Rewinding Time's Tape: Dispensing Wisdom to a Younger Self

Imagine being granted a one-way ticket back to your youth, knowing everything you do now—what would you do differently? As I watched my son sprint across the soccer field, a flood of what-ifs and I-wish-I-knews washed over me, leading to a heartfelt exploration of the wisdom age has bestowed upon us. In a candid conversation that spans two decades of life's highs and lows, I open up about the emotional minefields of our twenties, from the perilous search for acceptance in relationships to the misconceptions surrounding masculinity. Through stories and reflections, I offer up the advice I'd give my younger self: the significance of emotional intelligence, the cornerstone of self-love, and mastering one's professional sphere with targeted certifications and expertise. 

This stroll down memory lane isn't just about nostalgia; it's an excavation of life lessons that shaped the road to self-discovery. Departing the electric hum of New York City set the stage for an evolution in personal and physical health, proving that environment can be as influential as mindset. I share the intimate details of my encounter with spirituality and the profound impact of meditation and prayer in forging a connection with something greater than ourselves. Unpacking the influence of upbringing and religion, I compare the mind to a computer system—programmable and adaptable. The mantra "I am who I say I am" isn't just a phrase; it's a testament to the transformative power of belief and the conscious effort to craft not only a professional resume but a life resume that echoes our truest selves.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:01

to be young again. And if this video made it to you and you've ever felt that way, if even for just a second, do me a favor, real quick comment on this video with that simple line to be young again, because we're all human and the reality is we all have a childhood, and if, even just for a second, we know that if things were just slightly different growing up, if only we knew then what we know now, man, oh man, what a difference it could make. And so today I'll be speaking as my 42-year-old self, because that's who I am, just a 42-year-old dude trying to do things. And I'll be speaking to my 22-year-old self, giving him advice, playing the game of what if? That we all play as we delve into the memories of our wonderful past. So hopefully you're watching or listening and, regardless of age, bring along a younger you for the ride through nostalgia. We can learn some things along the way, and I believe, if you stay to the end, you'll walk away from this inspired to not just reflect on what could have been, but take away from this what you will no longer allow to be, if for no other reason than you now know what you didn't back then. And I want to start with a brief story of how I got to this talk, the inspiration and motivation for what got me here.

Speaker 1: 1:37

And it occurred yesterday, which was Sunday, because today's Monday, that's how the world works and it was while I was with my wife and we were watching my son play soccer for his travel team. And this was a home game, which was beautiful because the field is like three minutes from my house, up the hill and around the corner, and the field, the soccer field, is technically a baseball field, it's a turf field and they put out the goals on what technically would be the outfield turf by stretching them between, if you know, baseball, left field and center field. I never know which way to go on this thing. Anyhow, it was cold, a bit rainy and windy, which sucked, and it was just about a noon start time, but there was no sun at all. It was just dreary, cold, rainy day. But, of course, all proud parents had their chairs pulled out, sipping on their lattes, their cappuccinos and their hot chocolates, right, cheering for their kids, and it was a beautiful scene, like most child events are. It's just a wonderful thing, right? A bunch of 10 and 11-year-olds running back and forth, kicking the ball around, either trying to stop the ball from going into a big white net or get it into the big white net.

Speaker 1: 2:42

And while this is happening, standing right next to my wife watching her watch the game and she, very matter-of-factly, I could see her eyes kind of drifting off in a thought, all kinds of possibilities running through that brain. She takes a deep breath, lets it out real slow and looks at me With great pause and suspense she deserved an Oscar. Ever so gently, she says to me and I can feel it man, to be young again and redo things, how different would it be? Do I have your attention? Cause now I'm going to take 42 year old Jeff, transition to the 22 and and I'm going to get right into the dirty. Dirty that's always fun.

