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23 If you could go back in time and talk to yourself when you were a teenager, what advice would you give? (03/21/2023)

I am assuming I go back to 2013 when I just immigrated to the US and was depressed with low self-esteem. My first instinct was to tell my teenager-self, invest in bitcoin and tesla, start reading books on self-help (specifically Mark Manson's models book and Dale Carnegie), learn calisthenics and get leaner through increased protein and lower calories, and be more vulnerable and open as a person.

Now that I think about it, if I gave all or any of those advices, I might not be who I am today. I might not make the same friends who I have today. Maybe I might turn up better or I might turn out worse with those early advices. One thing is for sure is that I won't be the same. For that reason, I might not interact with my past self at all because he will be me one day and that's fine. Even though I am always focused on self-improvement, I like where I am now and how much I have grown over my life. Even if I could be a successful 22 year old with good looks and confidence, I don't mind not having that right now. I might get it eventually. Even if I might not, I am more worried about losing my close friends that not being successful and handsome.

However, this is hypocritical for me to say this but I would give all those advices to my younger brother. While I did appreciate all the pain and suffering because of the personal growth it allowed, I would not want anyone else to go through what I did. If he can learn and grow through all of that without the pain, then might as well do it the easy way. It’s kind of like how parents work hard to make their children’s lives easier but they get upset that they become lazier as a result. I might end up like that.