10 Unforgettable Life Lessons That Have Shaped My Journey
From going to school to finding a job and now starting a business of my own, I think I have a few life hacks to teach someone just starting their life 😂.
Let’s dive in.
01. Association is Everything
No matter how inexperienced a person is, just get this part right and every other thing will fall into place.
I remember during my university days, just by deciding to follow those ahead of me, I too began to read when they wanted to go for group study. I also learned coding, web design, and technical writing by simply observing what they were doing as side hustles in their spare time.
The right association has helped me secure gigs and pushed me to start something of my own.
No matter how good you are, it never pays to go through life alone. And being an introvert is not an excuse because I am one too 🌚.
02. Imposter Syndrome is Normal for High Achievers
Every person who has ever dreamed of something big has, at some point, suffered from imposter syndrome.
Now, I’m not saying it’s a good thing — don’t get me wrong. I’m only saying that when it happens, just realize it’s not an issue of your self-worth or capacity. It’s a mind game your brain plays to question how well you fit into your new position or realization.
I remember my first international gig, oh boy! All my friends who could do what I was doing at the time contributed to that work 😂. I was feeling like the client would eventually realize that this job was too big for someone like me. I finally delivered the work and got a recommendation. It felt really good.
One way to deal with imposter syndrome is to counter it with every success story you’ve had in the past and prove to yourself that your wins weren’t born out of luck or chance — you planned and worked hard for them.
03. You Need God to Give Your Life Meaning on Earth
You can achieve everything you want here on earth and still feel empty and unsatisfied.
The essence of God in a person’s life cannot be overlooked, no matter what you think you have.
I remember listening to a Myles Munroe podcast, and he said, “You can look great here on earth and still not achieve God’s purpose for your life.” Ever since then, I’ve always tried to seek God’s guidance before making big decisions.
04. People Are Going to Leave You, and You Are Going to Leave People
Not every friendship you think will last actually will, and that’s okay.
As you focus on developing yourself, you’ll gradually start attracting new friends and leaving others behind. You should know that it’s normal.
I remember I had a very close friend during my first year at university. She was the second person I talked to, and from there, we just clicked. Me, the shy and lonely one, suddenly became bold and confident. It was like I had found someone to navigate this new environment with.
Then, in my second year, she stopped talking to me — no reasons, no signs, nothing. I didn’t see or hear from her again. First, I was worried, but then I saw her one fateful day in the Medicine and Health department with a new set of friends, looking happy and laughing.
I later found out that she had retaken her exams to pursue her dream course instead. Apparently, she felt the need to start over, and I wasn’t part of her new plan. And that’s okay. You know that feeling that hurts, but you’re still happy because they’re happy? That’s what I felt.
05. Learning is a Continuous Process
I thought when I finished school, I would finally get a break. How wrong I was!
Learning and growth are continuous processes. There is no point or age where it will ever be enough to stop.
If you try to stop, you’ll be left behind. It’s like we’re all running a silent race in this life that nobody seems to talk about. The more you succeed, the more the fear of falling behind grows. It’s an endless cycle, but that’s life.
06. Nobody Knows Tomorrow, But You Can Plan for It
It’s easy to let life carry you wherever it will, and you might get lucky and succeed. But great people plan how they want their life to be and later live it.
I remember one of the first things I bought after school was a whiteboard 😂.
I know I can easily write my big visions and daily plans on my phone’s notepad, but there’s something about writing them on that board and seeing them every time you’re in the room. It just hits differently.
I am also living proof that plans come through. They fuel and shape how you approach life. It’s never enough to just say what you want to achieve and leave it at that (Habakkuk 2:2–3).
I remember when I was in school, I saw a coursemate write down her grades before the semester started, and I thought, “Uhm, these optimistic people.”
During exams, I saw how hard she studied, and I wondered what was fueling all that energy. I kept asking myself why I couldn’t do the same. When the results came out, she did even better than what she had written down — 7 A’s and 1 B. It was then I realized that in school, you could actually get what you wanted without worrying about one lecturer failing you unnecessarily.
And ever since then 😂, nobody needed to tell me what to do, and it’s been working for me.
07. Limitations Are Only in Your Mind
Everything I thought I couldn’t do but tried anyway, I was able to accomplish.
Your mind is your greatest enemy or friend, depending on how you choose to treat it.
I remember when I decided to read a book every month, and I saw how much it affected my life, especially when I read “The Magic of Thinking Big” by David J. Schwartz. It completely changed my life! My perspective and belief about what’s possible in my life now would make my 18-year-old self wonder if I was high on something 😂.
Choose to nourish your mind with positive and meaningful things, and it will help you think positive and meaningful things too. Ever heard the phrase “Garbage in, garbage out”? That’s how your mind works.
08. You’re All Alone in This Life; No One Is Coming to Save You
It’s scary, but it’s true.
There are times when something will happen, and you’ll realize that nobody really gives a damn about what you’re going through or how you’re living your life.
We often think people are thinking about us as much as we think about ourselves. It’s a big lie 😂. Nobody cares that much about how you live your life. Most of the time, they’re busy thinking about their own lives and struggles.
People might notice, hype, and love you, but nobody cares that much about what you do with your life. And that’s okay because now, you have no reason to pretend to be someone you’re not. Your life is ultimately in your control.
09. Nothing Really Good Comes Easy
I think I learned this one early enough.
To this day, I’ve never played the lottery or engaged in any get-rich-quick schemes, and that’s because I believe good things don’t come cheap.
Now, don’t get me wrong — I don’t have a problem with those who do (I have friends who play), but that’s just the way I choose to live my life.
If you live with this mindset, you’ll rarely be scammed or manipulated into doing something irrational.
I just believe life is a process.
10. A Job is for Survival; You Need to Find Your Work
I don’t believe I was created just to get a good job, take care of myself, build a family with a nice house, and die at an old age. I like to believe there’s more to my life.
I also believe I was created for something greater than myself, and the world needs me to fulfill that purpose here on earth before I die.
While some people may discover their purpose early, others have to explore multiple jobs and paths to figure theirs out. And that’s okay.
But just understanding that you were created for more than yourself is enough to get you started.
Wrapping Up
I hope you were able to learn one or two life lessons from the life I’ve lived so far. Till I come your way next time, keep learning!
