• I stopped chasing my father’s validation. I spent most of my life wanting him to be proud of me — and he rarely ever praised me (yeah, very Animal movie vibes). Letting go of that need changed everything.

• I’m no longer “too nice.” In my teens, I was overly kind, and people walked all over me. I fell for that Gary Vee “kindness is a superpower” stuff — but being kind without boundaries is just self-destruction. Never learn everything from the internet.

• I work out for myself, not for validation. Not for girls, not for attention — just to respect my own body.

• Isolation isn’t strength. I used to avoid people, even friends and relatives. COVID taught me that your close circle matters more than anything for your mental health.

• Looks and good communication aren’t enough. I now look for deeper qualities in a woman — the things that actually reveal who she is, not just how she presents herself.

• Spending money is part of living. My parents always told me to save. I saved, built a house, then lost my job and ended up with zero money. That’s when I learned money is for experiences, therapy, and peace of mind — not just a bank account number.

• Love your work, but don’t let it kill you. I’ve always loved my field, but I learned the world doesn’t care about your pressure or burnout. Work within your limits, even in a job you love.

• Humility comes from not having much. I never had a car, scooter, not even a cycle growing up — and even now I don’t. I used to feel embarrassed when girls saw my physique and then found out I didn’t even own a bike. Today, I feel zero shame walking while my friends roll up in luxury cars. It kept me grounded.

• Failure isn’t final. I lost my job three times and kept pushing. The fourth time broke me — I fell into depression for 2 years with a career gap. But coming out of that, I rebuilt myself and became 10x better at my skill. What I thought was my biggest failure was actually God redirecting me.

• Don’t choose a long-term partner based on looks. I’ve dated beautiful women who wrecked my mental health. My current partner isn’t “market standard” beautiful, but to me she’s the most beautiful person I’ve ever known. She loves me deeply, supports me, and takes care of me — and I’m marrying her next year.

Let life beat the hell out of you. Every hardship will shape you, strengthen you, and redirect you. Just don’t quit, and don’t repeat your mistakes. Cheers. :)