One of the questions that I ask on the It’s Per$onal survey is, “What advice would you give to your younger self?”. Whenever I read through all of the life advice in response to this question, I’m always blown away by how helpful & wise it is.
So, I decided to put a bunch of these wonderful pieces of advice in one post, so that you can come and read them whenever you’re looking for a little motivation, clarity or wisdom.
Without further ado, here are 28 amazing pieces of life advice from the amazing people who make up the It’s Personal anonymous blog series.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
1. “Don’t be afraid to speak up and ask for mental health help!”
– It’s Per$onal #111 – Age 27, Walla Walla, WA
6 Reasons Why I Benefit From Therapy – And How I Found a Therapist
2. “Take time to set goals and then work toward them!”
–It’s Per$onal #88 – Age 29, Jacksonville, FL
3. “Save, save, save!!”
– It’s Per$onal #91 – Age 37, Charlotte, NC
4. “It’s ok to change your mind over and over again. Nothing is permanent.”
– It’s Per$onal #107 – Age 27, Orange County, California
5. “Be honest with yourself about your goals. I went to OSU as a pre-med student, and realized my 3rd year that being a doctor didn’t fit with my long term personal goals, and the lifestyle that I truly wanted to live. It all worked out, and nursing is a very good fit for me, but I spent a bit of extra time and money on the wrong path because I was lying to myself about what I really wanted in life!”
– It’s Per$onal #99 – Age 24, Portland, Oregon
6. “Don’t follow what everyone else is doing. It’s okay that you don’t have the latest car and the latest phone.”
– It’s Per$onal #82 – Age 27, New Jersey
7. “Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Do what YOU want and don’t stray away from who you are.”
– It’s Per$onal #83 – Age 24, Southwest Michigan
8. “Be more intentional to know yourself and what you truly want in life.”
– It’s Per$onal #85 – Age 33, Istanbul, Turkey
9. “It’s okay to not be okay. Definitely spent a lot of my younger years telling everyone (including my therapist) that I was doing great even on days that I wasn’t. I learned that it’s okay to be emotional with people you trust because letting people in really does help!”
– It’s Per$onal #86 – Age 27, Portland, Oregon
10. “Choose the CHEAP SCHOOL!”
– It’s Per$onal #87 – Age 25, Rochester, NY
11. “Open an brokerage account ASAP and start investing!”
– It’s Per$onal #89 – Age 29, Fullerton, CA
12. “Stay true to yourself especially through moments of growth. Don’t change for others and learn to prioritize your own needs. Money-related: saving is tough, but open an account (investment, saving, etc.) & put in even the smallest amount. It’ll make a difference in the long run!”
– It’s Per$onal #90 – Age 24, Chicago, IL
13. “Do NOT buy a new car. Drive a car without a loan until the wheels fall off… LITERALLY!”
– It’s Per$onal #93 – Age 26, Atlanta, Georgia
14. “I’d love to tell my younger self to practice patience when it comes to finance. Building up your net worth takes time!”
– It’s Per$onal #94 – Age 26, Southern Indiana
15. “Don’t be scared and apply for more scholarships!”
– It’s Per$onal #95 – Age 28, Nashville, TN
16. “Knowledge is powerful but actions are truth. My debt was a huge blessing to my life. It led me to the FIRE community and to dig deep and find the motivation and strength to change my life.”
– It’s Per$onal #97 – Age 31, Raleigh, NC
17. “Don’t be afraid to ask people for what you want/need from them. Don’t settle for relationships (romantic or not) that don’t make you feel valued.”
– It’s Per$onal #98 – Age 29, Houston, TX
18. “Don’t be too hard on yourself. We are always trying to figure things out. Take action and pivot when needed.”
– It’s Per$onal #100 – Age 29, Detroit, Michigan
19. “Committing to something/showing up is the hardest part. It never ends up being that bad.”
– It’s Per$onal #101 – Age 27, Minneapolis, MN
20. “I sold off my 401k when I was in my 20s to pay off debt I should have left it. Invest early and often and try and make as much money as possible sooner. I was in a very low paying career until my 30 years and struggled financially for too long because of it. I would have changed careers much sooner!”
– It’s Per$onal #102 – Age 36, Chicago, IL
21. “Create a budget – don’t spend money you don’t have. Invest in yourself first through funding your retirement and emergency savings. Utilize a capsule wardrobe and return clothes you don’t wear. Find a different form of therapy other than retail therapy! As far as money goes, I would tell my younger self to save more and not blow it on dumb stuff. Outside of money, I would just tell myself to not sweat the small stuff and to just embrace my authentic self.”
– It’s Per$onal #103 – Age 36, Baltimore, MD
22. “You DON’T need it. Put it back, exit out of the tab, take a picture of it and think about it for at least 3 days then decide. Also, if it’s on sale, it’s on sale for a reason.”
– It’s Per$onal #105 – Age 25, Grants Pass, OR
23. “Focus on where you want to be in 10 years, 20 years, 30 years, etc… and then think about how you are going to make that life happen. This includes salary, career, lifestyle, family… everything. I wish I would have been more intentional about where I was headed and how to get there.”
– It’s Per$onal #106 – Age 31, Fargo, ND
24. “Stop giving a shit whatever anybody around you is doing. Nobody knows more nor better than you do about what makes you happy.”
– It’s Per$onal #108 – Age 31, Clifton, NJ
25. “Find passions that are active! Avoid drinking heavily and getting into drugs.”
– It’s Per$onal #96 – Age 27, Salt Lake City, UT
26. “Chill out a little and live more in the moment.”
– It’s Per$onal #110 – Age 24, Madison, WI
27. “When living at home without a rent payment – SAVE IT ALL! You don’t need a million new outfits because surprise you will get rid of them.”
– It’s Per$onal #112 – Age 28, Boston, MA
28. “Start budgeting and being purposeful with your money sooner. Use your extra money to work towards financial goals.”
– It’s Per$onal #113 – Age 30, Dallas, TX
What advice would YOU give to your younger self? Let us know in the comments below!
This post was all about 28 amazing pieces of life advice from the amazing people who make up the It’s Personal anonymous blog series.
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