Three Things I Would Tell My Younger Self

If you could go back in time and talk to your younger self, what would you tell yourself?  Im not talking about going back and giving yourself winning lottery numbers or telling yourself something is going to happen so prepare for it.  I mean advice to help yourself with the things you have learned over your life.  I don’t know if my younger self would listen because back then I knew everything, but here are 3 things I would tell my younger self.  

There are three things I would tell my younger self if I could go back in time.  First would be to enjoy the journey.   When I was younger I would never enjoy things.  I was very introverted.  I played sports all the time then when I got older I worked all the time.  Anything to keep myself busy.  I kept telling myself that once a certain thing happened or once I get enough money then I will enjoy it.  Enjoy the small stuff.  You will never make it.  As you grow, the finish line will keep moving.  You will never reach that finish line.  Even if you reach that happy ending, what about the day after the happy ending?  We have been condition by the movies that once you get what you want then you live happily ever after.  It is never happily ever after.  The prince gets the girl and they start arguing the next day.  

Appreciate the small things.  Appreciate the experiences you have right now.  You will never get to experience them again.  My most memorable moments in my life are when really good things happened or really bad things happened.  It will always be in my memory of hitting the game winning shot or a time when I caused my team to lose.  I will never get those experiences ever again.  Enjoy all your experiences.  Celebrate the good and lean from the bad.  Appreciate the stepping stones that allow you to grow.  Enjoy the little things, the good things and the bad.  Enjoy all experiences.  

The second thing I would say to my younger self is to not worry about what others think or say about you.  I used to think that when I did something stupid or embarrassing that others were going to think Im stupid or hate me.  I thought I had to dress cool so strangers would accept me or just that people would think I was cool.  Are any of those people in my life now?  No not a one.  Be okay with people thinking your are a loser or uncool.  It is going to happen.  Stop focusing on characters that have a very minor role in your life.  You are the hero of your own movie.  Listen too and surround yourself with people who believe in you, see you for who you are and what you have to offer.  Listen to people who encourage you and see your gift.  

The last thing I would have to say to my younger self is to allow yourself to fail.  We associate failing with our self worth.  When we fail we think it makes us look bad, makes us dumb and we call ourselves idiots.  Everyone fails.  You are suppose to fail.  That is how you learn.  You can not learn without failing.  It is part of life.  You can’t learn how to stand without falling over.  Just because you fell over does not mean you are an idiot.  Don’t preserve, mess up to grow.  Preserving and changing do not go together.  In the long run you will love the failings.  It is what makes your life interesting.  We hate the times that we have failed or our embarrassing moments but those are epic stories.  Don’t try to be perfect.  Just learn and grow.  

I tell the girls I coach in soccer, “If people wanted to watch a perfect game we would put robots on the field.  They want to watch you make mistakes and grow from them.  They come to every game to see how you have changed and grown over time.  They want to see you take chances.  If you fail, so what. Eventually you will succeed”.  

Live for the experiences.  Rather you succeed or fail, it will be what you remember.  It will be epic.  What would you tell your younger self?    Let me know in the comments or email me.