Embracing the Journey: Lessons from 2024

2024 has been quite a journey!

It was a year filled with big dreams, humbling lessons, and unexpected growth. Looking back, I would describe it as my planting season. Although it wasn’t glamorous and didn’t yield immediate results, it was a necessary experience. As I reflect on my year, I’ve come to realize that I’ve learned a great deal about growth, timing, and trusting God’s process. Even when things don’t go exactly as planned (and they didn’t in 2024) God still has a way of making everything work together for your good.

In this article, I want to share the wins, the losses, and the lessons I’ve taken away from this year, and how they’re shaping my vision for 2025. Hopefully, they’ll inspire you to reflect on your own season and get excited for what’s ahead.

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2024: The Year of Big Dreams

2024 started with big dreams and even bigger goals. I set out to accomplish six major things:

1. Publish a research article.
2. Grow my food business.
3. Read 50 books.
4. Write 50 blog posts.
5. Lose 24 kg.
6. Deepen my relationship with God.

I had it all mapped out – plans, action steps, and even a budget. I thought to myself, I can totally crush these goals!

But by March, as I stared at my overwhelming to-do list, reality hit. Hard. My schedule was bursting at the seams, literally: coursework, term papers, econometrics simulations, blog and business content…, oh, and trying to exercise, eat healthy, and keep up with family responsibilities.

Long story short? Something had to give and, surprise, it wasn’t the gym.

The Reality Check: Wins and Losses

Looking back, it wasn’t all bad. I made some progress in unexpected ways:

• I completed my data analysis and wrote two research papers (still waiting on publication, though).
• I lost 10 kg. Not the 24 kg I aimed for, but hey, progress is progress.
• I deepened my relationship with God, finding clarity and purpose along the way.

But let’s not sugarcoat it. Some goals didn’t even make it out of the gate:

• I didn’t write a single blog post (until now).
• I didn’t finish any of the 50 books I planned to read.
• I ended up closing my food business.

At first, it felt like failure. However, upon reflecting on the entire year, I realize it wasn’t a failure, but rather a pivot point. Yes, prioritizing one set of goals over others is challenging, but in the long run, it allows for excellence. As the saying goes, you only fail if you quit. As long as you reassess, figure out what’s truly worth your time and energy, and focus on those things, you will never fail.

Real Success: Discerning the Right Season

Every New Year’s Eve, my church shares a theme for the year. For 2024, it was The Year of the Planters. I embraced it with all the optimism in the world, fully expecting to see incredible results by year’s end.

But I was wrong. So very wrong.

At first, I didn’t fully understand what “planting” truly meant. I thought it would be a dynamic process filled with measurable progress and milestones to celebrate along the way. But planting? It wasn’t glamorous at all. It was messy, slow, and invisible. I didn’t see any immediate results. In fact, it took me almost the entire year to even recognize this as a planting season (surprise, the teacher got schooled this time).

For months, I was too busy spinning my wheels, trying to push forward with everything – PhD deadlines, business goals, personal growth – you name it. I kept forcing progress, but instead of moving forward, I just felt more overwhelmed. It was a pattern I couldn’t ignore: the harder I pushed, the more stuck I became.

Finally, I had to pause and reflect. I sat down with my journal, determined to make sense of it all. I wrote down every single goal I had for the year and asked myself three key questions:

1. What’s urgent right now?
2. What aligns with where I am in life?
3. What can wait for another season?

As I reflected, clarity began to emerge. I realized that I was in a season of growth. However, unlike my initial perception, I wasn’t the one planting seeds in the world around me; instead, seeds were being planted within me. Seeds of prioritization, discipline, focus, commitment, consistency, and excellence.

This season wasn’t about visible results. I realized this season was about building solid foundations and so I prioritized. Because my PhD program demanded laser focus this semester, I decided to shift my energy there. I focused on finishing coursework, writing my academic papers, and laying the groundwork for my dissertation.

Everything else? I let them go. My food business, my goal to read 50 books, even my ambitious blogging schedule, I let them all go not because they weren’t meaningful pursuits, but because they weren’t priorities for this season my life.

It wasn’t an easy decision, but it was the right one.

Where I Am Now

Every season demands intentional action. We often forget that we can’t expect fruit during the planting phase, or a harvest while the plants are still growing. Planting requires patience, faith, and pruning to let go of what no longer serves us and make room for growth.

As I reach the end of a year that didn’t go as planned but still brought meaningful growth, I’m filled with a sense of purpose and anticipation for the opportunities that 2025 may bring. This year has taught me that success isn’t just about achieving goals but also understanding the right timing for each one. By fully embracing this season of planting, I’ve strengthened my foundation for the future.

And now, I’d like to invite you to reflect on your own journey through 2024:

1. What season were you in this year? Was it a time of planting, nurturing, or harvesting?
2. What’s one goal you’ll carry forward, and what’s one you’ll let go of to make room for new growth?
3. What were your biggest wins, even the small ones? Take a moment to celebrate how far you’ve come.
4. What challenges taught you the most? How will these lessons shape your future goals?

What’s Next

So, what does all of this mean for 2025? For me, it’s a season of bearing fruit. After a year of planting and preparation, I feel ready to reap the rewards of hard work, discipline, and faithfulness.

In my next article, I’ll share how to create a vision for the year ahead and set meaningful goals that align with your current season of life. Together, we’ll explore how to plant seeds that lead to real growth and fruitfulness.

I’d love to hear from you: What are you looking forward to in 2025? Drop a comment or send me a message, I’m excited to continue growing alongside you in the year to come.