Advice to My Younger Self
By Desolina
What advice would I give to my younger self? Well, there are many things I’d like to say. There’s so much that young me would have wanted to hear from someone who was older and appeared to have everything together. I think the most important thing I could say, is that it’s okay to not have everything together if you stay true to yourself. Learning and discovering who you are can be part of the fun in life. Experimenting and trying new things, finding yourself and learning about the world are life’s little joys.
Failures and mistakes are natural and make you human - it’s how you bounce back and learn from them that makes you a better person, the person you are meant to be. You’re the only person that needs to be happy with who you are. As long as you are happy with yourself, that’s all that really matters. And if you aren’t happy with yourself yet, that’s okay, too. You have a long life ahead of you to figure out who you are meant to be, so make the most of that journey. If the road ahead seems tough, reflect on the struggles you have already powered through.
You are more powerful than you could ever imagine. Use the power that is inside of you, the power of love and empathy, to change the world. You may feel like you are just one person, but it takes just one person to start a movement. Stay true to who you are, as you’re someone who loves the world and all that’s in it with all their heart. You’ve always cared more about others than you have cared about yourself. And while I admire your empathy, make sure you take care of yourself, too. Spend time reflecting on who you want to be, on your hobbies and interests, on what confuses you and what excites you.
Reflect on the world and think about your impact on it. One day, you’re going to realize that you have your own agency, and are able to form your own opinions... ones that don’t align with those of your parents. This is what is going to set you free. Explore the world from a philosophical standpoint and you will see that all the world needs are a little compassion and care. And that’s all you need, too.
You shouldn’t wait for someone to give you or the world compassion. You can reward yourself your own compassion, learning to love and take care of yourself, you can spread that love back into the world. Holding love in your heart is the most important thing you can do, for yourself and for the world. Wanting the best for yourself and for the world, and doing everything you can to achieve that is never wrong, as long as you don’t hurt others. Being a little selfish is okay, as there is nothing wrong with wanting what’s best for you. Step out of your comfort zone and be yourself, that’s all I can ever ask of you. You’ll be amazed at who you’ll become and what you’re truly capable of.
