Photo by Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash.
I often get asked for career and life advice, so I am tagging this post for anyone who asks me next time. I believe these lessons are applicable to every step of the path you are on, both professionally and personally. Let me know if any of these help!
- Take pride in where you have come from and what you have accomplished, but do not cling to the glory of the past or let brand names define you. Your unique identity should never be overshadowed by external labels. Equally, do not let the weight of past mistakes hold you back. Accept them, learn from them, and keep moving forward.
- Comparing yourself senselessly with others is an act of violence towards yourself. There is no point in feeling envious of others’ success unless you are ready to take the same risks, face the setbacks and criticisms, and put in the work to reach the goals. However, it is truly impossible to compare two lives together. Trust yourself and your own journey. Do not keep up with others, keep up with yourself.
- Life is not fair. But that is not really a bad thing. The sooner you understand this, the more you will achieve. Be the hero of your own story, not the victim of life. Read more here.
- Recognising your privilege (or the lack of it) is important, but the concept itself is complex and multifaceted. There is no need to confine yourself to a single label if it does not fully reflect your experience.
- Being grateful does not mean one lacks ambition. It is OK to be content with life AND aspire for more. Both gratitude and ambition are vital to happiness in life. Ingratitude breeds resentment, and lack of ambition leads to a lacklustre life.
- Not every act of service needs to be transactional. To me, being kind is important (read more here). However, please define the act of service in relation to your life. You are not a free ride.
- Love is a verb. Do not give people the fluffiness of the buttercream frosting, and forgetting to bake the actual damn cake. But do not forget it is the frosting that lends the cake its allure.
- Be proud of your loved ones and significant others. You are not competing against them. We are one team, and we will conquer the world together.
- If you love or care about someone, give them real feedback. Honest truths do not need to be brutal. I once heard a great quote at a leadership workshop: ‘Combat is optional, conflict is essential.’ It is through constructive conflict and honest communication that we grow, both personally and professionally—assuming that two parties share the same goals. However, choose your battles wisely. Not everything needs to be addressed, and some things are better left unsaid.
- If you let the world dictate how you see others (i.e. judging someone based on stereotypes), you will miss out on discovering the most interesting people. Stay curious 🙂
Hope you have enjoyed reading this post, as much as I enjoyed writing it, as they are great reminders to myself.
Related posts:
- How to Feel Comfortable Disappointing Everyone
- The Heart of Success: Why Kindness Matters
- 4 Things I Learnt from My Burnout
- Green Templeton College Alumni Graduation Speech July 2024
- The Importance of Celebrating and Sharing Your Success
- Building Resilience: Handling Burnout
- Breathless and living my wildest dreams
- Making New Year’s Resolutions for a Wholesome 2021
- Networking: The Power of Your Outer Circle
- Building Resilience: Top 3 Tips for Success
- Building Resilience: Dealing with Grief and Failure for So-Called Type A Personalities
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About the Author: Hannah Nazri
Fabulous post, Dr. Nazri. Young and wise. I am a fan from afar… 🙂
Thank you for being a fan of my work.