Lessons of 2019

What a year it's been. How many of you are ready to say goodbye to 2019 and turn that page? I can relate, as the year has been full of many trials and errors that turned into learning experiences. Instead of writing about an optimistic approach to 2020 and how to set yourself up for success in upcoming weeks with a new resume and LinkedIn profile "facelift", I thought I would finish the year off with a article on my top 3 lessons of 2019 that some of you can relate to or learn from.

Lesson 1- DON'T EXPECT INSTANT GRATIFICATION. Yes, I am a millennial who doesn't believe I can cure cancer or world peace overnight (say what). We are a society who thrives on immediate results, yet much of the success we have will never happen overnight. I can admit that I went to the gym for three weeks straight and ate my greens and at day 21 looked at my muffin top in hopes I looked like Megan Fox from Transformers, but saw no results.... That night I went to FroYo and indulged with three toppings before I reset... We have all had someone tell us "All the things that are worth it, take time" and it's true. We must be able to set realistic goals and through the process, keep asking ourselves the why and how. Your mindset and realistic progress will help you get there. If you use this in any situation personal or professional, you can celebrate wins more often and remind yourself of the real reason you started. DON'T LOSE YOURSELF IN DEADLINES and be REALISTIC!

Lesson 2- STOP FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF. You ever talk to someone who is playing the poor me card and you start avoiding them like that crazy ex? Don't be that person... We all have bad days and failures. Life has ups and downs, but a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor. Focus on the experience and how you learned from it and MOVE ON. We all are going through different obstacles, its how you grow through those hardships and struggles to find the lesson in the storm and how you survived it! I know it stings and your pity party deserves an audience of anyone who will listen, but cry it out for one day and use it as motivation to move forward. LET IT GO, and please please please stop posting it on your facebook. You are what you put out in the universe.... Failure is a lesson learned and success is a lesson applied (let thank sink in). Forgive those even if they never said sorry and let karma handle it. The thing about karma is she always comes back around (good or bad).

Lesson 3- NEVER STOP LEARNING. In 2019 I wanted to get to know myself better and wanted to learn what made me happy again. During the year I completed my Master's degree and learned my love/hate for procrastination and how I thrive with being under pressure. I also traveled one time each month to embrace cultural differences and eat things I don't usually. I became a food blogger and yelp elite and now get invited to new places to do reviews for free food! I spent 10 nights dancing at concerts (of all genre) learning how to get upgraded with just a simple conversation. I got active in a church that I visited every Sunday as I hugged complete strangers each week and thanked them for joining my spiritual journey. I spent 4 days a week at the gym kickboxing, weight training, dancing at Zumba and learned how much I LOVED the endorphins that come with fitness along with an excuse to buy gym clothes. I spent my commute of 2 hours a day in my car appreciating audible and my love for Simon Sinek along with YouTubes many varieties of ACDC remixes. I signed up for the CA Notary exam to begin loan signing in upcoming months and am still currently working on a YouTube channel and mastering videography so I can go live in 2020 to help many of you conquer job interviews as the new year and new career mindset approaches. Through all of this, I learned to keep growing and evolving and to stop staying stagnant in the same routine I was used to or thought made me happy.... I challenged myself with new ideas, goals and methods of learning and stopped using the excuses to talk myself out of it. If you want to learn something, do it! You are the only person holding yourself back from learning something new and embracing this life. We all need mental, physical and emotional challenges and changes and this happens when you learn, grow and focus on yourself and what you enjoy or don't enjoy most. KEEP LEARNING and evaluating what makes you happy! Philanthropy has been a huge happiness for me and giving back to my community and youth. I looked for events I could work at and found an entire local list of nonprofits looking for a helping hand and even took my three year old sidekick (Son) with me to help at a few of them each month. Learning and growing has never felt so good and rewarding and the people I have met along the way are LIFE CHANGING. You can't pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first and find happiness!

I am looking forward to what 2020 has in store and am in high hopes you all can take away from this post 1 thing. So I ask you, what was your biggest lesson in 2019? Please keep an eye out for my YouTube channel to drop Q1.

As always, much love from your favorite Recruiter and Biggest Fan -Jessica Cleary