Lessons Learned in Austin

In lieu of my 3 year anniversary in Austin, I decided to compile a list of lessons I've learned in my stay here. I cannot count the full extent of what I've learned, but I did my best to summarize. I hope you can reap the reward of knowledge learned from my own difficulties:

1. Wherever you go, there you are. If you have certain problems in one job or city, they will follow you to the next job or city. You cannot escape yourself. So deal with your problems where you are.
2. God is going to take care of you when the going gets tough. He will not abandon you. 
3. Our suffering is meant for our good. 
4. I don't need a fancy job, house, or husband to be happy, content, or fulfilled. God is the only true stability and security. To seek that security anywhere else would be idolatry.
5. My emotions are trying to tell me something. Pay attention to them!
6. My feelings are valid, and it is okay to express them. (You don't understand how hard this was for me in the beginning.)
7. Setting boundaries is vital and a must. And sometimes that means severing the ties with destructive people. 
8. I am fully redeemed by the blood of Christ and completely forgiven. Guilt and shame have no place in my life.
9. God is the only one who will ever truly and fully understand us. Even more than we understand ourselves.
10. Our spouse will not complete us or "save" us. Best find that from Jesus, our true Savior.
11. Don't wait for others to validate you or give you permission to follow your dreams. Just go out and do it yourself. That is self-respect. Besides, others cannot validate you. Only God can. 
12. Whenever you start living your life freely, the noisiest people who are most resistance are those who have the most to lose from your freedom.
13. Most things you are looking for can be found within yourself. 
14. True confidence does not depend on exterior circumstances. 
15. Avoiding conflict does not create peace. It destroys it. Confront, confront, confront!
16. Reaching our dreams will not make our lives perfect. But that doesn't mean you should give up on them. 
17. God has a plan for every single one of us. He will use you for His kingdom. Not one of us is worthless. 
18. Forgiveness is vital for mental health. 
19. None of us are really in control of our lives. It's best we surrender all that to God. He does a better job of taking care of us anyway. 
20. Revealing who we really are can be scary at first. But afterwards comes freedom. 

I can think of about 100 more, but I'll leave it at this.  Enjoy your day!