2021 Reflection 345: 3 things I’ve learned, 4 things to improve, 5 people to thank
What a year has 2021 been. Started in another lockdown, ending in a still restricted life, 2021 might have not been what we’ve been hoping for. Maybe like me, you tried to take some learnings from 2020 and try to live life differently but realized how challenging it is and how limited we still are. Looking back to last year’s reflection, I’m really glad I’ve taken the 3 learnings and live on with them. I’m also happy to have worked on the 4 things I’ve promised to work on and taken new learnings from them. Thus, here we are again, let’s review this year in 3–4–5 :)
3 things I’ve learned
2021 has been a year with lots of learnings, especially from failure. It’s been a frustrating year for me as I set the bar high for myself to achieve in life, at work, and with people. However, things didn’t work out as planned but I’ve taken learnings from them and I definitely felt I’ve grown more this year than ever before.
1. Life is more than just work
I’ve moved to Germany for work and I buried myself in this intention and ambition to accelerate my career while I’m here. However, this thought, in turn, made me neglect other aspects of life. I tried to optimize everything at work and make sure I’m doing my best to contribute, learn and grow. However, I forgot how important I need to do those for other aspects of my life as well.
I found myself constantly planning a trip away to make myself feel better in the name of recharging my batteries.
I found myself scrolling social media and didn’t realize how much I missed real-life connections with people.
I found myself always feeling I’m not doing enough but actually what I need to do first is not do anything and think before I act.
I found myself constantly looking for things I missed in life than work and I’m so happy that my mentor, Tomas, has introduced this tool “Wheel of life” to me. I want to start looking at life as a whole and work on the areas that I’ve neglected. I’m happy my work and financials are in a great place right now and I will still carry on the ambition of career advancement that I set myself up here to do, but next year, it’s about life.
2. Never let a chance slip by without giving it a try
This is a lesson learned at work.
During the summer, I had an opportunity at work to advance in my job but it caught me totally by surprise and after a few days of thought and consultation with colleagues and managers, I decided not to apply. I thought I was not ready and I was not confident in myself.
This missed opportunity haunted me till the end of the year where I saw myself thinking over and over about it and faced even further frustration when I approached my director again for the opportunity and got turned down.
I’ve learned that not being confident in myself is the biggest reason for this. I was confused and not setting the right expectation of myself and selling myself short. Aiming high and having high expectations of myself is not a bad thing, but beating myself down and hurting my self-esteem is.
Gladly, by the end of the year, another opportunity showed up and I showed up. This time I didn’t let it slip and went all in for it. Taking the lesson, I’d applied it to every aspect of my life than only at work. Still remember this favorite motto from the first campaign I worked on:
“Opportunities will come, and we must be ready”
3. Take care of your mental health
Just realized this another day when talking to a friend. “Once we have grown up physically after puberty, we start growing more mentally and the real work and challenge are in our minds, not body.”
Another year of lockdown has really taken a toll on me. Even though I have been able to keep my fitness routine on track and overall health in check, I’ve not been able to take control of my mental health. I found myself having an emotional roller-coaster sometimes and stuck in my head and overthinking things.
Mental health is such a big topic around the world and I realized I need to pay more attention to mine as well. By learning about it, talking to friends about it, acknowledging it, I’ve realized the importance of it and how much it’s connected to my overall health too.
4 things to improve on
1. Look at life as a whole
As the lesson mentioned previously, I want to continue reviewing myself and work on looking at life as a whole and making decisions based on improving my overall happiness.
2. Connect with friends and family more
I’ve learned to be independent and support myself well but I wouldn’t be here without my family and friends. I want to reconnect with them more and put them back in focus and support them if needed as well.
3. Be more decisive
It’s not a bad thing to think before act but I’ve always been overthinking and hesitating too much. I want to be more decisive and regardless it’s a success or failure, take ownership and learnings from the outcome.
4. Searching for my next
Last but not least, I think it’s time for me to start searching for where I’d be next. I think I’m ready to start exploring and figure out where I’d head next and plan on how to get there. It will take time but it’s time to start.
5 people to thank
I’ve always loved to express my gratitude towards people who had supported me with their love, their knowledge, and their company at this time of the year. There’s definitely more people I’d like to thank and not limited to these 5 people and I’m truly grateful to all of you ❤
Stella, thank you so much for another amazing year’s company. We actually haven’t seen each other since I left London in 2019 but I still felt so close to you. You’ve supported me so much in my career but also in my life as well. Wish you all the best and please visit Europe next year!
Gav, the legend. I’m so glad we finally met up this year in London after a long time. You’ve always been just one phone call away whenever I needed you and I couldn’t thank you more for just being the best listener and advisor.
Hanna, Hanna, Hanna. How could I survive life here in Nuremberg without you. I’m so glad we got even closer this year and love the “do you know me” board game and how we really dig deeop into ourselves and shared our heart out. Thank you so much for all your love and support and can’t wait for another amazing year together here.
Tomas C., I’m so grateful that I’ve connected with you. Thank you for being such a great mentor and coach for not just career but also life. Thank you so much for sharing your life stories and how that impacted on you. I’ve taken so much learnings and can’t wait to continue discussing and working with you.
Thomas R., you might be surprised you’d be on the list but I’m truly happy we got to know each other more this year. You’re such a great friend to have fun with but also supported me so much when I’m low. Can’t wait to see you again next year and before that, the postcards will keep coming in your postbox ;)
2021 is another speical year and so many things to learn from and improve on. I’m excited how it could be and already looking forward to coming back to this post and see if I’ve taken the learnings and imrpoved on the things I’ve promised. Once again thank you for reading if you still are and I’ll continue to write and share. See you next year :)
