I called 2022 my year of recovery, 2023 the year of doing the impossible, and I had hoped 2024 would be my year of thriving. Was it, though?

As I looked back, nothing particularly groundbreaking happened, yet life wasn’t disappointing either. Safe to say, things have been steadily improving although there’s no photo dump or flashy 2024 recap reel because most of what I did wasn’t exactly Insta-worthy or was meant to be kept private. And yes, that sounds boring.

I feel like I’ve moved past the soul-searching and exploration phase of my quarter-life. Now, in my late 20s, I’ve started articulating a few big, focused dreams that I truly believe in. The key words here are articulate and believe in. These aren’t just fleeting passions or wishlist items; they’re specific, realistic, and meaningful goals I genuinely want to work toward.

Trust me, what Gen Z now calls “manifesting” is powerful—but also a learning process in itself. I’ve learned that I overachieve in areas I genuinely believe in and put my heartfelt effort into. I’ve fallen short when I “manifested” without truly committing to the work.

With these few, carefully chosen goals (because too many can be distracting), I’ve learned to stay focused — to prioritize what brings me closer to my dreams, to show up intentionally, to trade short-term dopamine for long-term gains, to make discipline my ally, to stay consistent, even on days when I don’t feel like it.

In 2023, I started believing in myself a little more. 2024 was the year I put that mindset into practice. Confidence, I’ve learned, isn’t about believing you’ll achieve everything you manifest. It’s about trusting your ability to learn, bounce back from setbacks, and remain secure within yourself. As my social presence grows, I’ve realized the importance of compartmentalizing my online and personal identity. Mickmok is an online persona—a part of me and my work—but it’s not all of Mickey. This separation keeps me grounded. It helps me take criticism without feeling crushed and accept praise without getting overly boastful.

This mindset also translated to my work. In 2024, I stepped up professionally and learned to take constructive feedback in stride.

Manifesting and confidence also brought me something I’ve longed for: a healthy relationship. I’ll share more about this when I’m ready, but what I can say now is that relationship—like everything else—requires constant effort and learning. Years of inner work and healing have allowed me to step into this relationship feeling far more secure and confident than I was in the past.

People say, “When you’re happy with yourself, the right person will come,” and guess what? He’s here.

But after the honeymoon phase ended, I was reminded that even the healthiest relationship with the calmest partner isn’t without challenges. Healing is a lifelong journey. The goal isn’t to never get triggered (which, let’s be real, is impossible) but to be triggered less and respond more constructively.

To sum up, my 2024 revolved around career, content work, and relationship. It was indeed a steady, fulfilling year.

Strangely enough, entering the new year didn’t feel particularly exciting, no recap reels or post, and I think I’ve figured out why: I’m content. I’m happy with 2024, and for the first time, I don’t feel the need to make big changes. Same goals, same focus with a lil bit of rebalancing from time to time.

Here’s to a steady, intentional 2025.