Why didn't somebody tell me this sooner

What I wish somebody had told me back then is if you’re stuck in your head you’re missing your life. Your life doesn’t happen in your head, it happens in every current moment as you interact with the world and the people around you. The more you analyze, daydream, replay past interactions, anticipate what will happen in the future, and so on, the less present you are for your life. You only get one short life anyway—don’t you want to really be there to experience as much of it as you can?

No one was born knowing how to manage their finances or to fix their plumbing—they were either taught by someone who did or they hire someone who does know or they scour the internet to learn from experts. Just getting over yourself and your pride and asking for help can save you a ton of work, mistakes, headaches, and time.

There’s actually research on this that found that athletes who finished in second place at the Olympic Games (who are mentally comparing themselves to the athletes who finished first and thinking things like, “Ugh, I was so close to winning gold!”) are actually less happy than the athletes who finished in third place (who are comparing themselves to the athletes who didn’t make it onto the medal podium at all). You’d think that silver medal winners wo

I wish somebody had told me back then (because I’m sure I could’ve used this knowledge in other situations) is that you have to take risks to make progress, to grow as a person, and to make your life better. You cannot play it safe and stay in your comfort zone all your life and expect anything to change or improve. Try new things. Consider new opportunities, even if they seem impossible at first. Don’t say no to something just because it’s big and scary. Your future and your future happiness depend on it.

What I wish somebody had told me back then is you can get over the motivational hump by using this strategy: imagine having a conversation with yourself, just not your current self. Picture yourself at some point in the future when not doing the thing you’re struggling to start doing now will come back to bite you in the butt.

having a conversation with yourself, just not your current self. Picture yourself at some point in the future when not doing the thing you’re struggling to start doing now will come back to bite you in the butt. So if you don’t want to do your homework, imagine the you in a few months (when you get your grade) or a few years (when you’re trying to get into the college that’s your top pick) who will be most affected by your current decision. Or if you’re struggling to do something that’ll have a long-term impact on your physical health, let’s say, imagine seeing yourself when you’re like eighty years old, when a lifetime of eating an unhealthy diet, not exercising, or not wearing sunscreen will really be catching up with you

What I wish somebody had told me back then is you can get over the motivational hump by using this strategy: imagine

Consider new opportunities, even if they seem impossible at first. Don’t say no to something just because it’s big and scary. Your future and your future happiness depend on it.

but what I wish somebody had told me back then (because I’m sure I could’ve used this knowledge in other situations) is that you have to take risks to make progress, to grow as a person, and to make your life better. You cannot play it safe and stay in your comfort zone all your life and expect anything to change or improve. Try new things.

how awful things are. Instead, know that getting through this tough thing you’re facing and figuring out what you can do about it can make you smarter and stronger and even happier (maybe not immediately, but one day)