After a pretty intense counseling session, I kept beating myself up over past mistakes and wishing I'd made better choices when I was younger.
My counselor interrupted me and said, "Hey, quit being so hard on yourself. You're way wiser at 40 than you were at 20. Cut your younger self some slack. Forgive yourself and keep moving forward."
We often look back at our lives once we've grown and gotten wiser, and we start thinking about all the things we could've done better. Honestly, the old you just wasn't as wise as you are now.
There is beauty in looking back to see how far you've come and what you've overcome in your life, but we can't dwell there!
I decided instead of dwelling on my mistakes and what I wish i could have done differently I wanted to make a list that may encourage someone else.
I compiled a collection of advice from myself, friends on Instagram, and various online sources.
Advice for my younger self
slowdown be present and enjoy the ride
Celebrate your wins-big and small
trust the detours and redirection
everything will be okay
spend your time Wisely it goes by fast
marry someone that Loves God more than you. (trust me on this)
your journey is your own
go for the dream! just do it
Tithe, budget and save. Don't spend money trying to impress others.
know your worth. You don't have to settle for a relationship, job or friends that don't value you.
everything that happens to you is to help you and shape you.
Don't block your blessings holding on to bitterness and unforgiveness
appreciate living in the moment
everything happens for a reason
Don’t allow Fear of failure to hold you back.
Embrace change – it’s the only constant in life
.
Never give up – even when things are tough, remember that challenges make us stronger
Be grateful for what you have, even when things are tough – remember, somebody always has it worse than you
Venture outside your comfort zone every once in a while- it’s good for your soul
Volunteer– giving back is its own reward
Try new things. You’ll never know if you like
something unless you give it a go.
Don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s not worth it in the end.
Always be honest with yourself and with others.
Don’t compare yourself to others. You are unique and special, just the way you are.
Take lots of pictures- so you can always look back and remember happy moments
Invest in yourself
“Invest in your goals and dreams and allow yourself to become the person you truly want to be. Invest in your mental health, educating yourself, eating healthy and taking care of yourself. Invest in your future and security by investing financially as soon as possible, even if it’s only a nominal amount. You only get one you, so treat yourself like gold. Clothes and trends come in and out of style, but who you decide to be and the body you’re living in is yours for a lifetime. Also wear your sunscreen — sun damage isn’t fashionable at any age.” —Karla Kueber, health and wellness blogger, Chicago
Stop changing yourself to make other people happy
“My younger self probably wouldn’t listen to any long-winded advice, so I’d keep it simple and say: ‘Stop trying to change yourself to please others and start focusing on the things that fill you with joy. You’ll see that you’re enough…exactly as you are.’”
—Susie Ramroop, mindset coach, London, England
It’s OK to fail
“I would tell my younger self that it’s OK to fail and keep trying. I spent so much time beating myself up and feeling depressed over my first business that didn’t work out. Only years later, I now realize that it was merely a stepping stone to bigger and better things. Without failure, there’s no lesson. Every idea won’t be a success — especially the first one and you’ll need to get back up many times in life.
—Raimonda Jankunaite, entrepreneur, speaker, mentor, and founder, UK
Don’t let others’ expectations drown out your desires
“It’s fine to not want what others expect you to. Everyone doesn’t want to get married and start a family. Taking ownership for your own needs and desires requires deep introspection and bravery. Always honor yourself.”
—Marian Toledo, marketing assistant, Ontario, Canada
Learning to Let Go
Understand the importance of moving on from past experiences.
- Holding onto negative memories can hinder progress.
- Practicing mindfulness promotes emotional healing.
The benefits of embracing new experiences.
- New adventures lead to personal transformation.
- Being open-minded creates opportunities for happiness.
TAKEAWAY
Forgive yourself. Life is a journey, and we won’t always get it right, but God gives us grace for those moments. Take the mistakes, failures and lessons that life teaches you and do two things.
1. Learn from them! Allow them you make you wiser.
2. share them with others. It’s your testimony! Help someone else possibly avoid the same mistakes you made.
What I’ve learned is God can use every mistake, mess up, hurt etc. for your Good if you allow him.
SOURCES
Comentarios