Time passed by so quickly, don’t you think?

A few days ago we were just opening our Christmas gifts, and this time around probably as you read this, you’re preparing a bunch of fireworks to be used when the clock strikes 12.

Well, that’s how life is. Something that we must take to heart always as we make each and every moment meaningful and memorable.

Speaking of meaningful and memorable, how was your 2023 like?

I want you to take this time to reflect and come from a space of honesty and vulnerability, how was your year like?

What did you struggle about? What were the highs and lows? What changed you?

Know that everything happens for a reason, and you, reading this now, are exactly where you’re meant to be.

Ok, you can breathe now. Yes, it’s ok.

But before we proceed, take this time to congratulate yourself. Whatever you’ve been through, whatever you’re going through as of the moment, know that you made it till today and that’s such an achievement. You’re a fighter. A survivor. A winner. Good job!

It doesn’t end though as the year that was comes to a close.

It’s only the beginning of something new, and something even better for you perhaps.

With 2024 just around the corner, allow me to share with you the 5 questions you can reflect on to guide you through the upcoming year ahead, as you transition anew and journey towards your own #bestmeever .

1. What did the previous year teach me?

Any experience, good or bad, teaches you a valuable lesson. Looking back, what did life want to teach you with everything that happened to you? Was it about setting boundaries? Choosing the people you surround yourself with? Moving on? Take those lessons to heart and know that each one will come in handy as you welcome the new year so that you don’t commit the same mistakes again. Remember: life can be such a strict teacher and you will experience the same painful experiences if you don’t learn from them over and over again. So don’t even go that way for next year. Haha!

2. What do I really want to achieve this year?

Emphasis on the word “really”. Being true to yourself, what’s the new milestone that you’re looking at? Have a clear vision of what you really want to achieve so you can anchor your plans on it solidly. Make sure that it’s totally meaningful and relevant to you so that it allows you to live your purpose accordingly. Don’t have a goal for the sake of having one. Choose what really resonates within.

3. What needs to change for me to achieve this?

A new and bigger goal requires not only a change in your action plans but also a change in your mindset and emotional state. This new journey requires a different version of you so think about this: what kind of person do you need to become to be able to achieve your goals accordingly? What mindset, behaviors, feelings and action plans do you need to modify to allow everything to fall into place seamlessly in your journey? Change is inevitable so do away with resistance and embrace the beauty of what may be unfamiliar and uncomfortable at first. Best if you can list them all down in your journal so you have a visual guide moving forward.

4. What kind of support do I honestly need?

Hear me out on this: there’s nothing wrong with asking for help. You’re only human. It doesn’t make you weak or less capable. It actually shows how strong and humble you are to recognize your own needs as you journey towards your best. So best to inquire within now: who or what can help you in your journey? Do you need a mentor? A coach? New business opportunity? Skills training? Choose what you feel is best for you and don’t be afraid to seek others for support if you know they can do wonders for you. Always remember though to express your gratitude and respect before, during and after you get their support because the relationships that you keep matter.

5. What should be my overall theme for this year?

Take time to imagine this: what will be your overall mantra for next year? Is it all about expansion? Breaking barriers? Transformation? Choose what’s best for you and how you want your 2024 narrative to become. This helps you align your actions accordingly to your overall theme by asking yourself each time you make a crucial decision: how will this contribute to (express your theme)? Knowing the impact of your actions will help you come up with sound decisions not merely based on impulse or heightened emotions. Just to share, my 2023 theme was all about expansion and it allowed me to expand my practice globally as I spoke in international conferences and won global awards, which were part of my goals for this year. For 2024, my overall theme is transformation, as I allow myself to evolve into a new version of my own #bestmeever .

There you go. I hope these questions can help guide you as you welcome this coming year with a bunch of positivity and possibilities.

Always remember, at the end of the day, no matter what the year has in store for all of us,
life goes on.
And so can we.
Happy New Year everyone!
Cheers to the best one yet!

Happy 41st birthday, Self!

Yes, I am now officially 41.

And come to think of it, it’s such a beautiful experience to be able to reach this age. I mean growing up, I never had an idea how it would look and feel like. But hey, here I am now, blowing my candle and adding yet another year to my life.

While others become worried as they age, I am actually having a grand time embracing the person that I am becoming: my own #bestmeever . Yes, I truly believe that the best is yet to come.

