The year 2020 will always be a seemingly “virtual” endlessness year to remember. Arguably, a year that every human living on earth may want to forget.
We all experienced the effects of the year 2020 through 2023. But we now move forward towards, new beginnings of 2024.
There are many important lessons we must never forget and take with us in the upcoming years. They are easy lessons anyone can take and apply to any hurdle in life they are experiencing.
Here is what I learned:
Adaptability.
We all were involved in the side swipe of the coronavirus pandemic that overtook the world. The pandemic created multiple shutdowns of every country, a loss of jobs, loved ones passed away and an overabundance of uncertainty.
"Social distancing” became a term widely used and staying “6-feet apart” was strongly encouraged. For some, a wide range of fear came over them but for very few… this was their opportunity to “roll with the punches” and seek out new opportunities despite the pandemic currently happening. They learned how to adapt to the situation.
Adaptation is the process of adjusting something in order to better match it’s environment or situation.
Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect”.
When the rest of the world was consumed with fear and uncertainty, it was those that took advantage of the situation (COVID-19) that determined WHO would conquer and overcome in the year 2020.
Trusting in the Unknown.
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control,” says 2 Timothy 1:7, in the New King James Version of the Bible.
Trusting in the unknown can be a scary concept but has to be mastered or accepted. When we learn how to adapt to whatever the future may throw at us, we then learn how to trust that we are able to adjust and overcome. Here is the reality…. no one truly knows when their last day may be here on earth… so, why worry about it anyways?
There have been many events in my past that I made myself worry in fear with extreme anxiety which eventually made me physically sick. When I learned how to let go of the end result, I truly learned how to engrave in my head: “whatever may come, I can overcome”.
I began to trust myself that I can overcome the unknown. Think about it: how many times did you worry yourself to the point of physically making you sick? And then once that event had passed, you then realized: “what was I so worried about?”. It eventually turned out just fine.
Just remember, anything you have overcome up until now in your life…. you will surely be able to overcome in your future. If you can only learn how to trust in the unknown.
Losing is not always a loss
Lets all admit this one together…we all lost something in 2020. Whether that loss was a friendship, a job, their home, a family member or a relationship: it was loss. Not only was that loss considered political, experienced or welcomed, it was a loss none the less. Without going too deep into the loss that we may never get back, lets take a look at a loss that was really a blessing in disguise.
Many of us revealed our true colors in our character. Relationships severed in this process. 2020 brought the best and worse out of people who had opposing ideas and political stance on what was happening in the world. Through trials, it revealed one thing and that was the true colors and how your relationship with that person or persons were never really stable to begin with.
Some of us lost our jobs but in return but gained an abundance of independence and an overwhelming strive towards becoming successful through entrepreneurship. That family member who passed away, coincidently became the glue to your families and free from generational broken chains. Romans 8:28, “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”.
When we decide to look at our losses as a gain, we then see the ‘silver-lining’ or the ‘blessing in disguise’ within that loss. I have learned how to engrave the quote, “everything that happened, was supposed to happen”. Every friendship, relationship, or job loss was supposed to happen. When we embrace this concept, we easily accept the unknown and begin to trust the process. The year 2020 revealed the who, what, when, where and the why things happen the way, they do. Once we learn that we cannot control the loss or gain in a year… we then learn how to not fear the loss but look towards the future with hope.
Learning how to move on.
This one is tough, but Learning “how to move on” has many different levels and can wear many hats. That level may be grief, sadness, loneliness or even, disparity, as well as happiness and strength. You get to decide which way and direction you wish to go towards with regard in learning how to move on. In doing this, you choose to overcome the loss and learn how to adapt to the unknown. When we accept reality, we began to adapt with what we do not know and with that, we can have faith in this journey of life.
People, places and circumstances are ever changing. By learning the art of ‘detachment’ it is inevitable to learn how to move on. When we acknowledge and accept situations in our life, we have a better understanding at how we can move on. This is also critical in reaching our goals for the future. Most of us have trouble letting go and moving on due to the memories of familiarity or justification.
But, by focusing all of our energy on living proactively and positively towards the future, this paves the way for our future goals to be fulfilled. Moving on does not mean that you negate the truth, instead, it does not allow the past to influence your future. In learning how to let go and move on, we give power in trusting the unknown.
Creating a future, you can look forward to.
Reflection of the past years can be weary, but the abundance of opportunity still lies. We decide what path we choose to follow in life. In reflecting, we give ourselves the gift of understanding our past mistakes, trials and triumphs. They are lessons that help us shape what we want more of or what we wish to change.
Only in reflecting, can we become a better "me" and create the future you wish to have.