Reflecting on 2024: Lessons from a Year of Growth

2024 has been a year I didn’t anticipate—challenging in ways I could never have predicted. It’s been a journey of struggling with mental health as I healed from a toxic relationship left behind in 2023. It’s been a year of battling weight loss and rediscovering self-love. I also grappled with unmet career expectations. Yet, amidst the disappointment and difficulty, I focused on moving forward—getting things done even when it felt overwhelming.

But as challenging as the year has been, it has also been a year of tremendous growth. The growth that came through hard lessons and deep introspection. Difficult growth, requires me to unlearn old habits and embrace new ways of thinking. Today, I feel immense gratitude for these lessons. They have shaped me and will guide me into the future. Here are some of the most important lessons I’ve learned in 2024:

1. The Power of Deeper Patience

This year, I truly learned what it means to be patient. Not just ordinary patience, but deep patience—the kind that requires you to accept that change will come, but not necessarily when you want it. My patience was tested and stretched beyond limits I didn’t know existed.

Being patient isn’t rosy, especially in uncomfortable situations like healing, growth, or figuring things out. It’s tempting to want quick solutions or instant results, but I learned to embrace the waiting. During this waiting period, I used the time to rethink, reprocess, and reassess. I examined my life and my choices, reshaping them bit by bit. This patience allowed me to focus on shaping the results I wanted, rather than rushing into half-baked solutions. It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it.

2. Sitting with My Thoughts

One of the hardest yet most rewarding lessons I’ve learned this year is the importance of sitting with myself and my thoughts, even when it’s uncomfortable. I used to avoid my thoughts, running from the chaos in my mind. But life’s circumstances pushed me into situations where I had no choice but to face them.

Sitting with my thoughts meant processing them—starting from the chaotic jumble in my head and working through them until they became clear and logical. It was exhausting at times, and I often wanted to escape. However, I realized that ignoring my thoughts only made things worse. When I took the time to sit with them and think things through, I felt a sense of freedom and clarity I hadn’t experienced before. This practice helped me make better decisions and brought me peace in the long run.

3. Tackling the Hard Things First

Another valuable lesson from this year is the importance of doing the hard things first. For a long time, I had a habit of postponing challenging tasks or decisions, hoping for the “right time” to tackle them. However, I learned that delaying hard tasks only made them more complicated and burdensome.

When I started addressing the heavy tasks and decisions first, I felt a sense of relief and accomplishment. Once those were out of the way, everything else felt lighter and more manageable. Tackling the hard things head-on might not be easy, but it’s the best way to move forward.

4. Understanding Healing as a Process

Healing has been a central theme of my year, and I’ve learned that it’s a process—one that’s far from linear. Healing doesn’t mean an absence of pain; in fact, you often feel pain while healing. There are phases where you feel like you’re making progress, only to feel like you’ve gone back to square one. This back-and-forth can be frustrating, but it’s all part of the journey.

Healing is a mixture of emotions. It can be crying, laughing, feeling anger, experiencing resentment, and eventually finding freedom. It’s messy and unpredictable, but the end result is worth it. I’ve learned to give myself grace through the process, knowing that healing takes time.

5. Practicing Self-Care and Self-Love

This year, I’ve learned to care for myself in ways I never did before. Self-care isn’t just about pampering; it’s about how I treat myself, speak to myself, and forgive myself. It’s about giving myself another chance when I make mistakes and loving myself the way I would love someone dear to me.

Self-love has become a cornerstone of my healing journey. I’ve learned to be kinder to myself, to let go of harsh self-criticism, and to celebrate my progress—no matter how small. I’ve embraced the idea that caring for myself is not selfish but necessary for my well-being and growth.

Reflecting on 2024, I see a year that challenged, stretched, and ultimately helped me grow. It was not easy, but the lessons I’ve learned are invaluable. They have prepared me for what lies ahead and have given me tools to navigate life with more patience, resilience, and self-love.

To anyone who has had a difficult year, I hope my reflections inspire you to see the growth in your struggles. Life’s toughest moments often carry the most profound lessons, and it’s through these lessons that we become stronger, wiser, and more aligned with our true selves.

Happy New Year!