\u201cCreate your moments.\u201d\n- Nick Onken\n\nHello, 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.\xa0 2021 has been another crazy year,\xa0 but life is always a learning process. It\u2019s 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.\n\nEvery year, we go through different pieces of our life\u2019s journey, and this past year was quite a journey \u2014 it's been a different space of life, a different space of creation for me. I\u2019ve 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\u2019s why I am sharing with you my stories and the lessons I\u2019ve learned this year.\nEleven Things I Learned From the Past Year\nEvery 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\u2019m sharing with you the eleven things I\u2019ve learned from this past year.\n1. Health Optimization Is Important\nThere 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\u2019ve learned that by taking steps to improve our health, we can boost our energy levels and feel better overall. So don't wait \u2014 start optimizing your health, and you'll be glad you did.\n2.\xa0 Identity Alchemy Is Never Ending and Is a Personal Growth Process\nWe 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.\xa0\n\nThe 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.\n3. Uncomfortable Conversations Are Growth\nLife 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!\xa0\n4. The Universe Has Bigger Plans\nIt'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.\n\nThis is an interesting one because my mom passed away this year from cancer. She's been battling it for a couple of years, and at a certain point, we knew this day would come. At one point, I went out to LA to visit my parents,