25 Lessons I Learned In 2025
What The Hardest Year Of My Life Taught Me
Wow. I cannot believe we are on the final day of 2025.
This year has been all over the place. It’s honestly been my toughest year mentally, emotionally, financially, and spiritually. What’s wild is that while this has been my brokest year in every way, I’ve had a level of peace and happiness I never could’ve imagined.
This year, I lost a job, some hair, stomach fat (thanks to lipo 360), the idea of how I thought my life would look, several failed dating escapades that taught me what I DON’T want, a situationship with a man who was using me, one of my closest friends who moved to Dallas, my bonus mom Meko, my New York State license, after officially switching over to Georgia, my first big girl car, and so much more.
2025 was a year of releasing. Sometimes that release was my choice, and sometimes it wasn’t. But everything I lost and let go of in 2025 was or will be for my good and for God’s glory.
This was a year of change, pivoting, and getting my heart right. I recently heard someone say this wasn’t a reaping year, it was a soil year, and I couldn’t agree more. 2025 was about getting me together: my habits, my discipline, my heart posture, my desires, my wants, every part of me.
What’s interesting is that I didn’t walk into this year with expectations like I usually do. I entered 2025 open to whatever it would bring, and my goodness… it was a surprise.
2025 was a mirror year. It felt like God placed the mirror directly in front of my face and made me look at every part of myself, the good, the bad, the gifts, the talents, and the parts that still needed work. And once you truly see yourself, it’s hard to ignore the pieces of you that make you cringe.
I prayed a prayer of reshaping. I asked God to clean my heart and remove anything that was holding me back or stopping me from showing up the way He sees me. And even though I prayed those prayers, God answered them in ways I didn’t expect.
After getting fired and doing a real self evaluation of my strengths and weaknesses, I asked God to remove the laziness in me and restore the drive I once had. If you know me, you know younger me was hungry. I had multiple jobs. I did whatever was necessary. Somewhere along the way, I got comfortable with a salaried job and stopped pushing the way I used to. If I’m being honest, I got lazy. I remember crying asking God to remove this spirit of laziness that had plagued me.
God answered that prayer by removing my job and placing me in a season where if I don’t physically work, I don’t get paid. In this current role, I have to leave my house, get in my car, and show up every single day and that alone has tested my laziness. I’ve even gone back to skills I forgot I had, like serving and bartending. God showed me myself.
If I’m being honest, 2025 was also a humbling year. I didn’t think I was prideful, but a lot of my reactions, habits, and responses were rooted in pride and fear. This year was full of lessons, some that hurt more than others. But even in the pain, the joy I experienced could only have come from the Lord.
I watched a sermon recently where the pastor said, “God interrupts what’s comfortable to develop what’s called.” And that perfectly describes 2025. This was an interruption year, one I know only came from God.
So today, I want to share 25 lessons that 2025 taught me, in no particular order. Take what you need and leave the rest.
1.You will continue to face the same test from God until you pass it.
I learned this by trying to rush out of uncomfortable seasons instead of sitting in them long enough to actually change.
2. God is your only source.
Losing my job reminded me how quickly things can shift when you confuse provision with security.
3. Show up for people even when you don’t feel like it.
This season showed me how my village showed up for me in ways I could never repay, and I believe it’s because of years of pouring into relationships without keeping score.
4. You have the right to change your mind.
I released people, plans, and expectations this year that no longer aligned with who I’m becoming.
5. No decision is still a decision.
I stayed stuck longer than necessary in certain areas simply because I was afraid to choose.
6. A cluttered space reflects a cluttered mind.
When my life felt chaotic, my home did too and cleaning became a form of therapy.
7.Everything isn’t a priority.
This year forced me to decide what actually mattered when I didn’t have the capacity for everything.
8.You can’t avoid messy beginnings.
Starting over; financially and professionally, was humbling, but necessary.
9. Name what you want.
Once I stopped chasing what looked good on paper and got honest about what I truly wanted, my actions started to shift.
10. Success is having options.
Being able to slow down, walk, or enjoy my coffee without rushing now feels like real wealth to me.
11. Slow down and be present.
I started intentionally sitting still, especially in the mornings, and it changed how I experienced my days.
12. Name your emotions.
I learned that being positive doesn’t mean ignoring sadness, disappointment, or grief.
13. Sometimes it’s better to be quiet.
Not everyone needs access to your process, some people unknowingly project their fears onto you.
14. Stop saying “it couldn’t be me.”
This year taught me empathy. You never truly know what you’d do until you’re in it.
15. When you look good, you feel better.
On days I felt low, showing up put together helped shift my mindset.
16. You are what you believe.
I watched how limiting beliefs quietly restricted my faith and expectations.
17. It’s okay to say “I don’t know.”
Admitting I didn’t have answers was freeing, and reminded me I don’t have to be in control.
18. Healing is a journey.
My surgery taught me patience; what felt unbearable at first became something I eventually laughed about.
19. You don’t have to perform for love.
I learned this after realizing how exhausting it is to prove your worth to people who can’t see it.
20. Sometimes you have to disconnect.
Stepping back from social media and constant news was necessary for my mental health.
21. What worked before may not work now.
Just like seasons change, habits must too.
22. You don’t know what you don’t try.
Saying yes to things I normally wouldn’t opened doors I didn’t expect.
23. You don’t get what you don’t ask for.
This year stretched me to use my voice instead of waiting for someone to notice my needs.
24. Love is honest.
Avoiding hard conversations isn’t kindness, it’s fear dressed up as protection.
25. Faith requires action.
This year taught me that trusting God means moving, even when the outcome isn’t clear.
Bonus lesson:
I learned that while I love helping people, my identity cannot be rooted in being the helper. I can help, but I am not the help. Sometimes the most loving thing I can do is pray and step back, trusting God to do what only He can.
2025 came with so many twists and turns, highs and lows, lefts and rights. Things I expected didn’t happen. People I thought would stay didn’t. This year stretched me, stripped me, and reshaped me. And honestly, I’m still changing every day.
But one thing is certain: I’ve been closer to God and in my Bible more this year than ever before. I’m still in a transformative season, even as I step into 2026, but this time, I’m stepping in with faith, openness, and expectancy.
I spent today cleaning my home and getting things in order because I truly believe God is about to blow my mind in 2026; not just mine, but yours too.
I don’t even have a word for 2026 yet, but I trust God will reveal it in due time. Until then, I pray you have a safe and peaceful New Year’s Eve. Take time to reflect before you rush to plan. Look back at 2025 closely, even if it was hard, and I promise, there’s something good in it.
Sometimes the year that breaks you is the very year that builds the foundation for everything that’s coming next. And if 2025 taught me anything, it’s this: God doesn’t waste a year.
