Happy birthday to me! 🎈I am celebrating with 7 Life and Work realizations I’ve had (and still having!) in my 30s.

Our thirties are often our defining years – both professionally and personally. Some realizations have been obvious yet profound, freeing, and absolutely liberating.

1️⃣Self-awareness (understanding oneself) is the real unlock in life.

• Why did you pick a certain career or interest?
• What triggers you and why?
• How do you react the way you do and why?

2️⃣You don’t need STUFF to be happy.

• How much you earn doesn’t really matter.
• Financial independence does.
• And your positive impact on others matters.

3️⃣NO one is thinking about you as much as you think they are.

• You don’t need to please anyone other than yourself.
• You are but a mere passing thought in someone else’s life.
• So just focus on how you can be your best self each day.

4️⃣You only need a handful of genuine friends. And your family sticks by you no matter what.

• You are lucky if you have these two through your lowest lows.
• Life will throw all types of challenges at you.
• How you rise up will make all the difference. Your family and friends will help ground you.

5️⃣Once you find what you are good at and enjoy doing, work becomes play.

• If you haven’t found it, keep looking.
• Experiment and prototype.
• It’s worth the life-long search.

6️⃣’Simple’ and ‘ordinary’ are highly under-rated.

• You will value both these words once you witness life’s serious challenges.
• Count your blessings and practice gratitude.
• Only the fortunate are blessed with a simple ordinary life.

7️⃣Half your life is behind you. If you are lucky that is.

• Realize how little you know, be open to learning, and stay curious.
• Learn, learn, and learn some more.
• It will serve the remaining journey well. So make each day count!

Would love to hear yours in the comments below!

happybirthday #thirties #reflections #lifeworkdoodles