Speaker 1: 3:29

Here you go, jeff, at 22. Your greatest quality will be the greatest cause of your pain you are selfish, and selfishness can be and should be and will be done in the right way for us eventually. But at 22, the majority of your selfishness resolves around deeply dark emotional and social gaps. You crave acceptance and because of this you will abuse many, many, many, many. Relationships which will feel good in the moment might even give you superficial manly bragging rights meaning it will surfacely align with the cultural misconception of a man being a man. For the record, take this where you want, but this is not intended to be intimate at all, but it's still crucial to the conversation. Your secret desire to live a life that is materially, visually and psychologically aligned with bragging rights will be the source of all your nightmares and immense pain in the future. So my advice be selfish all the time by seeking emotional intelligence, maturation and self-love. That's how we're going to start to roll with all right.

Speaker 1: 4:44

Let's get into knowledge. You were right. You are right College isn't required to live a very nice life. You have an entrepreneurial mindset. But you were also right you can live a very nice, comfortable and fulfilling life, financially in particular, without going to college and without being a rap star. You're going to thrive in your nine to five grind For where your career is going to take you. Over the next 20 years. You will reach VP level title and salary even without a formal education. You don't need college, however. This is knowledge. Start your certification process early, because what you do need what you figure out but takes almost a decade is formal and very specific knowledge in your field, formal and very specific knowledge in your field. Essentially, treat your profession like a trade. Get all certifications, attend seminars and conferences and absorb any form of content that provides specific and intentional knowledge in your field. In short, become an expert in what you do. More fun Relationships Everyone you know right now, including most family, will not be in your life while you evolve.

Speaker 1: 5:56

Not saying people, family and relationships aren't important, but you don't need anyone around you right now to get the levels you seek. In fact, the large majority of people around you right now are dimming your light now, are dimming your light, and you are selecting them to feed your dark side. The fear you have of acceptance is certainly valid and should be addressed, but the relationship that will allow you to flourish is with the person you said I do to Keep her in the forefront at all times. You'll eventually figure this out. A little more about yourself. You have an addictive personality. Alcohol and drugs feel really good. For some reason, I get the feeling somewhat better for you than most people, so stay the fuck away from it. Not only is it clearly not good for you, but by not avoiding this, you are putting the absolute shittiest version of yourself on repeat. So, for fuck's sake, avoid this.

Speaker 1: 6:57

Risks Another one of your greatest traits. Ironically, the majority of risks you take will be of great benefit to you. However, there will be some risks that you avoid. Don't do that. Mistakes happen and are generally acceptable, but try and make better ones. This will make sense for you by not avoiding risks any risks because the ones that you seem, or that seem, to be presented to you, are opportunities to elevate you and will work for you.

Speaker 1: 7:29

Environment Get out of New York sooner. The greatest place in the world, new York City, will forever be in your fabric and forever, at the same time, be a limiting factor in your evolution. Everything changes for us when we move and change our. You Love life. Work out a lot all the time. It helps you live longer and that beer belly you get it haunts you Even when you lose it, because that sixpack doesn't just pop back up, that sucks Buddha at the bottom.

Speaker 1: 8:06

Finally, and I believe most importantly, consciousness and God. There's a professional resume and a life resume, and until you teach yourself, you are living as someone else. Working in IT, information technology, which is a logical space, made all the sense in the world for us, why Consciousness equates to creation as it creates your mind. Your mind is a logical space that operates like a computer system. That computer system is being programmed, manipulated and having software downloaded to it at all times. How you were raised, religion, sports, environment, that whole third grade thing, people, places and things all have an effect on how you perceive your life. So because it functions like a machine and computer system, you can teach it, program it, manipulate it and download whatever information and feelings, emotions that you want.

Speaker 1: 9:15

Meditation is the most important discovery you can make for yourself. Prayer is the most vital tool in your arsenal. Finding God on your terms, in your own view, from your own perspective, will launch everything forward and you will never look back. So there you go, me at 22. There is a whole lot more to this life thing, but shaping these perspectives for us will save you in a lot of ways. But then again, thank you 22, because without you not only would I not proudly be who I am at 42, but I wouldn't be so confident about us at 62. Blessings to all. Change your mind, change your life. I am who I say I am. Stay rich.