So here we are, you and I, with another year to say goodbye to.
For some 2017 was a wonderful year. For others not so much. However the year may have been for you, and whatever challenges you may have faced, one thing is true for all: life has taught us many lessons. If nothing else, we know better what we want and what we don’t. Just like you I too have learned much, and grown some.
We live in a world where speed and haste have become the norm. We respond faster and react almost at the speed of lightning. At times it seems we live on another realm rather than the one the clock on the wall dictates.
However, if we are mindful and pay attention, time really can slow down.
The past year for me has been all about simplifying my life and slowing down my thoughts. Yet, in terms of action, it has been one of the busiest years ever, with so much travel and even more learning. Time has been urging me to increase my inner capacity, to maintain an attitude of allowing and not resisting while paying attention to the opportunities that have come my way. I have been pushing the limits of my body and mind to be more, to do more, and it seems that as I cooperate with life, life begins to cooperate with me.
From Fashion Designer to #1 International bestselling Author, to TEDx speaker, to Inspirational Coach and Trainer… the journey continues. I have written and published three books, The SoulMate Checklist; Your Body, Your Style; Your Bridal Style all of which became instant bestsellers. I have co-authored four other books, given a TEDx talk on a subject close to my heart, Is Your Body Image Holding You Back? And I continue to coach individuals and celebrities on Image and Style.
Looking back on these accomplishments I am truly humbled. Not for the mere fact that there was always a personal story that was the catalyst for the subjects I wrote about and continue to share with my audiences, but that the words pour out effortlessly with the guidance of the Divine. My wish is that all those I connect with benefit and manage their challenging relationships to self and others, and feel the great Love that surrounds them.
Some lessons I have learned during the year are:
1. Success is not defined by what you have achieved or acquired. Success is defined by how much you have grown on your journey.
2. There are no mistakes in life, only lessons learned and lessons yet to learn.
3. That the “death” of a relationship is just a reminder that every relationship goes thru its different stages and that nothing others do is because of you but about where they are on their own journey.
4. That family is not always blood. It’s the people in your life who want you in theirs, the ones who accept you for who you are, and who will love you no matter what.
5. That what you thought was failure was merely the Universe pushing you towards growth, to experience, to feel.
6. That when things don’t turn out as planned, it does not mean that you have failed. It merely means that there is something better waiting for you.
7. That every time you’ve felt rejected it was you rejecting yourself.
8. That love is not something “out there”. Love comes from the inside out. No one can give you any love you don’t already have.
9. That no matter how hard you try you cannot make another person feel loved if they aren’t capable of loving themselves.
10. That freedom doesn’t mean that you have no fear. It means acting in spite of your fears.
11. That life is about taking chances and being willing to fail.
12. That you never want to live in regret for things that you did not do because that would be inconsolable.
13. That love is the antidote to fear. Fear steals from you, robs you of your freedom and keeps you stuck. Make your courage bigger than your fears.
14. That your mind creates your experiences of reality, always looking to prove that it is right. If you allow your mind to rule it will rob you of the wonderful possibilities that await you in each moment. Make your my mind your friend.
15. That persistence is key to all success. If you take just one small step every single day, you will ultimately reach your goal.
16. That the illusion of safety is always more dangerous than the discomfort of innovation.
17. That your loved ones are your teachers, and rather than resent them or blame them for their part and their attitude and rejection, see them with love and be filled with gratitude.
18. That you can never give more love to others than you deliver to yourself.
As I write this post and look back on my year, I am still astonished to see how masterfully the Universe forced me to go through the exact experiences I needed in order to make the personal breakthroughs that I have. I am grateful for the obstacles I had to face, for the people who challenged me — including and especially those who tried to break me, for without them I would not be who I am today, accomplishing all that I have, and reclaiming my self-confidence and self-worth.
Looking back on 2017 I feel only gratitude and a true sense of the journey I must continue to take on my way to fulfilling my purpose, and the strength to keep doing more of what I love.
The new year is your opportunity for a fresh start.
Disregard limitations. Embrace your dreams!
Happy New Year!
© Rani St. Pucchi, 2017
Rani St. Pucchi is an award-winning Couture Fashion Designer, a Style & Image Consultant, and a Relationship Expert. She is a Bestselling Author, a Speaker, an Inspirational Coach and a Trainer. Her recent TEDx talk: Is Your Body Image Holding You Back has received worldwide acclaim. Rani’s #1 International Bestselling Books, Your Body, Your Style: Simple Tips on Dressing to Flatter Your Body Type; The SoulMate Checklist: Keys to Finding Your Perfect Partner; and Your Bridal Style: Everything You Need to Know to Design the Wedding of Your Dreams are available on Amazon and at Barnes & Nobles.
For more information on Rani please visit www.ranistpucchi.com