Lessons We Learned In 2022
I say this every December, but it’s hard to believe another year is coming to a close. It might sound cliché, but I’ve started a habit, over the last few years, of reflecting on the preceding 12 months and all I’ve conquered and grown through. My motto for as long as I can remember has been “Life Only Makes Sense Backwards” and so it feels fitting to look back and record all the moments I’m grateful for and all the lessons I learned.
This year, I prompted my fellow CURO family members to take a few minutes to also review their year, and to send me their most noteworthy lessons. It seems we’ve all found 2022 to be a year of immense personal growth, which inevitably translates into the rest of our lives, and so we share these with you in the hopes of inspiring this next chapter we will soon call 2023.
Kindness goes a long way. You never know what people are going through.
Practice gratitude daily. While it won’t necessarily change the hard things in life, it will certainly help make the rough parts of the journey more bearable.
Take the time to connect with your friends and family, especially during the holidays, because at some point, it will be your turn to pass down family traditions and it makes it that much more special to do together.
Get Up. Dress Up. Show up…. for YOURSELF.
Review your short and long-term goals on a regular basis. Not only will you find gratitude in the goals you’ve achieved, but also have something to look forward to (and work towards) for the future.
Make presence a priority.
Create a peaceful morning routine. Pre-set your coffee to save a few minutes, as well as to wake up to the wonderful aroma; or, set your alarm a few minutes earlier to allow yourself to get out of bed slowly. Make small tweaks to allow for a calm start to your day rather than rushing.
Self-care comes in many forms. Whatever it looks like for you, DO IT regularly no matter what.
Be aware of your self-talk. How you speak to yourself matters, so if you wouldn’t say it to a friend, don’t say it to yourself either.
Growth is a journey, and none of us are getting out alive. You may as well trust the process, control what you can, make the best of it, and enjoy the ride.
Always make your bed in the morning. It’s something easy to conquer every single day, and sets you up to come home to a comforting and cozy space.
Let the small wins count as much as the big wins. If you brushed your teeth and got the kids to school on time, you’ve been productive. You don’t always have to achieve something grandiose for it to make an impact.
Never underestimate the power of being in nature.
Challenging times are often met with the biggest rewards.
Do the work. Find a therapist, a mentor, a coach etc. and jump in feet first. It’s not easy, but you’ll be thankful you did it, and so will future generations.
If it’s not a “HECK YES,” it’s a “NO.”
You are not responsible for the actions, nor reactions, of others.
Get comfortable being uncomfortable.
It takes a village isn’t just a cliché saying, it’s a way of life.
The stories you tell yourself are exactly that. Stories.
It’s okay to be bored.
Set and maintain clear, healthy boundaries, not only with others, but also with yourself.
If you aren’t changing it, you’re choosing it.
Asking for help takes strength and courage. Don’t ever let anyone tell you or make you feel otherwise.
Learn to embrace silence and resist the urge to constantly fill it.
Always be your own best advocate.
If you are doing your best, it’s good enough.