A Year on Purpose: 8 Lessons 2023 Taught Me
Chilllleeeee, 2023 has been one for the books!
This year, I stepped out on faith, in obedience and into purpose.
From leaving big law to starting multiple businesses, here are 8 lessons 2023 taught me.
Why 8 lessons? It’s the number of new beginnings and that is exactly what 2023 brought me. Enjoy!
1) GOD IS FOR ME.
2023 has truly been a lesson in letting go and trusting that God is with and for me.
All year, I’ve been amazed at how much peace and contentment this season has brought.
As I reflect, I realize that it was nothing but God!
When I left my job back in January, I was wrought with emotions ranging from fear of what was to come and doubt that anything I did next would “live up to” the perceived prestige of what I was leaving behind.
But I prayed and fasted and prayed and fasted!
And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding took over this season of life in a way I have never experienced before.
Even through the inevitable waves of life that came my way, the doubt that creeped in, the relationships that were rocked, that peace never stayed away too long.
God is for us. God is with us.
Know it. Believe it. Make it your reality.
2) I CAN DO HARD THINGS.
I can mourn and not be consumed by grief.
I can say “no.”
I can work out consistently, become an entrepreneur, and take my negative thoughts captive.
All things that, at some point, felt hard and out of reach.
There are so many things that we simply don’t do because we believe that they are “too hard.”
So many callings we leave on the table.
We are alive and breathing in 2023.
That alone is hard as hell.
And yet, here we are. Overcoming and triumphing over adversity.
So don’t tell me what we cannot do!
I am so grateful to know that I CAN do hard things.
You can, and are, and will, too :)
3) IT IS OKAY TO QUIT.
Grind culture teaches us that “quitters never win.”
But, if you’re on this blog, you listen to God and not grind culture.
And when He says go, baby pack your bags and GO.
That’s just that on that.
4) ROUTINES, ROUTINES, ROUTINES!
In my last post, I talked about proactively adding weapons to our toolboxes that will equip us to embrace the trials and sorrows of life.
My routines are major components of my toolbox!
Most people think of discipline only as a means of gaining success and wealth.
While discipline certainly is crucial to those things, I’ve found that discipline has sustained me in areas of life I never would’ve expected like grief and navigating changing relationships in life.
Heading into the new year, I am doubling down on my already established routines like gratitude journalling, 5am wakeups, daily exercise, etc.
If you’ve fallen out of your routines, or don’t have any routines in place, start NOW.
Give yourself grace and love.
Remember that you are not a robot.
Leave space for your humanity and allow yourself to be surprised by how you bloom!
5) IT’S OKAY TO NOT HAVE EVERYTHING FIGURED OUT.
If we had it all figured out we wouldn’t need a routine, blogs, the Bible, nothing!
We would just…have it figured it out.
But, since we don’t, it’s okay to not know everything when pivoting or trying new things!
Now listen, I’m not saying bet grandma’s house on it without putting some thought into your next venture.
What I am saying is that too many of us (*me*) use not knowing everything as a reason to do nothing when you know God has told you to move.
Let go and go back to lesson #1.
6) YOU MUST HAVE BOUNDARIES.
This is nonnegotiable.
This is also a lesson I’m admittedly still learning.
I have made significant strides, but this is an area I’ll be working on as we enter the new year.
I’ve seen the benefits that clear, firm boundaries can have on every area of my life and am so excited to see my growth in this area next year.
It’s not easy, but remember lesson #2!
7) RUN YOUR OWN RACE.
This year I was blessed to train for and run my first 5k with my husband — a former division 1 track and field and basketball athlete. The man holds multiple high-school sports records.
Me? I have one season of high school soccer under my belt.
Do y’all know that when we started training I tried my hardest to keep up with him?!
And chile was shocked and disappointed when I couldn’t!
I learned quickly to figuratively and literally, run my own race.
Focus on what God has set before you.
You will be sorely disappointed otherwise. Trust me!
8) ENJOY LIFE!
Don’t forget to LIVE.
I know this society tries to force us into these robotic paces of life.
We have to resist the urge to work until we die without ever truly BEING.
I’ve said it in one way or another before that this side of Heaven will always be chaotic. But we have access to peace now in the midst of it all.
We can breathe deeply now.
We can have joy now.
We can practice gratitude now.
Not when we get the raise or the promotion or when our bank accounts have a certain arbitrary amount that will never be enough anyway.
So, once all the goals and plans are laid, the mood and vision boards polished to perfection, let’s spend time just existing in the new year.
You’re worth that. Always have been.
Now, what are 8 things you are grateful for this year?!
*****
Peace and love y’all and Happy New Year!!
Freely,
Latiera
