Naturalle Drea

I think I’ve been doing this series for the past few years (I really don’t remember how long, probably need to go back and look lol) but I really look forward to this series every year. I love the lessons I learn each year and try to apply them as I continue going through life. So let’s get into what 2025 Taught Me.

I Need To Set Boundaries And Not Feel Guilty About Them – I really struggled with this in 2025 and in general. It has been hard for me to set boundaries because I feel bad about them and hate how people react when I set them. I struggle the most with boundaries in the work place and my lunch time. Listen, you need to eat lunch during the day, don’t care if you are hourly or salaried, you need to eat lunch. I also believe in not working while you eat lunch, you need a break if you have a busy work environment or heavy work load. So I had to start placing a sign on my door saying I’m out to lunch and some people in the office respected it and some still knock on my door to ask a question. If my face didn’t give it away that you were bothering me, I’m not sure why they still proceed to ask a question that could have waited or been an email. I had a hard time saying that I am not available at the moment and I can either come to you when my lunch was over or send me an email. Then I started eating lunch in my car (when the weather was nice) or went away from the office because I was still getting bothered. I’ve struggled with not wanting to be labeled the “Angry Black Woman” or “Difficult” again in the office but I really need to set this boundary.

There are other areas in my life where I’ve been struggling to set boundaries but it has been the most difficult at work and not just with the lunch thing. I actually did read that book about setting boundaries( I did a book review too) and honestly need to apply it. I am someone who internalizes way too much and it is starting to affect my mental health and well being…not good at all. I need to learn to set those boundaries and not feel guilty at all. Hey if I’m labeled difficult, too bad you view me that way. I need to let go of the reactions so I can feel better about having an uninterrupted lunch and more.

I Stay In Places/Friendships/Relationships That No Longer Value Me – So this one is a lot. I have been struggling mainly with adult friendships this year and also staying in other places that no longer value me. I’m not going to dive too much into the friendship piece but I’ve been staying in work places and creator friend/relationships for too long knowing they no longer value or benefit me. I’m tired of the one sided-ness of things and people not being reciprocal at all, it is a little frustrating.

It just seems like a lot of people are monitoring spirits these days or still want access to you to see what you are doing but don’t reach out or anything but you made the effort on your end. I understand people go through things, we all have lives and are busy and all. I understand as a creator that you get a lot of comments and all and it takes time to see them all but if I am always supporting, commenting and all the things and get crickets back from you…what’s the point? The point of social media is to be “social” and engaging with your audience. I do my best to respond to all comments and everything and be as supportive as I can but it gets frustrating when it is just you doing it.

I’m Still Not Using My Full Potential And Holding Myself Back For Some Reason (Still Self-Sabotaging and Fear) – I know myself and know I can do better with things whether at work, at home, around others, creating content and so on. I know for a fact I am not using my full potential in all aspects of my life and it seems that self sabotage and fear are still lingering around. This is something that I have been struggling with a lot and just need to release both of them and just do the damn thing. I know I can put out some amazing content, I know I can be doing better at work (well when you work with toxic people, it can be hard to want to be in that environment but no excuses), I know I can be a better Mom and Wife, I know I can be a better friend and better person in society. I know it but as long as I have self sabotage and fear running rampant, it is going to continue holding me back.

I Need To Really Know My Worth And Value – This one ties into all the lessons learned this year. I really don’t know my worth or value in spaces and it is scary. I’ve heard before that you are blessed with the things you ask for when you are in a season to receive them. I feel like me not knowing my value or worth, I’m blocking the things that I am meant to have in life. I should know my worth in the workplace and know how much I am valued to make. I should know my worth in the creator space and that I belong there. I should know my worth and value in life and stop dimming my light off letting fear and self sabotage run things.

This year taught me that I honestly need to level up and stop letting things continue getting in my way of being great. I also need to get comfortable with setting boundaries with others and letting them think I’m the villain.

What did 2025 Teach You? Let’s chat in the comments.