6 Lessons I Learned in 2022

2022 was an important year in my life. The obstacles and issues I’ve been trying to resolve came to an end in 2022. Going through a global pandemic and have it mostly ended this year, as well as a lot of shifts I experienced, taught me a lot of lessons that wouldn’t be learned in normal circumstances.

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Hope

Having hope was the best thing I learned this year. Surviving the covid pandemic while having chronic lung disease was a miracle to me. More than 6 million people died of this disease and I wasn’t one of them.

I wasn’t really a hopeful person, I used to think that I would never make it to my 30s because of what I’d been through in the past. But I managed to turn 30 this year without major problems.

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Strength

Back in 2020, I was at a point where it felt like the end of the world to me. I lost my job, ended a long relationship, and had a very unfortunate immigration. I spent 2020 and 2021 with severe depression, suicidal thoughts, and more intense PTSD symptoms. As every day passed by and I was feeling less of a human, life was getting harder.

At one point, I stopped and thought what can I do to stop it. Because if I just let it go, my life would turn into a disaster very soon, and perhaps I would never be the same person again.

I was scared of ending up in mental asylum so I had to get my shit together first, so I worked harder and harder every day to reprogram myself into a better human. I became my own mentor or psychologist, which required a lot of strength. I had to wipe my own tears and take myself out of bed. I had to work so hard to make myself leave home, eat healthily, see the highest good, etc. every step was 10x harder, but it was worth it. It made me much stronger than I was.

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Independence:

2022 was the year I learned that I’m the only one who can fix my problems. I stopped relying on others even in my relationship. I was struggling to set boundaries in my life for years since no one actually cared, but living on my own gave me a sign that the time is now.

I decided to be around people for who they are, not what they can do for me. this attitude saved me from a lot of toxic people because I was also keeping needy friends at a distance.

I made plans this year that seemed very impossible in the beginning, but gradually seem to be more achievable. I think it’s part of being responsible for your life thoroughly.

Being independent helped me upgrade my financial status, my emotional well-being, and overall health because I’m in charge of everything in my life.

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Self-awareness

Before 2022, I was too busy fixing what was going on around me. I had little chance to focus on myself. there was always something externally draining me, which left no energy for self-reflection.

As things began to settle down in 2022, I had more time by myself. my brain was less occupied and that allowed me to think about myself. I came across very random but very important alerts that indicated wrong behavior or feeling, etc. I even had enough time to reflect on the consequences of my actions and make better decisions. I appreciate this lesson to this day.

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Patience

I’m a patient person in nature, guess it’s a genetic gift from my mom but it’s also mixed up with my dad’s anger. I mean I am patient to a very high level but when it runs out, I turn into an angry monster!

2022 was the year I came across many incidents that left me with only 2 options: to get angry or to be patient.

And this time, I mean a real patient who observes and resolves calmly or moves on when things are not working.

Well, I tried getting angry first. but it made everything worse. I was just started to improve my mental health and couldn’t risk getting worse again. so I chose to be patient.

I was practicing to become a woman who has her inner peace protected from others. I changed my defense mechanism from anger to not giving a fuck when things can’t, and I think that’s part of being patient too! Because I saved lots of time and energy and I also cultivated happiness and positivity.

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Self-esteem

If two years ago I was asked how my future would be, I‘d picture myself as a helpless woman with no specific job, who lives in a shared house with 5 other people and can’t help living in the moment, because she can’t afford planning for future.

Although the woman I am today is quite ambitious and dedicated to grow, regardless of what I’ve been through.

2022 taught me that I shouldn’t settle for less if it’s my mental well-being that has to pay the price. I will no longer be a sacrifice or a tool. I am who I am and if all I’ve been through — from rape to multiple heartbreaks — made me this woman, then I’m proud and I take that as a sign that I won’t have to fear anything anymore because I’ve been through hell and yet, I survived!

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This post was previously published on medium.com.

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