54 unusual life lessons from 2024
That would be helpful to you too
Raw and Real Conversation
Hey Friends,
It is that time of the year where we reflect on what the year taught us.
I hope you find these helpful.
(PS: I am trying with generating one picture from ChatGPT, however, every single world is written by me, zero Generative AI :))
If something feels intuitively off, it is a no. We will figure out the reasons later.
Always be open to learning and adapting. Entitlement isn’t a thing.
Look carefully at what most people do. Do the opposite.
Just because everyone is doing something doesn’t mean it is the right thing to do.
Good work is something that will always make you look forward to it, even if you don’t love it.
There are times when you don’t feel like moving or getting out of home. That’s fine. Give yourself that space.
If you live your life with authenticity and never lie to yourself, good things and great people will find you and embrace you.
When you get out of company of people that drain you, life takes you to the company of people that will cheer for you.
Every relationship—work or outside of it, will go through its own set of ups and downs. That is a part of life. Don’t cling too hard to the ups, don’t get too frenzied by the downs. Everything is a part of the bigger picture.
When you try too hard to get something, you get attached to the outcome. When you want to get something and let go of it, it comes running to you.
Nothing in this world comes close to reading good books or watching really good videos or podcasts.
Okay, meditation comes closer.
Every human being has a common need: The need to vent. Learn to vent to yourself in your journal, so you are that refined and pure as you get out into the world.
The world we live in is really a magical place. It gives us exactly what we ask for. The sad thing is, what we ask for are two concert tickets instead of what’s truly meaningful.
If someone is famous doesn’t mean they are better than you. Every single one is a work in progress. Stay true to your work in progress, and nothing else would come closer to satisfying you.
You will continue being someone else, until one day you realise nothing is easier than being you. That day, you will be unstoppable forever.
I have only one mantra for doing my best work: Put that phone away.
No red flags, no negativity, no money is worth surrounding yourself with toxicity.
When you let go of toxic people from your life, don’t just move on. Reflect on why and how you attracted them, so that you don’t attract them again.
Deactivate your Instagram account and delete that Instagram app. Forever.
Delete all social media and email apps from your phone. Now use them only in your computer.
Write a daily blog. Even if it is less than 100 words, it will be the best thing you will ever do.
Always make sure you are somehow helping people who are two steps behind in your journey. Give back what you have received, to the right people.
Be grateful to those who help you. Be grateful to everything in life, as if it is happening exactly for you. Because it is. Gratitude is such a force multiplier.
Start solving the world’s problems and you will realise your own problems disappear.
Respect people regardless of their car, position or money. That is when you are truly worth respecting.
If something is not worth speaking to someone on their face, it is not worth speaking when they aren’t around too. That’s grace.
Love your job, not the client. (h/t to my bro Pranjal)
Love the client, but don’t get too attached.
You will never be too big to be nice to the service workers, the plumber, the electrician, the laundry guy, the house help. Look into their eye when you speak to them. Be humble. Give them generous increments each year (the number might be trivial to you but might change their life.)
If your favourite influencer does something that isn’t aligned with your values, then don’t do it. There is a difference between following someone and blindly following someone.
Never be seen complaining. The Delhi pollution, the Mumbai real estate, the Bengaluru traffic, the startup culture, the creator economy culture, politics—most of this is designed to make you react. Take your power back. Change what you can. Accept what you can’t. Don’t go with the flow of negativity.
Always be a giver. Give more value to your clients than they ask for. To your customers. To everyone you are surrounded by.
Stop blaming your karmas. Start creating your karmas.
You can’t get group consensus by coercion. Learn to listen, really listen.
Love can literally transform a stone into water. But you ought to truly love people, not just be using them to get your things done.
A great life philosophy is to not share your success numbers or revenue numbers. While you think you might be attracting more numbers, what you are truly attracting is envy.
No honey, God isn’t sitting out there having “other” plans for you. God is merely making sure you get to the right thing that is designed for you. Listen closely.
If you have a fallout with someone and there were 100 mistakes made, 99 of which were from their side, take ownership for one mistake of yours. And fix it for future.
Social media cannot make you think deep. Fall in love with books.
Don’t tell your dreams to anyone, and keep working towards them. It creates greater accountability.
The world ain’t black or white. It exists on millions of spectrums of grey, where all of us live.
The only way to end the misery of your family and your loved ones is to stop being miserable yourself. You can’t become someone’s crutch if you are hurting in your knee and ankles.
Success is a lousy gift, it makes you feel you are entitled. Always put your head down and do the good old work. Especially after success.
The world will have 7 billion opinions on you. You stay true to the opinion of the person in the mirror. The rest of the world will follow.
Don’t do something just because “what will they say”. Always do everything because “what will I think of myself when I do it”. Ownership is a priceless gift.
When your mind craves for content, give it podcasts or YouTube videos or audiobooks or books or blogs. Keep a running list of “Content” to keep you from scrolling.
Strength training solves half of your problems.
Going for a walk solves the other half.
When you display your “wealth”, you have an ongoing commitment to people to keep up the show. Remain private. It takes off a ton of social propagandas.
The way to get good at anything is to start with bad, and not shying away from being a learner.
Don’t force people to be in your life. You can’t tie anyone to you. Ever.
Keep learning. There ain’t any alternative to happiness ever.
Use your pain to write a book on your journey. And another one. And yet another one. Keep writing books not to hit the bestseller list (great if it does). Keep writing books because at the age of 45 you won’t remember how you felt at 25 or 28 or 32. It is important to keep those learnings in action.
What is something that 2024 taught you? I’d love to learn from you too.
On that note, stay raw, stay real, friends!
Nishtha Gehija
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Whenever you are ready, here are some of my ebooks that would help you get at least 1% better in your game of life (access them instantly):
The Corporate Life Handbook: The book everyone working a corporate job needs :)
The Career Changing Guide: My bestseller so far :)
How to Deal with Heartbreak: Because, life happens :(
Every Writer Needs to Read this: I wish I had this one, when I was starting out as a writer
This is What You are Looking for (Paperback): Small Life Lessons for a Happier Life