You vs. You: Reintroducing Yourself to Your Younger Self

Captain — I’m glad I got to know you again.
~ Admiral Katheryrn Janeway

Sometimes, we need to remind ourselves who we are. We need to reintroduce ourselves to our younger self(s). In other words, we need to figuratively go back in time so that we remember our dreams and desires, our joys and our sorrows, our carefree manner, our innocence, and our boldness to go wherever our heart desired. We need to remind ourselves because these once cherished traits, we embraced wholeheartedly, are slowly slipping away with each passing year.

The ending episode of Star Trek: Voyager — its return home to Earth — showed the importance of doing just that, and hence, inspired this blog. I found this 2001 calendar, currently unavailable, on Amazon. But you can click on it, and it will take you to its page. There was even a 1996 calendar for $198.99. They were also some calendars noted as paperbacks, but I was not sure what that meant. Even though Voyager was my second favorite Star Trek series, after the OGs of course, it was not as popular, needless to say, and it looks like they stopped printing calendars in honor of their crew.

But a local TV station plays all of the Star Trek reruns, one after another, beginning with the original gang every night except Saturday. I recently — and finally — caught the finale of the Voyager series, which was suspenseful, intriguing and heartfelt. It was a cliffhanger, and I found myself on edge, wondering what would happen next.

I was enthralled. Captivated.

The finale was called Endgame, but could have easily been entitled Admiral Janeway vs. Captain Janeway.

But it did not take me long to realize that time was quickly running out in the hour-long program, and there were too many issues still left to resolve. I just hate it when producers try to wrap up a show with a neat little bow within its remaining minutes, leaving you a little ticked off because you wanted — and expected — more. Don't you?

To my surprise, those three magical words suddenly appeared on the screen: To Be Continued. And my mind, on its own accord, quickly set a alarm clock reminder in place to make sure I tuned in.

Janeway vs. Janeway — the fictional premise that we could occupy space and time with our former or future self simultaneously — belonged to the conundrum I had given up on years ago. I had always thought that you could not — at least only in fiction, as far as we knew. But I had concluded that some powerful creative force had obviously rewritten the physics script, ensuring endless story plots, particularly in sci-fi.

Back to the finale. What was so fulfilling about it was the exchange between the Admiral and her younger self, the Captain. The Admiral thanked the Captain for reminding her of who she really was, and how much the Voyager crew was loyal to her. She admitted and acknowledged that the crew was the Captain’s, after all. Not hers.

We need to have a similar conversation with our younger self, and thank our younger self, too. There is much that we can learn. Here are 20 things that we can learn and value from our younger self, according to ChatGPT:

Valuable Things We Can Learn from Our Younger Self:

1. Unfiltered Creativity: The way children freely express their imagination can teach us to think outside the box.
2. Unwavering Confidence: Younger versions of ourselves often act without hesitation or self-doubt. This reminds us to trust in our abilities.
3. Living in the Moment: Kids know how to immerse themselves in the present, not constantly worrying about the future or past.
4. Fearless Exploration: When we were younger, we were more open to trying new things. Reembracing this sense of adventure can lead to personal growth.
5. Resilience: Despite setbacks, children bounce back quickly. We can learn to be more resilient in adulthood, using failures as stepping stones.
6. Pure Joy: The simplicity of happiness in childhood—like playing with friends or laughing at a silly joke—teaches us to find joy in life's small moments.
7. Uncomplicated Love: Children often show love without expectations or complications, reminding us of the power of unconditional affection.
8. Curiosity: The relentless desire to ask “why” as a child shows the importance of being curious and constantly seeking knowledge.
9. Fearlessness in Pursuing Dreams: As kids, we dreamed big without limits. Reacquainting with that boldness can inspire us to chase our own aspirations.
10. Authenticity: Children are often unapologetically themselves, a reminder to embrace our true selves without worrying about judgment.
11. Unconditional Forgiveness: Children forgive quickly and don’t hold grudges, teaching us the importance of letting go of past hurts.
12. Playfulness: Younger selves knew the importance of play. Taking time to play as an adult can reduce stress and increase happiness.
13. Intuition: Kids often trust their gut instincts. Learning to trust our intuition again can lead to more aligned decision-making.
14. A Sense of Wonder: The world was new and exciting, and reconnecting with that awe can bring back a sense of excitement and possibility.
15. Ability to Adapt: Children quickly adapt to change, whether it's a new environment, routine, or people. Being flexible can enhance our adult lives.
16. Simplifying Problems: As children, we didn’t overcomplicate things. We can learn to simplify challenges and focus on what really matters.
17. Eagerness to Learn: Kids approach the world as a big classroom. Rediscovering this eagerness to learn can open doors for personal and professional development.
18. Boundless Energy: Our younger selves had an endless supply of energy, teaching us to take care of our physical and mental health so we can feel vibrant.
19. Spontaneity: Acting on impulse can bring joy and adventure. Embracing spontaneity once more can spark new opportunities.
20. Not Taking Things Personally: Children are often better at letting things roll off their backs. Learning not to internalize others’ opinions can lead to greater peace of mind.