Thinking about it now, it was definitely a one-of-a-kind roller coaster ride towards becoming the person I am meant to be. I lost count of the number of ups and downs, the twists and turns and everything that happened in between. But hey, I am genuinely grateful for all of them because they all happened for a reason, and the core being is that all those were essential to my learning and growth.

Coming from honesty and humility, I am just so happy that at this point in time, I no longer feel anxious about what the future may bring. There’s freedom in trusting myself and the process as I let myself (and things) be.

I have to say, experience indeed is the best teacher. I wouldn’t be a credible coach now if I haven’t experienced all those in the past 41 years. And today, I would like to share with you the 41 life lessons I learned which molded me into the person that I am now.

Indulge!

1. You can always love yourself more by choice, and it’s ok.
2. Whatever you tolerate will eventually take its toll on you. So don’t if it doesn’t sit well with you.
3. Never keep things to yourself. Speak up. Your personal freedom is more important than the reactions of others.
4. You don’t have much time but you can always choose to make the most of what you have.
5. To be different is a gift. Cherish it. Own it.
6. You can be successful and unhappy or struggling yet happy. You have the choice to turn both around.
7. What you truly deserve will always be better than what you initially wanted. Trust in God’s plan.
8. Every pain has a purpose. You just have to stop resisting and start seeing things beyond the hardships,
9. Your willingness to invest on yourself is commensurate to your willingness to grow. It’s a question of how much are you worth it?
10. You don’t ever need to justify the wring doings of others. Allow yourself to feel hurt and acknowledge that space. You don;t have to deny that because you want to save a relationship.
11. You can be independent, empowered and genuinely happy if you allow yourself to live outside of social and personal expectations.
12. Don’t minimize your goals based on your experience. Create goals based on what you really want and get enough experience and enlightenment to work on them no matter how big they may seem at first.
13. There’s more to life than just working to pay the bills.
14. A seemingly bad ending can actually be a prelude to a beautiful beginning.
15. If you’re not happy, then that’s not how the story ends yet.
16. Learn to normalize calling people as colleagues, acquaintances or whatever fits them if they’re not really your friends.
17. Your happily ever after is not based on a certain age, achievement or person. It’s based on what you truly feel within regardless of what you have or don’t have.
18. Commitment requires 100%. Don’t settle for anything less than you deserve.
19. Love comes unexpectedly. It pays off to always be ready.
20. There is much value in pausing, stopping and starting all over again. They shouldn’t be perceived as negative delays.
21. You are worth every risk you are willing to take.
22. For as long as you’re happy and healthy, you can become wealthy.
23. Feeling stuck at times can actually be a matter of choice.
24. Your credibility and integrity are priceless. So don’t act cheap.
25. Don;t sweat about things that won’t matter in 5 minutes, 5 hours, 5 days, 5 months or 5 years.
26. It’s ok to love people from afar.
27. Love is brave and proud. If it’s not, then that’s not love.
28. There’s no limit as to how many times you want to start all over again and reinvent yourself, for as long as you are clear with your goals and objectives.
29. You can’t be everything that the world expects you to be but you can always be your best and that’s more than enough.
30. Don’t let anyone or anything question your genuine happiness. You know better.
31. Struggling at times makes the whole journey even more rewarding.
32. Don’t let the people who have hurt you turn you into a person that you are not.
33. You are whole as is. Everyone who comes into your life is just a bonus.
34. Acknowledging your feelings and being truly honest with yourself are superpowers.
35. Everyone needs a coach. But there is a specific coach for someone.
36. It’s ok to cut ties. You don’t have to stay for the sake of old times, because if things were still the same, then cutting them off wouldn’t be an option in the first place. People change. Feelings too. So can you.
37. You don’t ever have to pressure yourself to conform just to be liked. You can be a disruptor and be loved.
38. Taking care of yourself, your looks, your mental health and well-being is never optional or dependent on anything or anyone else.
39. It’s ok to try and fail than to have a bunch of what if’s and what could have been’s.
40. You can never be really ready but you can always choose to be brave enough now to at least try.
41. Life goes on. It always does. So can you.

So there you go! I hope these life lessons resonate with you.

I look forward to learning more this year.

Thank you for celebrating my 41st birthday with me.

My heart is full.