19 Things I've Learned by 19

19   Things I’ve Learned By 19

1.     So many little things that you think are worth it aren’t.

That one text you were afraid to send, that picture you posted and thought was stupid, that thing you said and then immediately thought how stupid you must sound… they are absolutely not something you should ever worry about because they aren’t even worth it. Spending all that time hung up on the smallest of things, things that in a couple days people probably won’t even remember, is one of the most self-depreciating things you can do. So stop worrying about those little things and I promise it will bring you way more freedom to be yourself than you thought.

2.     Family really is everything.

I never became homesick until my second semester of college. Lonely nights of wishing to hear my mom’s voice or to watch a movie with my little sister taught me the importance of making sure to also be keeping a healthy relationship with those at home. Because unlike the popular opinion your mom really can be your best friend if you allow that relationship to flourish.

3.     Doing the things that scare you bring the most joy to your life. So take a few risks.

Putting myself into the things that made me most nervous and uncomfortable was one of the best things I ever did. It opens up more than you thought was possible. You will never regret trying something that scares you, but you will regret running away from trying something that scares you.

4.     It’s okay to not have any plans on a Friday night.

It’s actually okay to be the girl who doesn’t have any plans on the weekend, don’t read into it and spiral into allowing yourself to become lonely and depressed. Learn to savour time alone because this is the most freedom and time you are ever going to have in life, and time alone is a blessing in disguise from God for you to recharge and spend time with Him.

5.     People will disappoint so don’t put your worth in them.

This may sound kind of harsh but it was a truth I had to learn by experience. It’s so easy to get caught up in people and their opinions and to put all your hopes and dreams into them. Sadly no one is perfect and every person in this world will end up disappointing you at one time or another so allowing your whole worth to be caught up in an imperfect person will only lead to a imperfect view of your identity.

6.     Make sure to always be looking at who you’re surrounding yourself with, cause that will show you your future.

7.     Learning how to say no, especially as a people pleaser, is the best thing you can do.

It’s great to do things for others, but you can’t do things for others with a Christ-like motive if you’re not giving yourself time to recharge and refuel yourself with Christ.

8.     Learning how to be quiet, to listen more, and to be okay with silence is so beneficial in life.

9.     Doing a facemask here and then can go a long way.

10.  Writing down everything you’re thinking really gives you better perspective.

11.  Conflict and confrontation is needed for breakthrough to happen sometimes.

This one was hard for me since I’m a passive person who runs from conflict, but especially with being the leader of Delight I was faced with conflict of all kinds and learning how to confront those in a Christ-like way instead of running brought more peace and resolution to my relationships that I thought was possible.

12.  Always look for the best in others, even when you really don’t want to.

Because there will always be people you really don’t want to see the best in, but looking for God’s image in them can flip the lens that you have been viewing them through.

13.  It’s okay to not be okay, but it’s not okay to stay not okay.

14.  Never be too busy to listen to a friend who is hurting.

While you may not be able to understand someone’s hard, we still all need with-ness and witness, someone to stand with and someone to see us so be just that.

15.  Learn how to be confident and content with who God made you to be, because jealousy and comparison are the biggest thieves of joy.

For what it’s worth: It’s never too late to be whoever you want to be.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald

16.  Learn to see beauty in your surroundings and in others the way God created it to be, not through the lies of commercial propaganda.

17.  Take time weekly off social media and away from your phone and allow yourself time alone.

Go on a walk to the beach, sit in a coffee shop, read a book and allow time to process.

18.   Falling in love and getting married is not the only purpose for your life, and don’t base you’re worth and value in that either.

Every girl wants a guy to notice her, to fall in love and have that happily ever after but we have to stop letting that be the main purpose of our lives. Just because you haven’t found the Mr. Right yet or haven’t had a date for a couple months or don’t have anyone hitting you up with texts doesn’t prove your value, worth, or beauty. True love and beauty isn’t found in a guy saying your beautiful, or in a relationship, or even in marriage it’s found in God because He is love. So if God brings a guy into your life that’s amazing, but stop being so stressed and rushes to lock someone down that you loose sight of who you are in God’s eyes and you neglect your relationship with Him.

19.  Being fearlessly authentic takes radical obedience, but it brings with it unfading beauty in you and in your relationship with God.