While the focus here is on our younger self as mostly children, we can learn a lot at every single stage in our past timeline. But there are a few drawbacks.

Earlier in the year, as I've noted before, I wrote short bios on new members of a women’s group that I am in. As part of the onboarding process, a couple of them received the question on what advice would they go back in time and tell their 10-year-old self. Both replied that they would tell their younger self to not worry so much, that everything was going to work out fine.

I thought back. It was true: We did worry too much when we were younger. We can actually look back and even laugh at those worries, and would be more than willing to embrace them now instead of the grownup worries we carry today.

I personally have been down this road, and have also written about it. Years ago, I came across old columns that I had penned for the campus newspaper while I was an undergraduate student. I was surprised to read some. My naiveness jumped off the newspaper pages, and yet, I was so proud of Ruthie for her boldness. She did not letting anyone or anything deter her from speaking her truth.

I was proud of my younger self, and I actually envied her. I envied her naiveness, her innocence. But I was proud. Steadfast and foremost.

Yes, revisiting our younger self provides insight into how we can live happier lives today. At the same time, we should also look into the distance. What can we learn from our future self? Here are 20 items:

Things We Could Learn from Our Future Self:

1. Patience: Understanding that things unfold in their own time and that rushing the process doesn’t help.
2. Clarity of Purpose: Our true purpose and the direction we want our life to take, guiding us toward that vision.
3. Adaptability: Adjusting and thriving despite unexpected challenges, how to stay flexible.
4. Financial Wisdom: Importance of budgeting, saving, and investing wisely to build long-term security.
5. Emotional Resilience: How to weather storms and develop the strength to manage difficult emotions with grace.
6. Mindfulness: Importance of being present and enjoying each moment, not just focusing on the end goal.
7. Gratitude: Regularly practicing gratitude, helping to cultivate a mindset of abundance and appreciation for what we have now.
8. Boundaries: How to set healthy boundaries, protecting our mental, physical, and emotional well-being.
9. Self-Compassion: Treating yourself with kindness, understanding that mistakes are part of the learning process.
10. Consistent Growth: How to push past comfort zones, leading to personal growth and development over time.
11. Healthy Habits: Consistency in exercise, nutrition, and self-care leads to long-term well-being and vitality.
12. Graciousness in Success: Success is sweeter when shared, and they value collaboration and generosity.
13. Focus on What Matters: Importance of prioritizing relationships, self-growth, and purpose over superficial or fleeting distractions.
14. Confidence: Trusting yourself and your abilities, embracing challenges with self-assurance.
15. Forgiveness: Importance of letting go of grudges and forgiving both others and themselves.
16. Time Management: How to hone skills in managing time wisely, ensuring that important tasks are prioritized without burnout.
17. Embracing Failure: Understanding and viewing failure as a stepping stone, not a roadblock, and has learned to view setbacks as valuable learning experiences.
18. Simplification: Recognizing less can be more, embracing simplicity in decisions, possessions, and priorities to avoid overwhelm.
19. Courage to Dream Big: Learning not to be afraid to set audacious goals and pursue them with determination, teaching us to aim high.
20. Living Authentically: Living true to yourself is the key to fulfillment, and they’ve made choices that align with their deepest values.

We also need to understand that there are issues in life holding us back, and stifling our success in our business, career and personal life that we need to reconcile with our younger self or selves. That was very clear in T. Harv Ever’s book, Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth.

You can reconcile the past by also journaling about it. Join Angela Wills' Journal All June Challenge, and answer the various daily prompts based upon how your younger or older self would answer it. That would be a challenge indeed!

Whether our former or future self, we have a lot to learn from each. Now is time for us to get reacquainted — now is the time to reintroduce ourselves.

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I’m Ruth Anita Foote, an award-winning journalist, historian, author, and online entrepreneur — passionate about helping you enhance your business, career, and lifestyle. Whether you need writing, editing, research, or online business development, I’m here to support your growth. My goal is to empower you to elevate your success and make a lasting impact in your field. You can connect to all my social media platforms through Linktr.ee