It is that time of the year again when everyone posts how truly they have accomplished feats of success, competence, grit and determination. How magnificently their vision boards have manifested in the brilliance of their alluring existence! While it is a celebratory feat for all those who had a year that was filled with love and light, it is important to remember that the life projected on social media is the highlight of someone’s best days in the entirety of their existence. It is amazing for someone to put themselves out there and post their joy for life on their platform, but in the world where comparison is so normalised, I hope you remember life does not need to be aesthetically pleasing and swoon-worthy for it to be called a perfect life.

Everyone has had their set of challenges and wins this year, with the brevity of pain differing from one individual to another, yet every existence one leads in their authentic truth forges to a life well lived, a path well travelled, a journey that marks the progress of one’s individualistic narrative that is so encapsulating and enthralling in its mirth. If you feel 2024 has not been your best year and there is a lot left to accomplish, here are 12 reminders as the year ends to remind you that you do not need to have it all figured out and it is okay to take a step back and unwind.

1. Your life is not quantified by the number of accomplishments you hold - The measure of a life well lived is not fathomed by the amount of money you made, how many recognitions or achievements you have under your name or how many societal milestones you reckon under your wing. It belies to be in the countless number of times you forgot to check your phone or the time when you were heartily laughing with your friends and family, your sign of a year well lived is in the number of times you failed and got back right up, in the mundanity of a warm cup of coffee, in the beauty of nature walks or the number of times you discovered a new favourite song or dish. In all those moments that you lived your life for yourself and not for others is a year well lived.
2. It is okay to not be okay - Society has glorified the need to have it together all the time, to have it all figured out, to be perfect and to have the most Insta-worthy, picturesque and exalted sense of lifestyle. But we forget that happy days are not the only truth of our life, it is the sad days too. And if you are not feeling your best self as the year ends, I want to remind you that you do not have to pretend to be alright if you heart needs to rest, take it one day at a time.
3. Your past does not define you and you have all the permission to be excited about the new year as it approaches.
4. Be the main character of your life - Your joy should not be limited by how far ahead others are getting in their journey of societal milestones while you are leading your life differently. The recognitions, joys and journey you behold are unique to you, celebrate every step of the way as you proceed to be your best self. Only you get to decide how you lead your life, so love yourself in the loudness of your radiance and pursue all endeavours that ignite your soul with the passion of being alive.
5. You are exactly where you need to be. While you may not be where you want to be, you are also not where you used to be and there is so much power in that
6. Love yourself a little extra on the days when life feels hard, indulge in that extra bar of chocolate, your favourite movie and your favourite people.
7. Believe in the beauty of life - I hope you remember that at any given moment of time, your life can change into something beyond your wildest imagination and in the best possible way.
8. Do not be afraid to put yourself out there - It may be daunting to hold ourselves back because of the fear of negative energy, judgement, not receiving enough external validation and failure. But let me remind you, that no one, even the ones you have on your vision board, has it all perfect and has failed. Yes, it might not work out, but what if it does? Entertain that thought for a second, what if it does end up working out even better than you could have envisioned?
9. Your best days are yet to come - I hope you remember that there is so much of life that you are yet to experience, so many places you are going to visit, so many milestones you are going to achieve, so many people you are yet to meet who are going to love you, so many cafes, favourite foods and songs you are yet to relish, so many moments that are waiting around the corner that will forge the gratitude for being alive.
10. You are more divinely protected than you think - Remember all the things that did not work out, and the rejections and dejections you faced, actually ended up working in your favour. Because the truth is we do not know what havoc could have been orchestrated if the things ended up happening, every rejection is a redirection.
11. Everything you yearn for at the moment is already yours and it will come to you at its divine timing- Everything you desire right now is the living reality of your future self. Your future self is having full circle moments, where you are reminiscing on how once something they dreamt of is now effortlessly a part of their daily routine.
12. You are living in at least one answered prayer that you used to yearn for - Take a second and think about what part of your current reality was once a farsighted dream that your past self used to dream of. I hope you smile in the realisation that what once used to be a distant yearning is now your new normal and this will keep on recurring in its cylicity.

As this year comes to an end, I hope you remember that there is an abundance of joy, love, success and prosperity awaiting its divine intervention to manifest its being in your life, as you pray for your dreams to come true.

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