25 Lessons I Learnt This 2025

Looking back on an incredible year.

2025 is a year that I’ll always look back on fondly. It’s the year I got engaged, the year I went full-time into writing, and a year of many other blessings for me and my family.

I like to look back before the year ends and distill the main lessons that each year taught me, not only so I can remember them more easily, but also in the hopes that all the things I’ve learnt can help you too. Let’s get right into it:

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25. Sometimes you don’t need more “hustle,” but more patience, more faith, and more surrendering to the will of God. Sometimes you don’t need to work more, but to pray more, and to pay more attention to God’s message in your heart.

24. Your life will never be perfectly stable. Learn to adapt and perform regardless. The perfect routine is an impossible dream, and you can’t wait until every variable is perfectly set before you start doing what you know you have to do.

23. The right woman makes everything in your life better. Don’t believe the nihilists and the quitters who claim all women are a drag. There are still a lot of great, God-fearing women, and if you become the right man, you’ll probably find one. When you do, respect her, protect her, and commit to her, and everything in your life will improve.

22. The internet does not reflect real life. Too much time online will convince you that everything is worse than it really is, that everyone is terrible, and that the world is beyond saving. The reality is that, with all our problems, most people are genuinely trying their best, and it’s never as bad as Twitter makes it look.

21. You’ll never regret giving a thoughtful gift. Even if you (like me) don’t believe gift-giving to be terribly important, the likelihood is that those around you do. Making the effort to find and purchase a thoughtful gift is something that you’ll never regret. The look of surprise and happiness on their faces matters way more than the money you spent.

20. Most times, remaining quiet is the better option. Learn to give away the spotlight, and don’t be trying to get others to notice you. It’s good to be a good talker, but it’s way better to be a good listener. Control over your tongue is an underrated skill that will always serve you well.

19. Social media affects you more than you think. You’re not bulletproof against the sensationalist, anxiety-inducing algorithm. Set strict limits on how much you use social media, block whoever you want, and don’t feel the need to answer every comment or participate in every discussion. Remember that real life is out there, in front of you, in the people that you love.

18. Look for silence as if your life depended on it. I wrote recently about my experience doing an Ignatian retreat, and I’ve decided that it’s something I’ll be doing yearly from now on. We are completely overstimulated, and it’s absolutely essential to look for opportunities to just be still, and listen to the Lord.

17. Virtue is a habit. Only if you learn to exercise virtue in the small matters will you be prepared to act virtuously when the stakes are high. Acting virtuously is the only way to become virtuous. Act with class, courage, honor and respect even in the smallest duties.

He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much.
— Luke 16:10

16. You will never regret choosing what brings peace to your soul even when that means missing out on worldly gain. You’ll often be forced to choose between “winning” in the world and doing the thing you feel in your heart of hearts to be right. You’ll never regret listening to the motions of the Holy Spirit in you, whereas you’ll almost always regret letting yourself be seduced by the shiny objects of the world.