Some of the most profound and interesting response I’ve gotten in the classes I teach have come from one simple question: Imagine you’re in your 90’s, what advice would you give your younger self on living well?
Naturally there were good answers that fell into categories you’d expect. Many responses seemed to revolve around risks, i.e. take more chances, it’ll all work out in the end, just go for it, you know what you want. Some answers dealt with handling stress and many on values and the importance of family.
There were three fascinating responses I’ve received recently that stood out:
- Leave a legacy every time you leave a room. You never know if you’ll have an opportunity to make that impression or say what you need to say again, so take advantage when you can.
- Don’t believe that someday you’ll miraculously wake up and be able to start doing what you want to do in life. It doesn’t work that way. Instead start actively doing what you want to become. Life is too short to waste another minute.
- You’re OK just like you are. I am hugging you and reminding you that regardless of what others say, you have value. Don’t ever forget it.
Naturally there were many others, and as I continue to teach and speak, I continue to be amazed at the answers I hear. The most important thing is these responses resonate with the people who said them, and start them on a different trajectory that will give their lives more meaning.
What would you like your younger self to know and start or stop doing? It’s a great exercise in helping us see where we are ignoring a problem in hopes it will just disappear in time, or conditioning ourselves to work around an obstacle we are capable of changing.
For me there are so many pieces of advice I’d like to give my younger self that I’m afraid she’d quit listening. However, I would remind her to have more fun and spread as much kindness as is humanly possible.
The beauty is we’re not 90 years old yet, and any and all changes are possible. I’m all for listening to my words of advice and actually acting on them now, while there’s still plenty of time to make the changes and make a difference. What about you?
