The lessons of 2018

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'Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.'

Proverbs 4:23

It’s taken me a long time to think about 2018 it feels like a lifetime ago when in reality it was less than a month ago. Emotionally 2018 was the worst year of my life (and that’s saying a lot), there was times when I really struggled to see the point of anything. I couldn’t talk about it, let alone pray about it. Although I really struggled, I can’t help but be grateful for 2018 because it taught me some of my best lessons.

1.Not choosing is a choice!

I am reminded every day, that my lack of decision making, has led to me living a life I don’t really enjoy. I got comfortable in my discomfort; I stopped growing and started losing hope. But there a blessing in every lesson, it’s never too late to turn my life around and live in my purpose. It all starts by making a different choice.

2. Life is short, Live for every moment

In my current job, I deal with death on a daily basis, this includes reading post mortem/ hospital records and speaking to bereaved family members. This job has really shown me , life is not guaranteed to any of us. We should make every moment count and appreciate life for the gift it is. Don’t waste time !

3. Be careful who is in you circle

'Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.' Proverbs 13:20

We have to be careful who is in our circle, if everyone in your circle is negative sooner or later you will also become negative. Energy flows where attention goes. Be mindful of the energy you are allowing into your life.

Friends should be speaking life to each other, praying for each other, celebrating wins with each other, holding each other accountable, supporting each other and loving each other. People in your circle should see the best in you, when you struggle to see it in yourself and you should be able to see the best in them when they struggle to see it. A famous quote from Jim Rohn sates ‘You are The Average of the Five People You Surround Yourself With’ so make sure your surrounding yourself with love.

4. We don’t always have control over what happens in our lives but we do have control over how we react to it

We don’t always get to choose our family, or who we work for/ with (well some of us don’t), we don't always get to choose the job we do or the places we live and that ok. It’s up to us to make changes, if we are not happy with our current situation.

People don’t need to understand me or like me because I know who is leading me. I am allowing myself to be the woman, God has called me to be. No apologies will be made !

I will no longer entertain drama, negativity or fake behaviour. I will no longer allow anyone to have control over my emotions. I'm claiming my life back !

5. You can’t serve from an empty cup

“Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.”

-Eleanor Brown

I spent most of 2018 ensuring everyone else was being filled I didn’t realize my cup was empty. I didn’t know how to say no, I felt like no matter what I did I was disappointing someone. I didn’t want to let anyone know I was struggling because it felt like a weakness. Whenever anyone asked me how I was, I would plaster a smile on my face and say I was ‘fine’ . Knowing deep down I was anything but fine. Not only was this unhealthy, it eventually got to the point where I couldn’t pour into anyone anymore.

The aim is for our cup to be overfilled with abundance so we can pour into others.

It is our responsibility to ensure our cups are overflowing.

I am still working on filling my cup, the journey is slow at time and challenging but I am getting there.

So make sure you are taking care of yourself in every way.

6. Keep moving!

Spiritually, physical and mentally keep moving. Even when you don’t feel like it, when you have lost all hope, when everything seem to be going wrong, when no one see the best in you, when you feel like giving up, when all you can see is darkness, when it all seem too hard, when it seem pointless ……JUST KEEP MOVING, KEEP PRAYING, KEEP SMILING, KEEP LAUGHING, KEEP DANCING.

2018 it has been real ! Thank you for the tears, the laughter, the music, the grace and everything else. Thank you God for another year, another chance .

I am ready to move on and make the rest of my life the best of my life.