This post may contain affiliate links meaning that, I may make commission if you purchase through my links. Learn More.
There’s no denying that the past couple of years have been anything but ordinary. In fact, they’ve been some of the wildest times of most of our lives, filled with countless ups and downs, stresses and reliefs. That said, the toughest times often bring the most lessons. 2021 was no exception to that. The life lessons from 2021 are ones that I think all of us will carry with us for life.
For me personally, 2020 was a low point. My mental health was terrible, I was overworked and exhausted, and the world was, quite literally, in shambles. I entered 2021 with the standard New Year’s motivation.
“2021 is going to be the best year ever!”
Spoiler alert: 2021 was not the best year ever.
But I did learn some of my most valuable life lessons from 2021. So, because of that, I am grateful for 2021 and the strengths it has given me. I have overcome, grown, and learned so I can be an even better person entering 2022.
That’s all we can do in this life, right? Grow, evolve, and do the next best thing.
Anyways, let’s go ahead and jump right on into those 2021 life lessons!
21 Valuable Life Lessons from 2021
Life Lesson 1: Life is Uncomfortable
It’s true. Life is uncomfortable, awkward, painful, and weird. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Learning to embrace and welcome discomfort has been one of the greatest life lessons of 2021. In fact, I’ve noticed a direct link between great discomfort and great growth. During the moments that I felt the most uneasy, I underwent the most self-growth and personal development.
Next time you are feeling uncomfortable, remember this. Growth is uncomfortable… but so is staying stuck.
Choosing the path of growth may be temporarily harder, but it sets you up for happiness in the long run. Embrace discomfort and lean into growth.
Life Lesson 2: You are Your Best Companion
You know who’s been there through every tough time? Who’s been with me through every day, good and bad?
My. Damn. Self.
You are the most reliable person in your life. No matter what happens, you will have you. The relationship you have with yourself is one that needs to be fostered.
It’s the longest relationship you’ll ever have. You might as well make it a healthy and happy one.
Life Lesson 3: Big Risks Make the Best Stories
… to a certain extent. Please don’t go jumping off a cliff because I told you to take risks. Haha!
By risks I mean those things that you put off and tell yourself you can’t do even though you really want to.
In 2021, I…
- busted my butt in college to push myself to graduate 2 years early
- quit a job I hated
- started building my own business
- went on dates
- met new people
- bought a puppy as a spur-of-the-moment decision
(and these are just a FEW examples)
It’s important to know that these risks that I took may not be the risks you should take. We all have our own individual wants, needs, desires, and life paths.
However, the point is that every single risk I took led me to a beautiful destination. I am graduating in December 2021, I am happier than ever in my jobs now, I have my blog business (and community) that I adore, I’ve made new friends, and I have the best puppy in the world!
These decisions all felt incredibly intimidating and scary at the time but, as I said in my #1 life lesson from 2021, life is most uncomfortable when you are growing. All of these risks helped me grow.
Life Lesson 4: Being Alone is Amazing
At the start of 2021, I read “What a Time to Be Alone” by Chidera Eggerue. This book truly changed my perspective for the year. Since then, I have been continuously learning how powerful it is to be alone.
With the pandemic, lockdown, and time at home during 2021, I did a lot of reflection on my relationship with myself. For so long, I felt that being alone meant being lonely.
Alone and lonely are not synonymous.
With time, practice, and lots of self-love, I have grown to love being alone. Sometimes you make the best company. Learning how to be happy alone is something I think everyone needs to do.
Life Lesson 5: Little Things are Big Things
Again, with the pandemic and lockdown, there has been less opportunity for big, extravagant events. Traveling has slowed, big events and get-togethers are not as common, and, overall, big gestures are less doable.
But has anyone else noticed a new appreciation for the smaller things that make you happy?
{RELATED POST: 100 Simple Things That Make Me Happy}
The little things in life are often the most special of all. A nice little note, a warm hug, or a loving text can be some of the best parts of your day. It’s the little things like that that truly make this life so special.
Life Lesson 6: Health is Everything
This seems to be a common lesson learned these past two years.
With the pandemic, I have been really learning to appreciate my health and the health of those around me. I think that so many of us get busy with life and start to take our health for granted.
For me, the pandemic has been a wake-up call for just how lucky I am to wake up every day, healthy and alive.
Life Lesson 7: Losing People is Natural
To be brutally honest, it’s just plain unrealistic to expect that the same people will stick with us throughout our entire lives. Don’t get me wrong, there are a few exceptions to that rule (I have some great friends from elementary school or before!), but, overall, the majority of people will not be with you through your whole life.
