25 Life Lessons That I Have Learnt At 25

What Lessons Have You Learnt So Far?

If you are reading this today (23rd of July 2021), it’s my birthday! I’m 25. Well, actually 25+1, but does 2020 count?!

So far, does this year count?! (I don’t think so, not yet anyway)

Honestly, I can’t believe that I am 26 years old. I am shocked.

Why, I hear you ask? Because last year, for the first time in a long time, I had an epiphany.

Yes, I have lived a life as we all have before turning 25, but part of me feels like most of my life up the point is a bit of a blur. But if I break it down, there were many moments when I was unhappy with myself and experienced symptoms of anxiety and depression. Perhaps subconsciously, I blurred out memories, both good and bad.

To this day, my friends talk about great times we had in school/college and university. I can’t remember most of it, but then again, I frequently had a bottle in my hand, but that’s a story for another day.

All jokes aside, I am beyond blessed to see my 26th birthday. As the world has shown us, life isn’t always fair and it is not promised.

That being said, here are 25 life lessons I have learnt in 25 years.

I thought that I’d have everything figured out by now.

When I was younger, I was naive and assumed that by the age of 25, I would be settled in my career, in a healthy, loving relationship and just thriving all around. Boy, was I wrong? I do know where I want to go career-wise, but that is not the case for everyone, which is ok.

Some people need to try many different jobs to see which one they like the most and advance in, which is good. There is no set age that you have to have everything figured out by. For example, Vera Wang didn’t enter the fashion industry until the age of 40. Plus, Samuel L Jackson career took off at the age of 43. You never know what’s down the line for you!

Get out of your comfort zone.

I made a habit of living comfortably in my comfort zone. I understand that it is a safe haven for a lot of people, including me. But if you want to grow, you have to be willing to put your neck on the line and try new things.

At the age of 20, I decided to do a study abroad program; I moved to Canada for 10 months. I was so shy and scared, but the experience really did wonders for me. Even my dad said that I became more mature when I returned.

Being confident takes work.

Being confident is something that I try to work on every day. A big part of confidence is realising that you need to stick up for yourself, be proud of yourself and do you!

In my latest video, I discuss how to be confident. Feel free to check it out. Like, comment, share and subscribe if you care to.

Be you.

There are billions of people on this planet, but there is only one of you. Being you is your superpower. No one can duplicate it. You are as rare as a beautiful snowflake. Your wit, attitude and way you look at life are unique so live in that.

Try to live in the present.

I do struggle with this one. I like to plan, and sometimes that prevents me from staying focused on the here and now. Mindfulness is key and has helped me keep my head in the game and focus on what is happening at present.

Living life without regrets

Before my personal development journey, I used to really harbour regrets. Suppose I made a mistake or a bad decision. I would have instant regret, which would really play on me. If I make a mistake, I don’t call it a loss; I call it a lesson. Lessons teach you what not to do and what to do differently next time. It is not a bad thing; it’s a teachable moment. What lessons have you learnt so far this year?

Finding your why.

In a hectic world, it’s important to find your why. Why do you want to work in your chosen career? Why do you keep certain people around? Why do you keep going when you feel like quitting? Every time I have a challenging day at work, I always go back to my why. Why am I a support worker? I am a support worker as I love helping people, and this job will give me great experience to get a better job and continue to advance in my career.

Being motivated.

I’ve realised that being motivated is the key to getting a lot of things done. I have a pretty busy schedule. As I work roughly 48 hours a week, to some, it means that I don’t have enough time to do much of anything else.

I do have time, I make use of the time I have!

I am the scheduling queen, and to fit in everything else around work, I have to be motivated. I am motivated to wake up 3 am to go to the gym before work. I am motivated to eat well throughout the week; therefore, I plan my meals ahead of time. Let motivation push you to get the job done.

Life could be worse.

As I mentioned, last year was madness, and this year has been a bit of a mad one at the start. Unfortunately, my family have been impacted by COVID. My aunt passed in January, and I am still processing it. It shows you that people’s lives could be turned upside down in the most drastic way. If I’m having a bad day, no matter what is happening in your life, I always think of what I do have. Today was a challenging day at work- but I have a job. ‘Ugh. There’s so much traffic, but I have a car.’ Life could always be 100 times worse, so be grateful for what you do have.

I’m my biggest critic.

