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10 Lessons I’ve Learnt In 20 Years

I originally wanted to publish this on my 20th birthday but I admit I was having too much fun to attempt to complete this. So here goes the 20 most important lessons that I’ve learnt in my 20 years of life.

1. Sometimes, the most necessary things are the most unpopular.

There are often times that we, or the people around us, require some form of discipline or regimentation implemented into them such that we develop into better people. Such as forcing ourselves to eat more vegetables, or to go jogging every other day to achieve better health. Or imposing limits on ourselves like, I’d only surf Facebook for 30 minutes today so that I can better focus on my work. To better ourselves, we have to understand that sometimes the things that hurts or limits us the most are the things that we really need.

2. Never expect people to be truly invested in your personal problems.

Sure this may sound skeptical and anti-social but you can never expect people to truly concerned for what challenges or problems you face. Yes, they’ll listen to you but they will bolt if you ask them for help. Trick is to just tell people your problems and if they genuinely want to help, they will.

3. Life is too complicated to fit into your plans.

Try as you may to perfect your schedules or to rehearse to yourself the wonderful things you’d like to say to impress someone, the infinite factors that play some roles in life lead to vast differences in what we perceive and what actually is. Instead of trying to fit the wonders of life into a timetable or a planned system, keep an open mind and learn to take some things as they come. Such is that which makes life so difficult – so beautiful.

4. Attitude is Key to Success.

Attitude is what will set you apart from many of your peers regardless of your background, education level or even your history. Few can turn down a person with genuine, sincere attitude that is devoted to continual improvement for self and others.

5. The best and truest friends you’ll have are not necessarily those who you spend the most time with.

It’s easy to equate your BFFs to those people that you share the most hobbies or interests with, or those that you’ve spent a greater part of your life with. Those friends that merely shared a laugh or two with you – or a day or two with you – may seem to be only acquaintances with no vested interest in you. Yet through tough times, you’ll know that some of these acquaintances will be the truest and best friends you’d have ever made in your life.

6. What you think of yourself if more important than what others think of you.

You are the one that you will spend the most time, energy and money on. You come into this world as a singular entity, and leave this world also as a single entity. If you appreciate yourself for your uniqueness, traits, talents as well as flaws and shortcomings, whilst ignoring what blatant negativity that others speak of you, you will live a life that is more true to yourself and will be one with less regrets. Don’t create that situation whereby you look back at an occasion and tell yourself, “I should had just went for it instead of letting what people say affect me”. Instead feel proud that you have the self-confidence and esteem to give yourself that chance.

7. A plan forever remains a plan, unless concrete actions are taken. 

No matter how much time or effort has gone into a plan. Recognize that it will forever remain so unless you carry out actions to bring such plans to fruition. Building on this point, your plans (resolutions) will never see results unless the necessary actions are carried out.

8. Always stay true to yourself

It’s not that bad if you lie to others – strangers, friends, relatives – but it is not okay if you lie to yourself. The reason for this is simple. You are the one that has to spend the most time with yourself. You see yourself through life from the beginning till the last breath is drawn. On your deathbed, you can apologize to others for lying to them in the past and make amends, but you can never apologize to yourself that you never led the life that was true to yourself.

9. Appreciate the simple things in life.

It’s easy for us to take for granted the many things we have in our lives. Common amenities like hot/cold water, elaborate transport systems or even things like internet, smartphones are often taken for granted. Yet, imagine yourself not being able to shower for days, having to walk from point to point and the only form of communication with the outside world is far far away… So really, appreciate the simple things in life.

10. Expertise comes with practice and determination.

Nobody started as a champion or an expert in their field of work. It takes dedication, passion and hard work to achieve and to break boundaries. To expect  instant achievement is too idealistic. Instead, seek to work hard to improve! Hard workers surpass talents who do not.