As we get older I think we have a tendency to look back and wonder “If only I knew then what I know now”. This can leave you to wonder what advice to your younger self you would give. I sometimes wonder what ways my life could be different if I knew some of the things that I know now. What advice to my younger self would I give? What are the key things that I wish I knew then that I know now?
While there are a lot of different things that I could tell my younger self these are just a few of the more important things that I would make sure to tell myself.
Advice to my younger self
How to say no
Specifically when/where and in what instances. There are times when you just have to say “oh hell no. I’m not doing that .” Sometimes you just need to put your foot down and dig in your heels to protect yourself and sanity. Once you get comfortable with the idea of saying no when it is needed, it gets easier to do.
It’s okay to cry
In fact, it is a healthy release of emotions. Sometimes you just need to let it all go and have a good cry. It can help cleanse you of what is going on emotionally and mentally. Afterward, you can face the world with a better mindset than when you started.
Don’t lose yourself
In your job, marriage, or kids. Never forget who you are and what makes you unique. The labels that people put on you do not define you as a person, they are just apart of you as a whole. When you retain your uniqueness the relationships that you have with others become that much better.
Hold yourself accountable
For your actions, choices, and to the same extent your path in life. For the most part, there is no one responsible for the way your life is but you. If you hate your job, look for a new one. Your relationship sucks, leave it. Most of the time the things that we hate about our lives are things that we are able to change. You just have to be willing to look deep enough to see what is really wrong.
Take care of yourself
Take a daily walk, or work out each day anything to make sure you are staying active every day. Your mental and emotional health largely depends on how you feel physically. When you take the time to take care of yourself you are better able to face what life and the world throw at you.
Related Reading: Reasons You Need to Say No More Often. and 6 Changes to help improve your mindset
Laugh often
I find that the old adage is often true “Laughter is the best medicine”. Even if it is only at yourself. Find humor in the moments that you can’t control. When I am having a really hard time and need to stop for a minute I usually have a few phrases that I throw out there just to make myself laugh.
Eat dessert first
Pro-tip here. I know it sounds weird but how many times have you not left room for dessert after dinner? Easy fix. Eat dessert first, that way there is always room for dessert. There is nothing better than rewarding yourself with a treat every once in a while. And it can bring just a little bit more joy to your life.
Love yourself first
If you don’t learn to love yourself, it will be hard to love others. Take the time to get to know/love yourself before you can love others. That way you can make sure those around you are getting the best version of you.
Get a Free Downloadable Self-Care Workbook!
Don’t sweat the small stuff
In the end, it’s all small stuff. The things that annoy or aggravate you today will be nothing tomorrow. The only thing that matters is how you react to the things you experience today. You may not be able to control everything that happens to you, but you can control how you react to it.
Surround yourself with happiness
One thing that can ruin your happiness is to be surrounded by people that are never happy. That doesn’t mean that you need to be happy every minute of every day. Rather you need to not keep yourself around those that are never happy with anything. All they will do is bring you down and make it that much harder for yourself to be happy with your life.
Final thoughts
In the end there is a lot of things that I wish I could tell my younger self. These are just some of the more important things that I thought of. What really matters is not what you would tell yourself that will change your life in the past, but what you can do about it today. That is the real reason for writing this advice to my younger self. Not what I would go back and change in the past. But what I can continue to do in the future to make my life more fufilled.
What advice would you give to yourself?
Let me know in the comments!