January 22, 2024

Hello friends,

A few days ago I asked what advice you are currently asked for by those in your community. When I think about journaling prompts around advice, the one I see most often is “What advice would you give your younger self?”

It reminds me of a video that popped up on my instagram feed sometime last year. A girl talked about how someone had said to her or she had read somewhere or something equally far removed how we become the adults that we would have felt safe with as children. I’m not sure I fully agree with her. It is far too common to see cycles of abuse and intergenerational habits and trauma. But even if it isn’t true, the idea is powerful and moving and there is no reason we can’t decide to make it true for ourselves.

As I was thinking about this prompt, I came across a blog post that did a great job of summarizing the power of becoming the adults we needed as children. The writer says, "By acknowledging the unmet needs of your inner child, practicing self-compassion, and extending empathy and understanding to others, you become an agent of positive change."

Thinking about what advice we could have used when we were younger helps us recognize both how far we have come, but also where we still have unmet needs and open wounds.

Take 5-15 minutes and write about

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Your friend,
Laura