It’s hard to put into words exactly what my 200-hour yoga teacher training meant to me, but the past 15 weeks really have been an eye-opening experience in all realms – physically, mentally, emotionally and even spiritually.

I had the intention to write about my journey right after it ended, but realized I needed some time to let everything sink in before I could form my final thoughts on the impact it had on me. It was a lot to take in at the time, and still is a lot to process even after you’re holding your certificate in hand weighing what you should do with it next.

It’s only been a few days into the new year, and as I finish up my 200-hour yoga teacher training, a majority of my attention has been drawn to doing some heavy self-reflection and internal maintenance. These last few weeks have caused me to dig up some dark, deeply repressed thoughts and emotions I wasn’t prepared for, but knew I needed to face.

With it being a new year, I’ve been looking ahead not only on what I need to work on internally, but also where I’m heading next in life and who I want to be.

“Girl got stuff to do.” – a phrase I quickly coined at my first job out of college.

It sounds strange reading it out loud, but after a few months of working a job I loathed, this is what I quickly became known for at work.

As I get closer to embarking on my 26^th birthday, I’ve started to think deeply about the last 25 years and the many invaluable life lessons I’ve learned along the way. While many of these are still a work in progress, if I could go back in time, this is what I would tell my younger self.

1. It’s OK not to be OK all the time

There will be days where you don’t feel like your best self. Where you feel particularly off for no reason at all. Where you’re stuck living inside your head. Or where you don’t feel quite good enough for anything. In these moments you’re going to be extremely hard on yourself, but learn to cut yourself some slack.

Expecting yourself to have it ‘all together’ all the time will only set you up for a lifetime of disappointment. It’s OK to cry. It’s OK to hurt. It’s OK to ask for help. It’s OK to not have things figured out yet. It’s OK to not be OK all the time.