Have you ever stopped to think back to a younger version of yourself? How different was that younger version from the current you? Children are completely confident in who they are; they automatically love themselves.  They don’t need validation from anyone else; they already feel complete.

The You That You’ve Forgotten

Try writing a letter to the younger version of yourself, even if you don’t know what to write; just start. Once you start writing, the rest will flow. Just let whatever wants to come out, come out.  You may be surprised, like I was, at how much love and compassion you’ll have for that younger version of you, the you that’s been long forgotten.

When I wrote my letter, I was surprised to see how powerful and healing it was. Okay, I cried like a baby. I expected to want to give her advice, you know the standard “take care of yourself”, “save money”, “don’t make the same mistakes”. I was wrong.

I wrote the letter to the 5-year-old version of me. I saw that little girl exactly as she was and it turns out, I really miss her. She had such joy and loved without boundaries. I watched her laugh and play and be totally amazed by the world around her; she needed nothing but love. I knew what was coming for her in a few short years and my heart broke for her. I knew she would forever change: become fearful and insecure. I just wanted to let her know she was safe, she would be okay. As she got older, I wanted to tell her not to pay attention to negative people or society’s version of what she should be; to help her understand she was perfect, just the way she is.

Self-Love Vs. Criticism and Judgement

It’s strange that we can feel so much love for the younger version of ourselves but not the current version; they are one in the same.  For some of us, loving ourselves is a very hard thing to do. We take in everyone’s criticism and judgement over the years and we start to believe it; we take it in and store it away as if it’s true.

As I write this, it occurs to me that maybe I have more to learn from the younger me than she does from the current me. She had not yet learned to be embarrassed by who she was, to be guarded, to shrink back. She found joy and beauty in everything and enjoyed every day without concern for what tomorrow would bring. “What will other people think?” never even crossed her mind. Maybe the letter that should be written is “Dear Older Me”.

I would love to hear how this exercise impacted you. Please leave your comments below.