Writing A Letter to Your Younger Self

Years ago while in a therapy session, and yes I said therapy (very pro therapy), I worked with my therapist on comforting my inner child. I did exercises with him on how to heal some of the wounds we have internally from childhood and our youth.

I had always heard of the exercise of writing a letter to your younger self, just letting them know some advice and also other things you need to tell them. Writing the letter was incredibly therapeutic and something I didn't know I needed. I am going to share it below and note I am being vulnerable here, it is not easy to share personal feelings sometimes, but my gut tells me to do things that scare me and I go forth.

Dearheart,

There are things I need to tell you about what you are about to experience. I need you to know that one of the greatest lessons you will find out is that you are not in control of your life no matter how desperately you are trying to grasp any little straw of it. There is a great mystery to this life, although you love to plan, plans don’t always work, it isn’t like a to-do list where you keep checking off tasks, your plan will never be that of another. I don’t wish to hurt you but the goals you hold so precious in your heart won’t come true, but that doesn’t mean what lays ahead is bad or scary. You are up for the challenge. Remember what you have learned so far, and be ready to surrender what you think you know for sure. Some of your magical thinking and joys you have in you will be sacrificed along the way. Let that go. You’re right about your own power and talents and abilities, but there is still some innocence in the way you understand it working. Know that both of us will find our right direction someday and that adults don’t have it all together either, we are just trying our best each day.

Allow the encouragement of others, but don’t let them choose your path, deep down you know to follow that still small voice and God and your intuition, be loving but please don’t give your power away to others. You my love are too caring and kind, others will take advantage and you need to be strong, willing to see value in yourself, don’t let the many tourists that pass through your life take pieces of you away, you don’t want to be left an empty shell, it is incredibly hard to recover from.

You will be given messages along the way. These are yours to use as you wish. Other people may not understand the directives you receive or the ways in which you come to know them. That’s okay. This is your guidance. It’s not for other people. It’s for you. So listen for it, and let it guide your decisions as you choose your course.

There will be times when you are moving through your grief or disappointment, many many times. You need to be strong but also communicate. I know you don’t know how to be open or talk about hard things, but you will find deep down the road that is the only way for growth. That even during the moments where you feel you are in complete darkness, that wonderful Godlight, that small beam of sunshine will find it’s way in. Be open, don’t close yourself off, don’t shut others out, don’t always try to be strong and take on the responsibilities of the world. Most of all, please for your sake as an adult, you and I must learn how to not be so hard on ourself, to no put the weight of the universe on our shoulders. If you do so you will always find fault in yourself and always feel like you are never doing enough, just breathe and keep moving forward. Stop trying to carry everyone’s burdens and just try to be the healthiest version of you, you will figure it out, although it will come after a mess of experience.

Alisha, You can be happy even when you don’t know how it’s going to work out. You can have a full and meaningful life, even if this whole thing doesn’t end up as you’d hoped. Don’t let other people’s assumptions of what you’re going through bother you — it’s got nothing to do with you. Also, it’s not your job to reassure them; save your breath and your energy.

Use your gifts wisely. You know that your talents and gifts will grow stronger in the future, take advantage of the time and energy you are given. Listen to the ancestors who surround you constantly, who inspire and support you, tell their stories, share your abilities, you will find direction as you move forward. You are here to help others remember and to connect generations. You must know you have your own talents and are not the same as others who have gone before you, you have your own path and are creating your own legacy. No legacy looks the same, you are not meant to have the same journey.

You may not see this now or even understand it but you were indeed chosen to endure this for a very special and unique purpose. It may feel like nobody else understands, but listen to me very closely, I understand, and it will be okay. Trust me! You are very special! You are very unique! You are more than beautiful! You will find or may already realize that the pain you are enduring will be your greatest strength.

Remember to feel your feelings fully. All of them. You can expect to get lost. You can expect for your heart to hurt. You can expect to weep. Remember as you enter into relationships that the actions of others is not a reflection on you, they make their own choices and although it will hurt, don’t carry that burden forever. Learn to trust, don’t close off your heart, please don’t close off your heart, but don’t just let random people into it. Be cautious and careful, so many people will try to take advantage. You and I both need to believe that a partner will come and you are worth more than what you see in front of you. Let other’s know that you don’t have to have a partner to be happy, to find joy, and that there is value in you in being alone, you don’t need someone to be worth something, you have the gift of knowing your worth and loving yourself, it is a precious gift. Don’t feel alone, because you truly are never alone, others will never fully understand, they are small minded thinking to have it all and be truly happy is to have marriage and children. That is on them, be strong stick up for yourself and know you are amazing.

Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable is extremely powerful, life in general is messy. It takes daily practice. Take risks. When in doubt, ask yourself: What’s the worst thing that could happen if I try?

Be proud of the race you run. Regardless of outcome, have an experience that you are proud of. That’s what you can control. The rest is part of the Great Mystery. Use this experience to get right with that.

Enjoy the ride,

A Friend

I love this song below, but if you have a problem at all with language, don't listen... as a warning, Below the video are a few of the lyrics I loved from it.

Quinn XCII, Logic - A Letter To My Younger Self

I know you're scared, leavin' this home You're not that used to livin' alone You're not that used to speakin' your mind You're too used to waitin' in line For others that's okay, don't think about it Every second that you do, you do, you don't doubt it Every minute that you let them win is time wasted Every hour you're not present, I'm sayin', I'm sayin' now

Don't get too far in your own head when you shout We'll smile in front of all the things we used to worry about And I know it may not seem like it, but we figured out How to live on the run when your heart weighs a ton, yeah, yeah

I wrote a letter to my younger self I hope you read it when you don't feel well I hope this helps I hope this helps When things around you feel they can't get worse If you won't describe the pain and how it hurts I hope this helps I hope this helps (yeah)