It feels like just a few days ago that I was counting down to the start of 2018! When the clock struck midnight, I kicked off what would turn out to be one of the most influential years of my life. Now we’re about to do it all again!

Looking back, this past year has been one of opportunity, change and plenty of lessons learned – but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. To wrap things up, I challenged myself to categorize the year’s ups and downs into 5 lessons that I’ll be carrying with me into 2019.

1. Not everyone’s going to like you – and that’s OK.

Growing up we hear this a lot but it can get complicated when we want to impress certain people or attract specific attention or even just have a certain number of friends. The reality is that everyone has different taste, and some people are just permanently bitter. You could change everything about yourself and still not please people – so don’t! Live life for you. Find the people that really matter – those that love you for who you are and are there for you at your highs and your lows – and keep them real close. If you’re feeling down because your circle’s smaller than you’d like it to be, or you’re caught up in comparison, remember that everything is not always as it seems. People can have tons of “friends” but no real ride-or-dies – quality over quantity always!

2. Overthinking is the enemy.

Since I’m still a student, the most relatable anecdote I can give for this is writing a multiple choice test. You know when your gut tells you the answer is C, but two minutes before you hand in the test you decide to change your answer to B, and the answer was C after all? It’s truly one of the worst feelings… and it was the result of you overthinking. Now, to be fair, maybe you realized you actually made a mistake and changed the answer and then you end up being right, but that’s not usually how this works out! In the majority of situations, overthinking is nothing but a waste of your precious time. Don’t second guess yourself, don’t doubt yourself – LISTEN to yourself.

Even though “YOLO” is no longer a cool and trendy phrase, I still try to live by it (to a safe extent – I like my life!). I really love pushing myself and trying new things and I have come to embrace spontaneity and raw moments, rather than planning and overplanning. In general, I think it’s wise to live life freely and go with the flow. Take advantage of the opportunities that come your way, especially the unexpected ones. You never know what can happen when you let yourself be open to new possibilities!

3. Put good out in the world – just because.

There is nothing easier, more fulfilling, more satisfying and cooler than simply being kind. I think all of us know by now that the world is often not the nicest place. With that, all I can say to anyone reading this is please don’t contribute to the overwhelming negativity that surrounds us. It takes almost no effort to just put good out into the world, whether that be through complimenting a friend, waving hello to a stranger, sharing a motivational quote on social media (which can often be its own toxic world) or completing a random act of kindness. Being nice is always an option, so why would you choose anything else?! Better yet, do it without expecting anything in return. Do it because it makes you and the recipient feel good, and because it’s the right thing to do.

On a related note, in 2018, I focused a lot on the idea of manifestation. I’ve been putting what I want out there into the universe, vocalizing and communicating it. This kind of goes back to the age-old philosophy of “fake it till you make it.” Hey, heading into TIFF this fall, I had a list of people I wanted to meet and instead of just hoping I’d meet them, I told myself that I would. If you want something, GO GET IT! Of course that might be easier said than done, but nothing good comes easy. Put in the work and chase your dreams and fantasies. The journey should be just as fun as the reward. (And if you can be kind along the way, you’re really doing things right.)

4. NO DISCOUNTS!

I borrowed this line from one of my new favourite podcasts, Scrubbing In with Becca Tilley and Tanya Rad. The idea is that you should never settle for less than what you deserve, whether it be professionally or personally. Life is too short to be less than satisfied with the decisions you make. Keep pushing yourself, be patient and stay relentless. Be picky for yourself! Don’t allow yourself to be unhappy unnecessarily. Make small changes today to improve your outlook and build your best life. You deserve that. As for people, prioritize those who prioritize you. I’ve cut a lot of people out of my life this year while welcoming several new friends and I have no regrets.

5. Self love > anything and everything.

I have always believed that you should be able to love yourself so no one else has to. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t seek out and cherish love in your life through friendships, romantic partnerships and familial connections. In addition to that, however, you should put a conscious effort toward improving your relationship with yourself. At the end of the day, you’re all you have and being comfortable with yourself will allow you to thrive in so many ways. Don’t be afraid to be your own #1 fan – it isn’t selfish or cocky, it’s exactly the way things are meant to be.

I truly believe 2019 will be the year of self love. If I can drive home one piece of advice heading into the new year, it would be to drop everyone who has benefitted for too long from depleting your time, energy, spirit and, most importantly, your kindness towards others and yourself. So, love yourself and the people that matter and who remind you why YOU matter.

What’s the biggest lesson you learned in 2018? Share it with me in the comments below.

Here’s to a great 2019 for all of us xx