To my younger self,
You have so much ahead of you. So many exciting things.
You don’t know it yet, but all the choices you’re about to make are going to shape your life in ways you could never dream of.
Every choice you take, every mistake you make will be an opportunity to learn and grow.
And although it may not always seem like it, those choices and mistakes will bring you to the place you’re meant to be in life.
But if I could start by telling you just one thing, I’d tell you that being kind is one of the most important decisions you can make along the way.
You’ll never regret leading with kindness.
Being kind shows others the type of person you are. Even the smallest act of kindness can have a profound impact on a person, so don’t miss the opportunity to show it.
You’ll be grateful for the kindness others show to you, so make it your mission to give back the same.
Lead by example and give without expectation of getting anything in return. You might change someone’s life forever.
Even when life feels unfair or you don’t feel like someone deserves your time or kindness, look for the positives in people and situations.
Rather than getting caught up with feeling down, find the silver lining and change your perspective about the situation you’re in.
Shifting the way you look at things can help you make the best of a bad situation, so don’t get caught up feeling hurt or angry.
You don’t realize how far a positive mindset can take you and the transformational effect it can have on your life.
Learning to lead with positivity is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, so don’t wait to start.
It’s important to surround yourself with people who bring positivity into your life, so don’t waste your time on people who bring you down.
You’ll meet people in life who won’t want the best for you or won’t be the best thing for you at that time.
Instead, learn to recognize those people who are willing to give back into your life as much as you give to them. Those people who have your back and will build you up, rather than take and take and take without giving anything in return.
It’s so easy to get caught up with the wrong crowd. You’ll know when something doesn’t feel right, so go with your gut and be willing to move in another direction.
Another thing, dear self, is this: take more risks.
They may not always work out the way you planned, but at least you won’t regret missed opportunities.
You may think that there will be a better time to take that trip or reach out to that person, but life moves on quicker than you know. Responsibilities grow and chances disappear.
You don’t want to grow old and regret never pursuing the dreams you once had. It may not make sense to everyone around you, but if it’s what you want, you’ve got to go for it.
Don’t let fear hold you back from trying new things, meeting new people, and putting yourself out there.
You’ll never have a better opportunity than now to do that thing you’ve been putting off, and you could be wasting the chance to meet new people or find new passions if you don’t step out of your comfort zone.
Try to remember that it’s important to think about the future but to live for the present.
The earlier you start thinking about your future and making smart decisions, the easier life will be for you when you’re older.
But don’t get so caught up in preparing for the future that you forget to have fun right now.
Don’t feel guilty for treating yourself and splashing a bit of money in the moment if it makes you happy.
Try to embrace exactly where you are in life. Don’t wish your time forward or back but just enjoy where you are at the time.
Don’t spend your youth wanting to be older because with age comes more responsibility than you know, and before you realize it, you’re going to be wishing you were young again.
Don’t look at yourself so critically, especially when you’re young, because one day you’re going to regret being so hard on yourself.
Don’t keep looking for things to change about yourself. You’re enough just as you are.
Prioritize learning to love yourself. Stop trying to compare yourself to others or look like something you’re not. Celebrate exactly who you are right in this moment and embrace it because time goes by faster than you know.
Your uniqueness is your power. You don’t have to be like everyone else.
You might feel like you want to blend in because it’s easier or you think it will make people like you, but living your life authentically is the most liberating choice you can make for yourself.
Embracing what makes you different will help you attract people who love the real you, rather than the false image you’re trying to present.
If you don’t live life according to what makes you happy, you’re never going to feel content.
It might feel scary to go against the grain, but people are attracted to confidence, and you’ll be surprised by how many people will appreciate you more for just being yourself.
Stop worrying about the little things. You’ll look back one day and laugh at the things that kept you up at night, especially when you’re young.
The smallest thing might feel like the biggest problem in the world to you right now, but try not to waste your time and energy getting wrapped up worrying over things that you’ll forget about tomorrow.
There will be enough to worry about as life goes on without adding to it when you’re young.
Try to put your worries into perspective. Think about the worst that could happen, and you’ll realize that most of what you’re worrying about will never come true.
Most of what you’re worrying about isn’t life or death. Far from it. So let the worry go and focus on happiness and joy instead.
Find ways to manage your stress. When you feel anxiety clouding your judgment and restricting your choices, try to remember that you’re the only one limiting yourself.
To my younger self, you are stronger than you know, especially when it comes to heartbreak.
It might feel like the hardest thing in the world when someone you love lets you down and you think you’ll never move on. But you can and you will, and you’ll be a better person for it.
Don’t stay in relationships that don’t make you happy just because you’re scared of being on your own. Through heartbreak you learn the type of partner you need.
Until you take the step to let go of those people who aren’t right for you, you won’t give yourself a chance to meet the person who is.
Learn to forgive. Whether it’s an ex or someone else in your life who has hurt you, it will only hurt you more if you spend your time carrying around the anger and resentment you have for them.
You can never fully move on until you find peace with a situation and learn to forgive.
You can always agree to disagree, but negativity will eat you up inside and give power to others to make you feel sad. Never give anyone the power to control your emotions.
Always remember that you are the one person who can change your life.
You have every resource you need to make a positive and lasting change to your happiness. You don’t need to wait around for other people or opportunities to come by to start living life the way you want.
You may not become a millionaire or meet the love of your life overnight, but you can work on yourself, educate yourself, and take more chances to reach the place you always wanted to be.
People respond to others who radiate confidence and contentment. Trust that you can be the person you strive to be and have faith in yourself that you’ll get there even if it feels hard sometimes.
Trust in the process of your own growth. This life is for you, so make the most of it.
