“Face the unknown with hope”

“I used to tie my self-worth to success, but now it’s all about facing fears and seeing success as a by-product, not the ultimate goal. No more stressing over what I have achieved or what society thinks. It’s more about navigating challenges with the belief that good things can happen.” Annabelle, 45, County Durham

“Always have a Plan B”

“2023 started very well and I thought it was going to be smooth and plain sailing until December as everything seemed to be in sync and to always fall into place somehow. As the Virgo that I am, one thing I am always going to do is be organised and try to plan ahead. However, what I did not do was to expect the unexpected. A huge lesson learned this year: one should never take anyone or anything for granted, as life will have a funny way of showing you otherwise.” Karine, 45, London

“Not everything has to be hard”

“I used to equate difficulty with success and never felt accomplished unless I was overcoming something. But now, I’ve realised that my efforts over my career mean that some things are easier now, and that doesn’t make them any less worthwhile.” Emily, 34, London

“The pain of change is better than the pain of staying the same”

“Whatever you’re struggling to do, shoot your shot. Whether it’s trying a new fitness routine, starting a business, moving to a different country… 99% of the time, the pain of making these changes will be 100 times better than staying the same and living with ‘what if’ for the rest of your life.” Amanda, 29, Kent

“Life isn’t black and white”

“I can be both happy and sad, struggling and grateful. 2023 has gave me some of the hardest challenges of my life in terms of my own mental health. It really has been tough to keep my head above water. But I have also had some of my favourite memories and amazing milestones that I will remember forever. When reflecting on 2023, it’s hard to distinguish whether it was good or bad but I think that’s okay. Happiness is not something you either have or don’t: it can be something that is sprinkled into your life or comes in waves.” Laura, 28, Staffordshire

20 women on the most important lesson they learned in 2023