That’s okay!
It’s normal, natural, and healthy to outgrow people. No two paths are going to be exactly alike and, often, as you grow, you grow in different directions from those around you.
As I’m in my 20s, this feels especially true. (But it can be true for all ages, as we are always growing and changing.)
Learn to wish someone well, send them love, and go in different directions.
Life Lesson 8: Heart + Gut + Brain = Right Thing
“Trust your gut.”
“Listen to your heart.”
“What’s your brain tell you to do?”
These are all things that people have said to me before. This conflicting advice can be really confusing. Do I trust my heart, gut, or brain?
What I’ve learned in 2021 is that the best decision is typically a mix of all three. In order to honor your heart, gut, and brain, you have to learn to be really in touch with yourself, your thoughts, and your emotions.
This comes with practice and with time spent alone for self-discovery.
{REALTED POST: 80 Journal Prompts for Self-Discovery}
Next time you’re stuck with a tough decision, try to listen to what all parts of you are saying and make the next best step from there.
(Tip: A pro/con list can be really helpful too!)
Life Lesson 9: Being Selfish is Necessarry
There. I said it.
In order to be the best version of yourself, you need to focus on yourself. Whether this is self-care nights, mental health breaks, days without your phone, time with yourself, etc., time to yourself is essential.
If you think about it, this is the opposite of selfishness. If you want to show up for others, you have to show up for yourself first. You can’t pour from an empty glass, my friends.
Take time for you.
Life Lesson 10: Vulnerability is Beautiful
My entire website is called “Authentically Del” for a reason. I believe that authenticity, honesty, and vulnerability are some of the most beautiful qualities in a person.
In my eyes, vulnerability is the key to connection. If you are not committed to being 100% yourself with somebody, there will always be a layer of connection that is missing from your relationship.
Be you. 100%. Authentically, messily, crazily, boldly YOU.
Life Lesson 11: Overworking Backfires
We live in a world that praises productivity. Heck, even my blog talks a lot about productivity and motivation. But there is such thing as TOO much productivity.
Burnout is real… and it will happen to you if you overwork yourself.
It can be tempting to take on everything at once. We can go through these waves of motivation and thinking we can do it ALL. But, to be honest with you, if you are not prioritizing REST as well, you will not get very far.
Life is ALL about balance. Finding the balance between work, play, and rest is the true key to success.
Life Lesson 12: Beauty is Not Physical
The most beautiful people I know are not the ones with the clearest skin, the sleekest hair, the nicest clothes, or the smallest waist.
{REALTED POST: 55 Powerful Journal Prompts for Body Image}
As someone who has struggled greatly with self-confidence, body confidence, and overall self-love, I understand the pressure that we feel to look a certain way. The beauty standards of society are, quite frankly, ridiculous, unachievable, unnatural, and unrealistic.
No one looks like the airbrushed models you are comparing yourself to… not even them.
Learning that beauty is not physical was a huge life lesson from 2021 for me. While I always knew it in regard to those around me, I have been working this past year to apply that to myself too.
Becoming the most beautiful version of myself no longer means obsessing over the way I look. Now, it means being the kindest, most loving, and amazing person I can be.
(This is a work in progress for me. If you struggle, know you’re not alone.)
Life Lesson 13: Boundaries are Essential
Let’s talk about boundaries.
Long story short: you need them.
If we’re honest, there are some people in our life that we need to establish some clear boundaries with. Maybe it’s a family member, an in-law, a friend, or even your boss. If someone is not bringing you joy, you have to draw a line in the sand and say “enough”.
Maybe your boss is constantly sending you emails or texts after hours, expecting you to jump on them. Establish a boundary that you will get to the task when you are back in your working hours.
Or maybe you have a mother-in-law that critiques and criticizes your home. Establish a boundary by not allowing them to stay with you anymore.
These types of boundaries can feel hard at first (especially if you are a people pleaser like me), but they are essential for your happiness and well-being.
If you are interested in more boundary talk, this Podcast episode on boundaries is great.
Life Lesson 14: Not Everyone Runs at the Same Speed
Now, this could be taken literally and still be true (haha!!), but I mean this figuratively.
Life is not a race and it simply cannot be treated as one. My whole life I have struggled with comparison, especially to my highly successful older sister. I wanted to achieve everything she did by the same time she did. This exhausted me and tore apart my self-confidence.
A huge life lesson from 2021 that I am working on is accepting that everyone does life at their own pace and in their own way.
Some people graduate college at 20, some graduate at 68. Some people are married by 23, others are single, and aren’t even thinking about marriage.
Neither one is right or wrong.
