5 Things I Would Go Back And Tell My Younger Self ASAP

Ever wish you could go back in time and tell yourself the things you know now? You’re certainly not alone. As we get older and develop as people, sometimes we can’t ignore the nagging desire to have known the right things earlier on. Without further ado, here are 5 things I would go back and tell my younger self ASAP!

1. You don’t know everything, and that’s okay

At 18, I thought I knew everything about the world and how it works. People, relationships, you name it. Of course, I soon discovered that I knew absolutely nothing. I wish I could tell my younger self to stop living under a false assumption and accept that life is a learning curve. At no point will you ever know everything there is to know. You aren’t supposed to have all the answers, and you definitely aren’t supposed to spend the whole time looking for them. Take each day as it comes, and enjoy the journey.

2. Perfection is not achievable

As a perfectionist, failure was a difficult concept for me to understand. But what I’ve come to learn over time is that it’s going to happen sometimes. Nothing is ever 100% plain sailing, and there are always going to be little setbacks in whatever you do. It’s how you deal with failure that really matters. Once you accept that mistakes are inevitable, life becomes easier to negotiate. You’ll get where you need to be at your own pace, and on your own terms.

3. Compare yourself only to a younger you, not to anyone else

Comparing yourself to other people is so easy to do, but so incredibly unhelpful. I wish my younger self hadn’t spent so much time comparing her success to others’. It’s no good worrying about what other people are doing when they live completely different lives and have different goals and aspirations. The only person you should ever be in competition with is yourself. With each new day, try to be a better version of you than you were yesterday. Set new targets, step out of your comfort zone, and watch yourself grow as a person. You’ll thank yourself for it.

4. No one else can determine your self-worth

This is so, so important. You, and only you can determine your self-worth. You decide that you’re strong enough, that you’re clever enough, that you’re good enough. This is not to be dictated by anyone else, and if it is, it says more about them as a person than it does about you. You are the active agent in your life, and in the end, you’ll be the only person you have to impress. Having confidence in your own ability and character is all that you need.

An Open Letter to The Right Person At The Wrong Time

5. A proper skincare routine is so important

A bit of a trivial one, but definitely something my younger self should have known. I can’t remember how many times I used to throw a couple of makeup wipes over my face and count that as my skincare routine, or not take my makeup off at all before going to bed (I know right).

Endless late nights really took a toll on my skin. I wish I’d educated myself on the importance of skin care sooner, and taken the time to look after my complexion. Now, I spend half an hour before bed making sure my skin is spick and span, and I take care to choose the products that are right for me. It makes all the difference in the world.