When things do not go as planned or mess up, I unleash myself on the cuss. You may see that times, and I really do put a lot of pressure on myself. The law of attraction is real; therefore, I need to ensure that I speak highly of myself and cut myself some slack more often. I am human, not a robot.

Stop comparing your journey.

Everyone’s path to wellness, acceptance or whatever is completely different. What you may see on social media or real life is only a snapshot of who they may be. We need to keep in mind that some people may use social media as a highlight reel on show causing the good, the positive, you never know what’s going on behind closed doors. Compassion is the thief of joy.

Don’t kill yourself over a job.

What I have come to understand is that the world of work is ruthless. It’s a dog eat dog cold-blooded world. You may give your all to your job. For some, it works out for the best, but that’s not always the case. I’ve had many jobs, and for a couple, in particular, it all became far too much specifically for my wellbeing, so I left. Let me tell you, as soon as your foot is out the door; you will be replaced. Unfortunately, many places have high staff turnover because they are not prioritising the staff wellbeing. Just keep in mind that the job is not everything. Your health > Your job. All-day everyday.

Be open to change.

Hi. My name is Candice, and I love a plan. But plans don’t always follow through, which happens its life. There is no point harbouring over it; we have to adapt and keep going. Change can be a good thing. There are so many experiences/things that will pop up in your favour. Take advantage of them if you can.

Crack a joke.
Life can be quite serious at times, so it’s nice (and important) to laugh. I laugh every single day regardless of my mood. I think I’m pretty funny, so I take the p*** out of myself at times.

Being positive is key.

Don’t let life get you down and keep you down. Look at the positive things you have in your life at the moment and near future. Write a list if you can and if you feel low, refer to the list to boost your mood.

Don’t apologise for your boundaries.

Having boundaries is essential as it tells people how you would like to be treated and shows them what you expect. Create boundaries for your loved ones is difficult but important for your well-being. If you would like to know more boundaries, click the link below.

How To Set Firm Boundaries

Don’t let pride take over.
Are you quick to apologise to others? Are you stubborn? I’m quite stubborn at times, but I realise that I want peace, and I wouldn’t say I like confrontation, so I nip it in the bud as quickly as possible. Forget about it on its is not just your fault! At times, we have to be the bigger person. Life is too short to hold on to tension. Let it go.

Only you can control yourself.
Only you can control what influences you, how you respond to things and what decisions you make. We don’t have a lot of control over things, but one thing for certain is you. You are the mastermind (and God/Allah/the universe) is too but focus on what you can control, not what you can’t.

Happiness comes from within.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt is that you can’t buy or fake happiness; it has to come from within. I used to look at external sources for my happiness, but that didn’t work. It made me more unhappy! Therefore, I turned to therapy in hopes to look within to find happiness. It’s in all of us believe; we have to find it.

Never stop learning.
Life is for learning, and learning has no expiration date. We can all learn something from people and things which is a blessing. I aim to learn about topics that I am interested in, such as stock and psychology. The internet is a big place’; there’s always something new to learn.

Plans don’t always go to plan.
Yes, I love a plan, but it’s ok if things don’t go my way. Life has taught me that I need to be more flexible (and a bit more spontaneous) within limits, of course. I had career plans that a quite structured, but my day-to-day plans are open to change when necessary.

Being an adult is hard work.
Hard work! Responsibilities, bills and more responsibilities. I know that it’s important, but it’s hard to stay on top of things at times. Growing up, I thought being an adult was chill—what a mistake.

Everyone is different.

This was what I had to learn the hard way. In my young impressionable mind, I thought that everyone had manners and morals. I was so wrong. Unfortunately, some people roam this earth with different intentions than you. It’s just how it is. I used to be so shocked by what other people get up to. Now, I’m not so shocked. Nothing can surprise me these days.

Self-care is everything.
In a busy world, we all need ‘me time. Jobs and other responsibilities can be so draining; therefore, I habitually schedule some self-care every day, no matter how busy I am. Even if it’s just writing in my journal at the end of the day, if you need some affordable self-care ideas, click here.

Invest in your future.
My mother was not playing any games. Around 12/13, I want to say my mum opened up an account for me I can start saving. My mother taught me great money management skills that have transferred to adulthood. When I get my paycheck, I want to say I save about 80% of it; I put money in my ISA and savings account, pay the bills and then whatever I have leftover, I usually spend on food. I am frugal Fran, honey. Think about your goals, apartment, car…invest in your future. Save your money!