of many.
46. No one will care about your craft as much as you do. Therefore, you should only do it because you love it and forget about the rest.
47. You won’t know if you like something until you try it.
48. We all have insecurities and fears. Be kind to each other.
49. Let people act on their own accord. It’s the only way to reveal someone’s true interest in you.
50. “It is invigorating being asked personal questions. It makes one feel...desired.” (Bladerunner 2049)
51. We tend to chase those who are harder to obtain.
52. “When you’re constantly worried about impressing someone, you’re definitely not showing them who you really are. Ask yourself if you feel attracted to someone or if you feel compatible with them. If all you feel is this immense attraction that seems to be intoxicating and ‘take me over no matter how little they’re giving me’, then you’re valuing the wrong things. If, on the other hand, you say ‘Who am I truly compatible with, and where’s my evidence for that?’, ‘Do I feel at home with this person?’, ‘Do I feel like I can really be myself with this person?’, ‘Do I feel accepted?’, ‘Does this person really get me?’, then you start to gravitate towards people who will actually make you feel great. One of the beautiful elements of compatibility is someone who wants the same things you do.” (Matthew Hussey)
53. “Stop basing your decisions on what other people think.” (Matthew Hussey)
54. “True emotional intimacy is the ability to be vulnerable with someone, to not be your best self and still feel safe.” (Psychology with Dr. Ana)
55. Only judge people based on their actions, not what they say and definitely not on your inflated expectations of them.
56. If you asked for better things, don’t be so afraid of change. Welcome it with open arms.
57. Just because you’d do something if you were in their shoes doesn’t mean they will, too. People are irrational. People will follow instinct and how something makes them feel more than anything else. We’re also very different from each other.
58. You can give yourself closure without needing to know why they did what they did. I believe in you.
59. “Circumstances don't make the man. They only reveal him to himself.” (Epictetus)
60. “Sometimes, the answers we need don’t match the questions we’re asking. And sometimes, the coward makes fools of wiser men.” (Brandon Sanderson)
62. “If the feelings are mutual, the efforts will be equal.” (@wordsyoulovee)
63. The reason it didn’t work out is not because you’re not good enough, but because you’re simply not compatible. Move on. There’s something better in store for you.
64. Money is a means, not an end, so use it if it’ll make you happier.
65. Let's say you made a mistake. It doesn't have to follow you around forever.
66. Secrets create barriers between people.
67. The moment you think there are so many alternatives and options, you invest less in whatever you have.
68. “You get to choose who you are. Legacy, memories of the past, can serve us well. But we cannot let them define us. When heritage becomes a box instead of an inspiration, it has gone too far.” (Brandon Sanderson)
69. “Stop believing in happiness milestones. ‘Once this happens, I’ll be happy. Once I get that, I’ll be happy. I'll only be happy then.’ If you think your happiness is on the other side of the wall, that wall is going to keep getting farther and farther away from you, and you’re only going to feel hollow. Happiness is here now. If you’re not happy with what you have now, you’re not going to be happy with what you have then. Be happy now.” (xQc)
70. It's your life. Only you can figure out how to give it meaning.
“Happy New Year, everyone! Wishing you success in everything you do and happiness every single day. It’s been a pleasure.”
The meaning behind the name Eileen is “little bird,” “strength,” and “desired.”
An important lesson I wish I would have mentioned: “The time will pass anyway.”
☔ Here, have this umbrella for a rainy day. If you would like to support me, please share my story with your friends and loved ones.
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