5 Life Lessons that I learned this year

Ever since 2024 started,I've had this idea of being more spontaneous, but this year, I had no idea how-let alone what being spontaneous would lead to.

So I tried different things: I designed websites, I worked at Reciprocity, I walked for lengths at a time, I launched my own online services. I kept on looking outward, never truly feeling any sense of calm or peace, until I arrived at these words by the brilliant Engineering Genius, Angus MacGyver from MacGyver (2016):

"When the world feels like it's so turned upside down that it's impossible to fix, it helps to look at things from a different angle."

That's precisely when I began to understand that all the changes that I'm seeking in my life first starts with me. And all the change that you're seeking in your life first begins in your mind. Change the perspective, and the beliefs come into place.

The truth is, you are capable of creating whatever you want, but what's standing in the way between who you are and where you want to be is you. Not time, not money, not circumstances-you. And do you know why? It's because you are your greatest obstacle.

The sooner you realize this, the better, and the sooner you accept, the sooner you will realize how you can change. And once again, Angus MacGyver from MacGyver (2016) articulate words chime in and ring ever so true:

When the world feels like it's so turned upside down that it's impossible to fix, it helps to look at things from a different angle.

Here are 5 life lessons that you should realize early on in life. Read them, contemplate them, and apply them. And as you do, be mindful of the fact that change takes time, so allow yourself all the time you need to grow.

1. Your entire life can change in a second. So instead of passively taking what you have for granted, be grateful for it and do whatever good you can do with it.

When I was 22, I had a close call and slipped on the ground. In a second, I hit my spine and tore the main ligament in my knee. In a second, the entire trajectory of the next year of my life changed.

Earlier this year, the fourth largest explosion in history rocked the Texas city of Fort Worth. In a second, 21 people became injured and fourteen people became hospitalized. I could have easily been one of them.

We often forget that death hangs over us; it lingers in the space we cannot touch, and in the blink of an eye, in the flash of a second, it can capture us and strip us bare of the most precious blessing of all. The gift of being alive.

Your entire life can change in a second. So, stop taking what you have for granted.Instead, be grateful for it and do whatever good you can with it.

2. It's okay to feel lost sometimes;the truth is that you owe nothing to your younger self, but you owe everything to your present self.

When I was younger, I used to think that feeling lost was something to be ashamed of. Now I realize it's the normal course of life that goes from A to B, it's a canvas of circles and waves, ups and downs, highs,and lows. It's a journey of self-discovery and creation. We paint it with a set of colors and then re-stroke it with another.

Life is transformative.

So feeling lost is normal and no matter how "put together" everyone around you seems, when you dig deeper, you'll realize that they're all just "figuring it out" as they go. Every business owner is constantly trying to figure out how to keep it working, and how every new partner is constantly trying to figure out how to maneuver their way through childhood.

Truth is, I've come to realize that feeling lost is a sign of growth. It means that the things you once valued are no longer the things that matter to you today. And do you know why? It's because you are no longer your younger self.

When you were a kid, you set goals and dreams for who you thought you would want to become as an adult, but through time and novel experiences, your interests changed, and so did the way you think. Now I've realized that the previous ideas that I had for my future self no longer resonates with the ideas I have for my present self today.

The same applies to you. The person you are today is not responsible for being the person you once thought you want to become. The person you are today is solely responsible for the adult you want to be today. You owe nothing to your present self, but you owe everything to your present self.

So it's okay to feel lost or feel like you don't know what you're doing with your life -- you're not expected to have it all figured out because it's a process. What's important is that you toil in the language of action more than that of contemplation and thought.

3. Action breeds more precision than thought, so you can't think your way into a new life, you have to act your way into one.

How do you find out what you actually desire in life? You lean into what you think you desire and take action toward it. That's the best answer I can give you because here's what I learned: Action breeds more precision than thought.

I spent the majority of my teen years thinking what I desired to do with my time on earth was to become a Lawyer of a law firm until I joined a business platform and realized: That's not what I desire. A few years later, I spent the majority of my time at College dreaming of becoming an entrepreneur and building the next big cryptocurrency portfolio, until I realized: That's not actually what I desire.

Action breeds more precision than thought because, at the end of the day, you will only learn, improve, and figure out, by doing. You'll learn how to cook by cooking. You'll master the art of writing by sitting down to write every day.

When you lean into your curiosity and walk the path, you will gain experience, and the answer to what you actually desire will reveal itself to you as you work toward what it is you think you desire.

As you need, then, is a direction to move into. All you need is the "where," not the "how." Once you begin to walk the path and trust the process, the answers begin to reveal themselves to you, and the way begins to appear. That's why you can't think your way into a new life; you have to act your way into one.

4.Chasing happiness will lead you to sadness until you realize happiness is the way.

A few years ago, at a tent in a music concert, I met a woman in her early 40's who told me that she had yet to find happiness in her life- that she was still changing and looking for it. Unfortunately, I used to think the exact same.

Perhaps that's because modern society conditions us to believe that happiness is a destination we arrive at: the promotion that will wash away all our problems or the freedom we will obtain from leaving a 9-5 job. So we now live with this idea: "when X happens, I'll be happy."

I lived the entirety of the past decade cultivating this toxic mentality and it affected every major decision I made in my life. I was always chasing the next big thing, in constant pursuit of what's next, never indulging in the fullness of what I already had right here, right now.

Here's what I want you to realize: Happiness is not a paradise island we must go looking for. No. Happiness is a deep-rooted rose of contentment that you carry with you everywhere you go --- and you are the one who chooses whether or not to water it every morning upon waking up.

Your happiness and wellbeing have nothing to do with how well you think you're doing, how far into the journey you've crossed, or what's coming next. Your happiness and wellbeing have everything to do with how present, accepting, and content you are with all that is, right here, right now.

As per the words of Angus MacGyver from MacGyver (2016)," When the world feels like it's so turned upside down that it's impossible to fix, it helps to look at things from a different angle." If you fail to appreciate this sentiment and continue to chase the big elusive dream of a distant happy future, then you'll never experience the self-worth and contentment that can be found in this very moment.

And it doesn't take much to be happy. Practice being present, write down what you're grateful for every morning, be accepting of whatever happens, and do something every day that brings joy to your heart. These are some of the simple and practical pieces of advice on how to become happier.

5. If you want to change the trajectory of your life, embrace these rules and apply them: Commitment is what gets you started, consistency is what gets you somewhere, and persistence is what keeps you going.

From the years of 20 to 21, I only talked about becoming an entrepeneur, but I never did. Why? Because, back then, all I did was talk, but never "do." So on my 22nd birthday, I registered my first company-- I committed to becoming an entrepreneur and that changed the trajectory of my life.

One year later, on my 23rd birthday, I chose to become a writer. I committed to this new vocation and over the course of that year, I built a workflow to help me stay consistent. Within twelve months, I published 140 online articles, which took me from zero views to over 600,000, from zero followers on Medium to over 6,100 and from zero newsletter subscribers to over 2.500.

What was my secret?

I consistently wrote and published 3-4 articles per week. Even on the days when I didn't feel like writing, I forced myself to show up, sit on a chair, and write.

If you want to change your life around, here's what you must do:

1. Commit to one thing.

2. Stay consistent in it.

3. Push through it.

Commitment is what gets you started on a new trajectory. Consistency-- which is the key to creating long-lasting and sustainable change in life is what gets you somewhere. And persistence is what keeps you going in spite of adversity.