Lessons Learnt So Far at #25...

25, the dear old age of your mid twenties. Some call it their quarter mid life crisis (trust me, I had this when I turned 25 haha). But I do feel your mid twenties is also one of the most exciting times of your life as you have learned so many things about yourself, your life and those around you, which really set you up for the next chapters in your life. From reflecting on your personal self, your relationships, your career, your goals, there are a lot of things that we have learned as a young adult... Or at least I can say I have learned a thing or two. Obviously, your own personal experiences shape a lot of it too, so it will always vary from person to person. But here are just some of the lessons that I have learned from my own personal experiences as well as from those around me, things that I would tell my younger self to be mindful of...

1. Do what's best for you - you realise that as much as you try to do whats best for others, there will come a point that you really just have to say "f*ck it". Sometimes you do really have to put yourself first and think what is best for you. I think the idea of being 'selfish' has such negative connotations behind it, but reality is that you do have to be a little selfish in life. If you don't look out for yourself, who will? It may be you distance yourself from relationships that aren't providing any substance or bringing your energy down, it may be that you have to leave your work place for a better opportunity... there are so many reasons. Just remember that the only person that can change anything is their life is you, so its all in your control.

2. Taking Risks - doing things outside of your comfort zone can be really rewarding and make you realise your true potential. Whether that be doing a crazy activity or facing your fears of public speaking, these new experiences will always help you develop as a person. You never learn from staying inside your comfort zone, so broadening your horizons and exploring unknown territories can bring up a mixture of emotions. Perhaps nerves or fear, excitement, these things can sometimes be overwhelming but it is important to look at it from an optimistic perspective because "you never know until you try". I'm a massive thrill seeker so I am always up for trying new and crazy adventures, but at the same time, something like public speaking scares the living crap out of me. Finding ways to work on it is how you will learn to overcomes these obstacles, but you have to be willing to take those risks and try something that you're not so comfortable with. After all, you never learn from doing what you already know, you only learn from doing things that you don't. Always be a student of life.

3. Quality over quantity - I feel this is one that we can all relate to. As we grow up, our friends circle generally becomes smaller, and its not about how many people you know or your so-called "friends" but rather the value that certain relationships bring to the table. I have never had a huge group of friends or hung out with the "popular girls" (even writing that phrase makes me cringe) but my 20s really started shaping the type of people I had in my life, who I wanted in my life and who I actually considered as life long friends. I have always been someone who would rather have a small circle of friends than a million acquaintances. That's not to say don't meet new people, but be sure of who is there to stay.

4. Relationships - now this is a tricky one and quite a big topic in itself. I'm not just talking about 'relationship relationships' but the relationships you have with your friends, your family, and many people in your life. I have realised that people come and go from your life, and that is inevitable. Someone who you thought might be there for life suddenly disappears. But that's okay because that is life. I truly believe that people come into your life as one of three things: they are either a blessing, a lesson or they're seasonal. People who are a blessing generally tend to stick around for a long period of time and have brought value and happiness. These might be your long life friends. People who are a lesson have come into your life as an eye opener, to teach you things about yourself and life, which can be rooted from both positive and negative experiences with them. Those that are seasonal can be a mixture of a blessing and a lesson but are only in your life for a temporary period of time. Regardless, all types of relationships will always teach you a thing or two, whether it be a good or bad experience, you will always take something forward into your existing and/or new relationships.

5. Forgive yourself - I will be the first to admit that I have mistakes in the past, ones that I regret, but an important part of this is to forgive yourself and learn from your mistakes. We are all human after all and being so harsh on yourself will never allow you to proceed with the next steps. Own up to your sh*t, deal with the consequences, but at the same time don't be too harsh on yourself. We make choices in our lives that either better ourselves or continue to diminish us. So there is no point dwelling on the situation but rather look at what you can now do to move forward.

6. Forgive others - people will always do you wrong in life. There is a saying that goes something along the lines of "everyone will always hurt you, you just have to find the ones that are worth hurting for". Now this may sound quite pessimistic but it is also real. Even the closest people in your life will have hurt you at some point (big or small) but obviously the good should always outweigh the bad. Learning to forgive others for their wrongdoings will in turn help you. Being able to forgive, let go of the hate/hurt/anger and move on from it, is a key part of your own progression and sanity in life. I will still always cherish the good memoriess I've had with certain people and wish them all the best regardless because that's the type of person I am, but at the same time, distancing myself from them and/or cutting them completely might be what needs to be done too. Always dependent on situation, but try to always see the best in others, without being made a fool.

7. Get rid of time wasters - you have too much going on in your life to be wasting time on those who are not adding any value to it. Time is something you will never get back, so use it wisely. Once you have realised someone is not worth the investment you are giving to them, then just distance yourself from them, simple. Be around those who are there to support you and who actually care to be there for you. If they don't then ciao adios I'm done.

8. A private life is a happy life - yes I do love me a bit of social media, anyone can vouch for that. But I'm also someone who doesn't need to post every single thing that is happening in my life. There is just no need for me. Some people might be different and that's fine aswell, you do you, but I do believe that keeping things private can also be much more satisfying than sharing every single aspect of your life. After all, how is sharing things with your loved ones any more special if you are sharing it to the whole world? Obviously if this is part of your job, your brand or business, it does change the situation, so always look at the bigger picture. Also, another aspect of this is if you are working on a project, I think its best to keep yourself in the dark, work on your sh*t and let the results speak for themselves. An entrepreneur doesn't need to brag about his success because the results show it all.

9. Just be yourself - I think too many people nowadays are so engrossed in an online lifestyle image that doesn't reflect their true selves, and this is something that I find quite sad. So many people are "stunting" trying to keep up with an image that isn't necessarily real. Even in real life, why pretend to be somebody else when you can just be you? You, is just as amazing, and not to be concealed. Just be yourself, because there are plenty of people that will love you for you. Don't be fake. I personally don't rate fake people, and if it comes to it, I will just distance myself from them. Just be you honey.

These are some of the things that life has taught me, and regardless or the good or bad experiences, it has shaped me to be the person I am today. These are points I would definitely tell my younger self if I could go back in time. When we live in a day and age that is so image focused, I think its important to go back down to the roots and just be true to yourself. As long as you are true to yourself, no one can say anything to you.

Is there any lessons you have learned through your beauty of life? Anything that you might want to share to help others? I would love to hear it down below!