Here’s some advice to my younger self based on a look back at age 70. Interestingly, it begins with a clear sense of who I am before anything else!
Ah, hindsight. How perfect! Well, if not perfect, it’s at least informed by the insight of experience.
So, looking back at age 70, what would I say to my younger self? Here’s a short note.
Begin with WHO
Self-awareness is intentional. Start early to understand my strengths and weaknesses.
Accept that it’s Ok to be an introvert. And, to be analytical. Don’t waste time chasing early career paths that don’t match who I am because I’m trying to be someone else!
Similarly, in Proverbs Solomon encourages us to begin by a careful examination of who we are. For example, in Proverbs 2.2 he asks us to focus our character development on building experiential insight. That is, he says to begin with WHO.
Grow my WHO
Personal growth is intentional. So, start early to build capacity in important areas, such as discernment, critical thinking, sense making, and good judgment.
Accept that it’s Ok to be deliberative and think critically. See connections, especially between my spiritual life and the selection of a career path where I can flourish given my WHO.
Allow my WHY to emerge
I don’t need to know my ultimate life purpose at age 22! In fact, if I’m growing my WHO — my character, while developing my professional capacity, It’s reasonable (to me) that my WHY could change somewhat across a 50-or-so year career.
It’s good to have a clearly-determined life purpose. For a person of faith, knowing my WHY is a matter of divine revelation as described by Solomon in Proverbs 4.18. There, he compares that revelation to a light that shines brighter and brighter as I approach the life purpose God has for me!
Accept that it’s Ok to try and fail!
So, that’s my advice to my younger self. In short, I’d give myself some slack but be more reflective and intentional about my personal, professional, and spiritual growth.
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