Whether it is a job interview, a first date or a 3am kitchen conversation I am sure this is a question you have pondered before.
It’s a question that, at its bones, is meant to target your passions for life and draw out any untapped ambition. It is designed to let your life flash before your eyes, with the golden moments shaping your future. Of course your answer usually depends on your relationship with the person asking the question.
The answer is ever evolving, a small change in your life can easily shape your ‘future plans’. Relationships, money and hobbies will construct your answer.
My answer right now for example; Married, raising kids, influencing a generation to ask questions and find answers and teaching a yoga class.
However this time, when presented with the question I thought about being exactly where i am right now. I imagined my 16, 36 and 66 year old self all providing me with feedback about life experiences. That’s when I realised that all ages and generations would tell their past, present and future self a different thing. I wanted to expand on this and get a wide understanding of how all generations would talk to their 25 year old self.
So, I compiled a group of people in my life and asked the difficult questions and asked them to direct their answer to themselves at the age of 25.
Sticking with the underlying theme and catering to my shockingly short attention span, I wanted to have a little bit of fun with this. So imagine yourself in a mid 2000’s TV game show: GENERATIONS COME ON DOWN!
Let’s meet our contestants:
Baby B: A Female from the baby boomer generation who enjoys soaking up retirement and walks of the beach.
Lenni: A male from the middle of the millennial generation, he enjoys drinking tinned pina colada and complaining about the rain.
#Zer: A female contestant from generation z, her likes and dislikes can be viewed all over social media because she’s so vapid (she’s my sister I can say that)
MM: A male born right at the end of the millennial generation 94 to be exact, he enjoys politics and breaking down stereotypes.
Round One; Contestants, what advice would you give to a 25 year old self regarding health?
Baby B: Stop worrying, it doesn’t help, you are loved. Enjoy yourself but look after yourself.
Lenni: Don’t google things, if you are worried get things checked out. Don’t be afraid of living your life.
MM: Consistency is far better than bouts of motivation. A little bit all the time is better than a lot every week, right?
#Zer: Take advantage of what you have, remove anything that makes you feel less.
Round Two: Contestants, what would you tell your 25 year old self about career aspirations?
Baby B: Just because you have spent your life doing one certain thing, doesn’t mean you can’t change. If you want to start again, do it. Reach for the sky It truly is the limit.
Lenni: You will meet a lot of people who will tell you that you ‘can’t’ or ‘won’t’. The only power they hold is if you entertain that for a second. Don’t let people tell you what you can and can’t achieve.
MM: Realise you are one of a kind. Your USP becomes your brand and with that power you can be the voice in your industry. Innovate and change your industry. Break down moulds.
#Xer: It seems easy to give up sometimes, but it’s important to understand that not every day will be 100 miles an hour, sometimes it will be boring but remember the bigger picture.
Round Three: A little harder this time, in 10 words or less. Give me what you would tell you 25 year old self regarding self confidence.
Baby B: Just be yourself, your true self.
Lenni: Don’t let people knock your confidence at all.
MM: Don’t compare yourself to others.
#Zer: Don’t let other people tell you that you can’t do it
Last Question: Parting thoughts contestants, what would you tell your 25 year old self regarding relationships?
Baby B: Always speak to family. True friends will be there no matter what. Communication is key with loved ones.
Lenni: Remind them that everything is OK and that nothing is as bad as It seems. Arguments happen and things that want to be fixed will find a way to be fixed.
MM: Every relationship requires effort. Compromise when appropriate but don’t change yourself for anyone.
#Zer: Life is too short to hold onto anger, if relationships fall apart they will either fix themselves or stay broken. Let it happen.
So, what did we learn?
Baby B and Lenni are both speaking to their past. The answers have underlying similarities but different tones. The way in which Baby B answers questions is like she is encouraging herself to be more free spirited whereas Lenni seems to be more strict in his answers. These two contestants are 25 years apart in age, suggesting maybe you start considering your past self more after retirement age.
#Zer is our only contestant speaking to her future self. So she truly is answering the question ‘where do you see yourself in 10 years’. Her answers follow the same theme as everyone else’s but when asked about career she clearly has that enterpernial spirit that so many people in that generation have.
MM is our Marginally Millennial contestant, born right at the cusp of the generation change and currently 26 years old. He is speaking to himself during the game. Being on the cusp of two generations you can see his answers seem like a mix of both Lenni and #Zer’s answers. Which solidifies that people born in the 90’s really have a different world view.
Interestingly (though unsurprising) all contestants have the same answer for the advice regarding self confidence, it seems like everyone knows that you shouldn’t let other people knock you confidence but let it happen anyway. This might be the most important takeaway from this whole game.
They always say it is easier to give advice than take it.
So now it’s up to you, What advice would you give your 25 year old self?
