Imagine that you could travel back in time and enjoy a cup of coffee with your younger self. What words of wisdom about life would you share? This is a question that I attempt to answer in my book, Coffee Shop Inspirations: Simple Strategies For Building Dynamic Leadership And Relationships
Although I never ask the question directly, providing words of wisdom for a younger me is what this book is all about. You see, I wrote Coffee Shop Inspirations for me. It’s advice that I wish I knew ten years ago.
So what advice would I pass on to my younger self? Keep reading and find out. See if these are words of wisdom that you would share with your younger self too?
Words of Wisdom About Life:
1) It is perfectly okay not to argue.
There was a time in my life where I thought that if someone needed to “talk,” I was obligated to engage. During disagreements, I would explain, try to please, and explain again. I had the misconception that if others saw that I truly desired to act in everyone’s best interest, we could all be friends. Yes, I was that naive. Today, I understand that some people enjoy a good fight. The words of wisdom that I would give to my younger self-are:
[Tweet “Don’t get caught up in endless arguments. These are not helpful for anyone!”]
2) Make a decision and get started!
Sometimes good choices don’t feel good. It is easy to get stuck, waiting for the perfect opportunity. I know, because I’ve been there! Making a decision and getting started is important because gaining momentum is the key to building more momentum. I would want my younger self to know: Don’t just sit there. Get started.
[Tweet “Do the best you can with what you have, and better options will open up.”]
3) Life is better when you focus on the good!
The cognitive psychologies teach us that people can actually think themselves into a state of depression. The opposite is also true. We can think our way into happiness. I would give my younger self the following words of wisdom about life: Find the good and focus on it!
[Tweet “Honing in on the good makes work, family, and life a happier place to be. “]
4) Reframe your problems.
This advice actually falls into the category of words of wisdom for me right now. What if problems are really opportunities to grow? Perhaps my current challenge of struggling to find enough time to get everything done is not horrible or awful. Maybe this is a growth opportunity. Today, I am getting good at writing and taking care of a one-year-old at the same time. Perhaps God knows that I will need to have good time-management skills in the future. I am refining these abilities now. The words of wisdom about life I’d share with a younger me include:
[Tweet “Reframe your difficulties. View challenges as opportunities for growth!”]
5) Take time to relax and have fun!
Mark 1:35 tells how Jesus woke up early and headed to a quiet place to pray. If Jesus took time to relax and recharge, then you and I most certainly need to do the same. As a psychology professor, I understand the importance of self-care better than most. Yet, this is also an area I struggle with: The words of wisdom I would give myself:
[Tweet “Don’t just talk about the importance of self-care, practice it!”]
Wisdom for Everyday Life
These five pieces of advice are words of wisdom about life that I would love to pass on to my younger self. They are also words of wisdom that I strive to live out daily. In fact, I believe in this advice so much that I wrote a book about it. In Coffee Shop Inspirations, I focus on how to put these five principles into action. Although it’s easy to know what we should do, it’s often difficult to put this advice into action. Even the Apostle Paul wrote about how he would find himself not doing the good things he knew he should (Romans 7:19).
If you find yourself knowing what you should do, but not doing it, then this book is for you. In fact, I believe these words of wisdom so strongly that I’m giving my book away for the next five days. You can download your free copy here: Coffee Shop Inspirations: Simple Strategies For Building Dynamic Leadership And Relationships.
Continue the Conversation
- What would of wisdom about life would you give to a younger you?
- What ideas in the post resonated the most?
- Which of these words of wisdom have you already tried, and how did they work?
Feel free to add to the conversation in the comments below. I wish you a fantastic week as you put these words of wisdom into action!
Good advice to your younger self, Jed. But it’s also good advice to your present self (and all present selves).
Much of what I would tell my younger self is things I’m still telling myself (and I still AM my “younger self” from the perspective of my future self). Here’s the list of what I’d tell my teen self:
• There is no “best age” to be. Don’t regret years you’ve left behind or wish you were older. Every age and time in life has its joys and struggles. Live each day in the present.
• You may not have the choice about everything that happens in life, but you always have the choice of what you will do next. Never give in to thinking that you are trapped or have no choices. You do. You always have a choice.
• When something is bothering you, upsetting you or worrying you, ask yourself, “Will this matter to me in one year?” If the honest answer is “no,” don’t spend another minute of energy on it. It’s robbing you of a perfectly good now. Let it go.
• Enjoy your friendships for what they are right now, today. Don’t hold expectations that every friend, no matter how intensely you feel about them right now, will be a lifetime friend. They may not be. And that’s OK. It’s normal. People and circumstances change as you grow older.
• Appreciate everything. Expect nothing.
• Asking for help when you need it is a sign of wisdom, not weakness.
• If you are intelligent and growing along the way, your perceptions and views on everything will change –people, politics, situations, and life in general. Don’t hold too tightly or argue to adamantly that your viewpoint in any given situation is the best one.
• It’s better to be kind than to be right.
• If you find that your list of what’s really important in life exceeds three, it’s time to cross a few off and simplify.
• Don’t complicate your faith. The strongest faith is a simple one. Love God, love people in real ways. That’s it.
I love these Erik! The last one is my favorite. Thank you for adding so much to the conversation!