The Lessons I Learned After The Hardest Year Of My Life

Although I thought the year Covid hit would be one of hardest years of my life, it was nothing compared to my experiences in 2022. I ended 2022 having the worst depression I’ve had in my entire life. My mom’s health took a turn, the relationship with my father was terrible, and my marriage seemed to be falling apart right in front of my eyes. It seemed like everything was quickly falling apart around me. I will never forget crying on my bedroom floor on Thanksgiving day convincing myself that everything would be so much easier if I was no longer around. 2022 was a nightmare, but after months of therapy and a little bit of medication, I finally found myself in a much better place. After all the hardships in 2022, these but are the lessons I learned after the hardest year of my life.

I shifted my focus on more self-knowledge and perspective

The hardships in 2022 helped me come to terms with who I was as a whole person. I focused in on my strengths and weakness in order to make the changes I needed to. I’ve always been an extremely empathetic person, and the extent of my emphatic personality has always made everything so much harder for me. Changing my perspective about this personality trait and turning it into something positive has truly been life changing. I’ve learned how powerful it is when you change your perspective and start viewing your insecurities as strengths.

I Finally Saw My True Potential and Abilities

Hardships can bring out the strengths that you may not know that you have. It can be hard to wake up every day and try to move forward when it takes all the energy you have to just get out of bed. But when you are faced with tough times, you start to see what you are capable of and how strong you can truly be.

I Learned That I Am Capable of Surviving My Worst Days

Although I thought I would never make it out of my worst days, it is possible to survive them. No matter how bad you feel and no matter how hard it may seem to find happiness again, it is possible. With determination, faith and a little modern day medicine, I learned that I can survive my worst days.

Post-Traumatic Growth Is A Real Thing

According to Psychology, “post-traumatic growth is positive psychological change experienced as a result of struggling with highly challenging, highly stressful life circumstances”. I never thought my life would look the way that it does now, and a few years ago I never knew how much I would change. When you find yourself dealing with stressful life circumstances, I learned that you will start to live your life in a different way before that trauma occurred. The hard times will always make you stronger in the end.

There is Always A Blessing in the Breaking

I have never felt more broken than when I did in 2022. “Everything happens for a reason” used to be my life mantra. But for the life of me I couldn’t understand why I was going through what I was going through. Although I still don’t always immediately understand why things are happening, deep down I always know that there is a blessing in the breaking. Even though it may take a while to find.

You Can’t Be Everything to Everyone

I have a career where I am blessed enough to take care of people every day. I get to work with people and help get them to their previous level of function by caring for them every day. I’m also a mother, a wife, a sister, a friend, and a daughter. It’s easy for me to forget that I am also my own person who needs just as much attention as I give to other people. Self-care isn’t selfish, and you can’t be everything to everyone without giving just as much effort to yourself.

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