- Have the courage to be myself. There were many moments in the year where I felt the urge to be someone I wasn’t. But in the end, living true to myself and my values has been more fulfilling. It takes a bit of courage, because it might mean I’m disliked or get left out of a group.
- Live life more intentionally. To me, living intentionally means knowing the “why” behind everything I do. For a lot of the year, I felt like I was drifting and not living life to the fullest.
- The story matters. Regardless of what the truth is, and what intentions are, perception is reality. A compelling lie is remembered more than an unconvincing truth. I’m not advocating lying, but it’s important to take a step back and frame things in the right way. I’ve learnt this at work, where I have to manage expectations with clients and seniors, and have to craft compelling stories to present to clients. I’ve also learnt this from moments where I wasn’t thoughtful about how to communicate to friends and family, and the message didn’t quite get through.