What Advice Would You Give Your Younger Self?

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“I wish that I knew what I know now, when I was younger.” -The Faces

It’s only natural that we occasionally wish that it didn’t take us so long to learn certain lessons. But alas, we learn what we learn, in the time it takes us to learn it: c’est la vie. Where we learn said lessons can vary greatly. We learn from risks taken and not taken, love had and love lost, and occasionally that piece of advice from your best friend sinks in. One of our favorite things about the SI Swimsuit community is the opportunity to share advice, and encourage and champion one another. Camille Kostek’s greatest advice? Not to compare yourself to other people. “You wake up and go to sleep with yourself every single day…love who you are on the inside…and grow together. Talk to yourself. Have the inner dialogue…The world and..outside forces are already so hard on you, why be hard on yourself? Why not wake up and decide that today’s the day that you’re going to fall in love with yourself.”

We asked our community in the Swimfluence Network App what advice they would give their younger selves. Here are some of our favorites.

1. Adapt

“Life is about adaptation, and you will always, always adapt” –Megan Barkley

2. Give yourself grace.

“What I wish I could tell my younger self and what I will tell my daughter is ‘give yourself grace.’ I have always struggled with wanting to be perfect in all aspects of life, but imperfections are what make life so beautiful. Mistakes will be made, rough times will come, but you can’t truly appreciate the sunshine if you haven’t experienced the rain”. –Alison Kear

3. It’s O.K. to not know.

“It is O.K. if you don’t know where you’re going in life. Don’t allow society to tell you what you should do, where to live, when to get married, etc… Live in the moment and don’t worry about the future. Explore life. Life is a beautiful thing and it can shape you into someone you thought you’ll never be and that’s beautiful!” –Barbara Osahon

4. Trust your gut.

“We all have our own instinctual feelings guiding us individually, but they’re not always easy to hear. So to my younger self 💛 don’t for a second think you are not worthy of creating more than what you were dealt. Listen to it. Follow your own power.” –Bri Haddad

5. Don't make decisions out of fear.

“Don't make decisions out of fear, follow your heart and happiness because everything will be O.K.!! With that same theme, don’t worry so much. Even rejection is protection, leading us to something better than we could even dream! Supportive family and good friends is something so special! The most important thing is our health so take care of you and the rest will fall into place. My baby and I had so many complications after he was born so I say this with so much experience that good health is the greatest form of abundance! Lastly…it’s never too late to follow your dreams!! I’m 42 and I feel healthier, happier, stronger and more beautiful than ever!! Follow your dreams and know that anything is possible as long as you believe!!” –Bizette Love

6. Embrace Your Uniqueness

“Nobody is you and that is your superpower, let your light shine! 💖 Also, it sounds cliche, but be where your feet are! It’s so easy to look forward to the next day, weekend, year but you’re only in that current stage for a short time so enjoy it!” –Bradey King

7. You are perfect for the person meant to love you.

“My boyfriend of nearly eight years is one of my biggest cheerleaders, he supports my wildest dreams, and he loves me at my most authentic: no filter, perfectly imperfect, naturally a little shy. No matter what flaws I see in myself, to him I’m always enough. My younger self thought love was a fairy tale, but does s/he love you unconditionally, feel secure when you shine, and champion your goals as much as their own ? I’d tell my younger self to wait for the person who will love me for me, instead of changing myself for something less than real love. That’s how you find a true partner in this journey called life. I’m so grateful that I eventually found that and hope every woman here finds it too!” –Samantha Joy Fay

8. Say yes to everything.

“Say yes to everything, to every offer, to every opportunity. Just throw your hand in the air before you have a chance to think, before you have a chance to talk yourself out of it and before your fears start to creep in...There's so much fun to be had on the other side of saying yes.” –Dee Hake

If you didn’t already know, SI Swimsuit has launched an app! The Swimfluence Network. We’ve created an inclusive community for women who are looking to connect, learn, grow and champion change for the next generation. Available now for iOS & Android by searching The Swimfluence Network in the App Store or visit us online.