35 Lessons From 30 Years Of Life
This past month I turned 30, and with crossing over into a new decade I wanted to capture some of the lessons I’ve learned along the way. I took some time over the month that followed to reflect on what I’ve found to be true and resonant from my experiences, and I thought I would share them with you. So, here are 35 lessons from the first 30 years of my life:
• • •
Anything worthwhile will be challenging.
Meaningful effort adds up over time.
Progress never feels like progress in the moment.
Forcing something to happen rarely works.
Everyone else's needs are just as important to them as yours are to you.
We are all yearning to be acknowledged.
Unmet expectations are usually to blame when frustrated or disappointed. A helpful question to ask is: Were they realistic, warranted, or even communicated in the first place?
Family dynamics and roles are always changing.
No one else has lived or felt your experiences.
Balance is better as a compass than a coordinate. It can better serve us by guiding our direction instead of functioning as a destination to arrive at.
"I am more than what I do."
Actions are what lead to things; ideas are only seeds until they are watered.
Results are overrated, process deserves more of the love.
You will never be liked by everyone.
Differences, which can be individually challenging, are collectively essential.
Embracing tension is better than avoiding it.
Helpful emphases for development: 1) Discipline, 2) Grace, 3) Discernment. All are important tools, especially when built on the foundation of the other.
"Give it time" is wisdom that usually applies when we least want it to.
People are worth more energy and attention than your schedule or task-list.
The feeling of hard work is pain and effort. Those never go away, although the experience is better when accepted instead of avoided.
All aspects of the natural world have elements of design. It's useful to ask: what can I learn and how can I live accordingly?
Greatness is just as reliant on chance (think: timing, opportunity, lucky breaks, unexpected events) as it is on talent. Be looking for breaks to capitalize on.
Asking good questions is both a skill and an art.
Life loses vibrancy when we lose curiosity.
Taking the shortcut or choosing the shorter path will usually be to the detriment of something or someone else. There are always costs, shortcuts just change who's paying them.
Unhealthy pride and unhealthy humility are seen as self-centeredness and self-deprecation. Healthy pride and healthy humility can be found in your unique gifts/talents and your shared shortcomings, alongside humanity.
You really can't make it very far on your own.
You're less original than you think, yet originality is still worth pursuing.
Appreciation and gratitude are like ibuprofen for your mind, they alleviate most maladies.
Writing clarifies and sharpens our thinking.
Talking has diminishing returns: the more you say the less people want to hear what you say.
Being unconditionally loved is the most powerful experience in the world.
Intention is a superpower.
We are all entitled to our own opinions, it is up to us to determine for ourselves how much weight each is given.
Courage is necessary for a life well-lived.
