A friend of mine recently asked me what I would tell my younger self if I had the opportunity. It was a great question, and caused me to stop and think. Soon enough I realized that the present me could still use a talking to on a couple of these points, so here’s what I would say…

> Life is not meant to be hard. If it is, that's a sure clue that you are doing something wrong or forcing yourself down a path you aren't meant to travel - this applies to love, career and all else.

> Hard is very different than challenging, boring or even scary. It's important to properly identify what you are feeling so you can respond appropriately.

> No one alive expects nearly as much from you as you do. Lighten up and do what you love. Perfect doesn’t exist. Work for progress not perfection.

> Small things, done consistently, matter much more than the largest or grandest gesture. This holds true especially when it comes to money, relationships and goals.

> When you get confused about another’s intentions or feelings, stop listening to what they say and instead watch what they do (Note: this also applies to yourself).

Although I wish I’d known these (and many other) things when I was much younger, I’ve had a great time discovering them!