Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your past self?
— Answer this question by either journaling it out or writing your past self a letter.
Writing to your past self helps us acknowledge and process how things have changed and how we have grown over time. Once we identify what we know now, we can then apply it to future situations.
Read this article from Psychology Today: New research shows the value of letting your younger self listen to you now.
“If your ideal self is different than the self you feel you represent now, you don’t have to live forever with that discrepancy. Thinking back about the past doesn’t just have to be a passive reminiscence process. Use memories of your younger self to direct your future self to achieve greater fulfillment.”
Susan Krauss Whitbourne Ph.D.
This is advice to my past self
• Don’t stress over the small stuff.
• Don’t worry about what others think about you.
• Some things tend to work themselves out.
I can apply this knowledge going forward.
More examples of advice
- “Don’t lose hope in finding someone for you — she is out there.”
- “Get master’s while in your 20s.”
- “The world is bigger than you think it is and your worries aren’t as important as you think they are, just be you.”
- “Don’t worry if you look different, or feel you look different, from most other people. There is much more to you than what others see on the surface.”
For many people, the advice is still valid today.
Similar exercises
THE BENEFITS OF KEEPING A JOURNAL AND JOURNAL PROMPTS
DO YOU THINK THAT YOU HAVE IMPOSTER SYNDROME?: AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT
THE BEST POSITIVE AFFIRMATION?
