Birthday Reflections 2024

This time last year I was going through such a hard time that I did not even celebrate my birthday. On my 31st birthday I put my phone on DND and spent the whole day in bed.

Later in the week I forced myself to go to a pyjama brunch and celebrate after (which I rarely do unless I’m out of the country).

When I was younger I thought people in their 30s had their life sorted, they had a set trajectory for their life. But here I was freshly leaving one career to go to another whilst setting the foundations for my businesses and navigate life without my dad.

This birthday I have decided to reflect on 31 lessons that I have learnt in life. As an ode to 31, it was a year of lessons, blessings and rewards.

So much so the first 3 months of the 2024 I have been reaping the fruits of all the seeds I watered with my tears last year.

31 Life Lessons

1. It is fine to make mistakes. Mistakes are not failures; they are lesson to teach us what not to do. Learn from them and correct your path; better things will come from it.

2. We create our own reality. We have the power to break damning thoughts that no longer serve us, and we have the power to consciously choose thoughts that empower us. It’s only a matter of breaking old habits and creating new ones.

3. Finding validation and seeking self love from anyone but yourself is a self-destructive path. Find joy in being alone, getting to know yourself outside of people and rest in yourself.

4. A few moments of silence each day will broaden your horizon, strengthen your self-awareness, and heighten your inner clarity. With clarity, you can do anything.

5. You will never be ready for what you want to do. Start anyway, slowly at first and to develop the discipline through consistency.

6. Life is short. Live it the way YOU want, not other people’s way. Yes it is hard to disappoint family/friends but how much more disheartening is it to disappoint yourself/ your inner child. Do things to my are your inner you happy.

7. Change is the only constant – get it in your mind. We don’t like change and we will always gravitate towards what is familiar because familiarity keeps us feeling safe. However, change is good for us.

8. Don’t be afraid to dream and dream BIG. Dreams create the vision that governs the story of our lives. Our dreams create our future. Dream bigger than you ever did before. Remember that life is short.

9. Money is a renewable resource. If you lose some money, don’t sweat it. You can always make more. Time is far more valuable than money. (You can waste money but not time)

10. Fear comes from uncertainty of the unknown. It happens to all of us. It is part of the natural mechanisms for our survival. Its job is to keep us safe. Fully embrace your fear and act anyways. Face fear daily if your have to because eventually the fear will subside.

11. Self-doubt, like fear, seeks everyone. You are no exception. Just do it anyway. Be delusional with your self belief.

12. Time is the most important resource in the world. It is the only non-renewable resource in your life. Choose wisely how you spend time and with whom you spend it.

13. Less is more. Say less, listen more. Own less, less to tie you down. Do less, observe more (see where I’m going with this).

14. The people with whom you spend time matter. They influence you in unconscious ways, both positive and negative. Your income is the average of the three people with whom you spend the most time. Your potential to achieve greatness can be limited or enhanced by the influence of the people around you.

15. We really don’t need very much (stuff) to be happy.

16. The most important thing we can do is to love ourselves. By making self-love a priority, everyone and everything we care about will be better because of it.

17. Learn to let go. Surrender to what is happening right now. Fully embrace and experience the now, this moment. Like all moments, this moment too shall pass.

18. People are really kind and helpful if you give them a chance. Be open appreciative, be thankful and lead with gratitude always.

19. We are stronger and more resilient than we think we are.

20. The most damaging influence is that voice in our heads reminding us of negative thoughts we hold about ourselves. Sometimes tell that voice to “shut the f*ck up”

21. Complaining, criticizing and gossiping is a waste of time and energy. Nothing good comes from it.

22. Being a victim is a lot easier than being a leader. Leaders take responsibility and own up to their part in the doing. Leaders take action to change themselves and to overcome setbacks. Be the leader of your life. You are the only one capable of the job. Take responsibility of your own emotions. The world needs more leaders.

23. Forgiving someone is a lot easier than we think. Forgiveness is not about other people; it’s about letting the pain go. You can forgive and forget – forgive them and forget them.

24. It’s easier to find fault in others than ourselves. Next time you catch yourself complaining about a fail in someone, ask yourself, “What is it about myself, in relation to this topic, that I don’t like?”

25. Naps are good. It’s okay to sleep in, sometimes. We need rest to recharge.

26. There is always a silent and graceful solution to every problem. When feeling nervous, stressed or anxious, stop everything, close your eyes and focus on your breathing for a short while.

27. Create for the sake of creation. Create out of love of the process, and you just might find that your resulting creation turns out to be a masterpiece.

28. When you passionately and genuinely believe in something, it will change you. You will embody the energy of your passion, and the world will notice the light that you shine. When you believe in yourself, others will believe in you, too.

29. Learn to say no. If you don’t want to do something—go to a party, accept an obligation, meet someone—just say “no, thank you.” You don’t owe anyone an excuse or explanation. No is a full sentence.

30. Unsolicited advice is annoying. Don’t do it. Unless asked, don’t give it; sometimes a listening ear is all someone wanted.

31. Slowing down to self-reflect, to contemplate, to sit quietly, to journal, to breathe, or to clear your mind will actually make you more productive than if you worked until you collapsed. Slowing down has more benefits than just a clear mind; one side effect is a happier life.

Hope these were of help to you! I’m using 32 as a way to prepare for my Jesus year and I’m doing this by getting rid of all toxic thoughts, foods, practices and etc.

So no more smoking, no more drinking, no more junk food, no more giving in to toxic thoughts, no more stay in toxic environments.

I’m ready to cleanse my life and just travel. I will update you as I get on.

Until next time,

Tillyah xx