In my late teens and 20s, I have struggled with imposter syndrome and feeling like I am not in the right place. It’s common for me to feel like everyone else my age has it more together than I do.
There is no innate value in doing something first. Your life is not the life of those you compare yourself to. Trust your own path and go at your own speed. Your journey is yours.
Life Lesson 15: Be Kind AND Fierce
One of my favorite quotes is, “do no harm, take no sh*t“. This is a lesson I have learned in 2021.
It is entirely possible to be kind, loving, and caring while also not letting people walk all over you. As I mentioned before, I am a people pleaser so standing up for myself doesn’t always come naturally. I like to make people feel happy, even if it is at my own expense.
What I am learning is that it doesn’t have to be one way or the other. I can make others happy, be selfless, and be kind without being passive or sacrificing my own happiness.
Be fierce and gentle at the same time. It is possible.
Life Lesson 16: Resilience is a Powerful Skill
Struggle is a part of life. Being able to roll with the punches and bounce back is a key skill that will take you far.
With the craziness of 2020 and 2021, the importance of resilience has been made even more evident. Being able to adapt to unexpected circumstances will benefit you in nearly every way.
Life Lesson 17: Connection is Precious
Human connection is one of the most valuable things about life. Being able to connect with other people has looked a bit different through the past couple of years but, oddly enough, the distance from people has made me appreciate relationships more.
In 2021, I have learned to cherish and appreciate my time spent with loved ones and the relationships I have.
This is a life lesson from 2021 that I will carry forever.
Life Lesson 18: Do One Thing for Yourself Everyday
Self-care.
Taking care of yourself is one of the best things you can do for your life. By focusing on tending to yourself and your needs, you can improve all aspects of your life.
Don’t Miss These Posts
Best Relaxing Self-Care Shower Routine
How to Build the Ultimate Self-Care Night Routine
Self-care can improve productivity, self-confidence, happiness, mental health, physical health, and more.
Ensuring that you are setting aside some time for yourself every single day is absolutely essential.
Life Lesson 19: Practice Gratitude
If 2021 has taught me anything, it’s gratitude. The past couple of years have been a prime example of how quickly everything can change. At the start of 2020, I felt remorseful that I didn’t appreciate my life “enough” pre-pandemic.
Now, after 2021, I have taken that frustration as a new life lesson: practice gratitude.
I now have a daily gratitude practice that I do every single morning and night. It is super simple and quick, yet so powerful.
The benefits of gratitude are endless, but here’s some I’ve noticed:
- improved motivation
- reduced anxiety
- decreased frustration
- improved relationships
- more present in the moment
- higher vibrational frequency (more positive things in my life)
- increased optimism
- happiness!
(Gratitude is an important aspect of manifestation too!)
If I knew that just dedicating 5 minutes a day to my gratitude journal could have this many benefits, I would’ve started years ago.
Life Lesson 20: Know What You Can Control
Some parts of life are uncontrollable. If you are a bit of a control freak like me, that can be hard to accept. But learning what you CAN control (and how to do it in a healthy manner) helps.
In 2021, I focused on gaining control over my life in areas that I felt I could. This included developing a solid morning routine, night routine, weekend routine, and work routine (I love routine, haha!!). This also meant really utilizing my planner and ensuring I had some structure to my days.
In the famous book Atomic Habits, James Clear discusses the power of establishing good habits and how they can change your life. This book inspired me to make some changes in my own life, establish some routines and habits, and feel the benefits of them.
With so much of life being out of our hands, it can be comforting to know that you are doing your part to point yourself in the right direction where you can.
Life Lesson 21: Practice Self-Love
This is probably the most valuable life lesson from 2021. Throughout these lessons, I’ve talked quite a bit about the importance of caring for yourself. Self-love is another important part of that.
For some of us, self-love feels a little extra difficult. If you are a bit too hard on yourself and struggle to practice unconditional self-love, you are not alone.
But I am learning more and more that self-love is the ultimate goal for me in life. I want to feel undeniably content with who I am and I want to have unconditional love and respect for myself.
This is not something I am claiming to have achieved magically in 2021. Rather, 2021 taught me how much I strive for this in my life. In 2022, I will continue working every day to improve self-love and self-compassion… and I think you should too.
We all deserve self-love.
There are my 21 life lessons from 2021!
This has been a crazy year filled with ups, downs, and lots of lessons. But, no matter what, I wouldn’t change it for the world. 2021 has brought me here, to where I am right now as I write this blog post to YOU. I am so lucky.
I hope you will stay with me in 2022. Lots more incredible things to come!
Leave a Reply