213: 11 Things I Learned This Past Year

“Create your moments.”

- Nick Onken

Hello, my fellow alchemists! Nick Onken here for our last solo episode of 2021 on ONKEN RADIO (previously NION Radio), the podcast where we explore the soul, mind, and body of the creative entrepreneur. Today, I'm going to recap 11 things that I learned this year.  2021 has been another crazy year,  but life is always a learning process. It’s important to keep on learning new things as we face the new year, and I think having that attitude of either winning or learning is essential.

Every year, we go through different pieces of our life’s journey, and this past year was quite a journey — it's been a different space of life, a different space of creation for me. I’ve been diving into new modalities and new mediums, especially the medium of music, learning how to DJ, and now I'm learning music production. Just following where my joys and passions are and the things that I'm interested in is a huge piece of growth. That’s why I am sharing with you my stories and the lessons I’ve learned this year.

Eleven Things I Learned From the Past Year

Every day, we are exposed to new information, perspectives, and opportunities that can help us become a better version of ourselves. Sometimes these lessons come from our own experiences. Other times they come from the people and things around us. For 2021, these experiences served as lessons we can learn from, and I’m sharing with you the eleven things I’ve learned from this past year.

1. Health Optimization Is Important

There is no question that optimal health is important. After all, if we're not healthy, we can't enjoy life to the fullest extent possible. Fortunately, there are things we can do to keep ourselves in our best shape, from eating a healthy diet to getting enough exercise. Being able to dive into health and wellness has been something that's become an actually bigger passion of mine over the last couple of years. I’ve learned that by taking steps to improve our health, we can boost our energy levels and feel better overall. So don't wait — start optimizing your health, and you'll be glad you did.

2.  Identity Alchemy Is Never Ending and Is a Personal Growth Process

We all have moments in life where we feel like we need to change but just don't know how. We want to become something new but struggle with figuring out who that is and where to start. This is natural! It's a sign that you're growing, evolving, and becoming more yourself. Transformation is never easy, but it's always worth it. 

The journey of self-discovery is an endless one, and there's no wrong way to do it. So let go of your doubts and fears, and just dive in! Identity alchemy is a process that I've been developing over the last couple of years, primarily oriented toward creating a personal brand that aligns with who you are from the inside out. But the identity alchemy process deconstructs and curates, and it is becoming something that I continue to go through over and over in my life. As we grow, we let go of old identities and create new ones.

3. Uncomfortable Conversations Are Growth

Life is all about growth. If you're not growing, you're dying. It's as simple as that. One of the best ways to grow is by having uncomfortable conversations. Yes, those conversations make your stomach churn and your heart race. However, if you want to grow, you have to face them head-on. So get out there and have those uncomfortable conversations! 

4. The Universe Has Bigger Plans

It's easy to get bogged down by the small stuff. The day-to-day grind of work, bills, and household chores can be overwhelming at times. However, it's important to remember that we're all a part of something much bigger. The universe has big plans for us.

This is an interesting one because my mom passed away this year from cancer. She's been battling it for a couple of years,