As it happens in life, hindsight is 20/20 and we often wish we knew then what we know now. Purchase stocks in Yahoo! Don’t use Sun In on your hair! Lately, I’ve been reflecting a great deal on what me now would say to the younger me. The one juggling single parenthood in the early aughts, freshly out of a near-fatal abusive relationship, hustling hard as a door to door saleswoman in Illinois. Could she have ever dreamed that someday, she’d have her own businesses and be living in Thailand as a digital nomad? Not even close. My experience has been that we often short change ourselves when we dream of what we want out of life. We play small. We worry too much. I’ve found that things have a way of turning out bigger and more beautiful than you can imagine if you’re willing to take some leaps of faith and trust the process. Here’s what me now would tell me then - advice for my younger self.
- You are worthy. You are lovable. Tough love and abuse isn’t love. You are capable of giving what you didn’t receive and breaking the cycle of abuse with your own children.
- Be brave. Get out of your comfort zone. Feel the fear and do it anyway.
- Loosen up. Don’t take life so seriously. You don’t have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders.
- Everything is going to work itself out. The answers will come, it is always within you. Your purpose will guide you. Trust the process.
- It’s all about perspective. Continue to make the choice to be positive.
- Be present. Appreciate the moment. Be. Here. Now.
- Don’t be so hard on yourself. To be human is to be imperfect.
- You have the power to create your own circumstances. Choose wisely your perspective.
- Keep things simple.
- TRUST YOUR GUT. It’s spot on.
- You’re going to kiss a few frogs...but that’s OK. Failure is a learning opportunity.
- You are a gorgeous, sexy, beautiful woman...just the way you are. Wear that bikini!
- Money isn’t evil. Do healing work around money.
- Apply sunscreen...and re-apply!
- Keep a journal and be disciplined about writing every day.
- Your story will change lives and save lives. Own it, share it, and don’t be ashamed of it.
- You are an amazing mom. You’re going to do great things with your kids. You will bring them to a different life than you lived...and it will be far beyond your wildest dreams.
- You can’t save the world, but you can inspire those that want to save themselves. You are responsible for your shit, no one else's.
- Don’t dim your light or become smaller to make others comfortable.
- Let go! You can’t control people or situations.
- Pay attention and learn the universal lesson the first time. The second, third, and fourth time it smacks you upside the head, it hurts a hell of a lot more, trust me.
- Don’t waste time on the “shoulda coulda wouldas”.
You’re going to do great things kid. I’m proud of you!
Sincerely,
2021 Lynn
P.S. I want to be clear that, given the chance, I wouldn’t go back and change anything about my experience...OK, maybe the buying stock in Yahoo...but that’s it! In all seriousness, I’m grateful for the adversity in my journey, both internal and external because it pushed me to grow into the woman I am today. It’s this rich experience that gifted me something real to give to others and live a purpose driven life. It inspires the work I do as a coach.
And, to be fair, if me now did stumble upon a wormhole to travel back in time and share all these nuggets with my younger self…there’s a good chance my smart ass wouldn’t listen!
What advice would you give your younger self? How are you implementing this advice in your life and business today? Comment below or drop me a line at [email protected].
