A Letter to My Past Self and My Future Self

If I could sit across from myself—both the version just starting out and the version still to come—this is what I’d say about career, training, and the long game of showing up.

To My Past Self

You’re going to think success comes from going harder than everyone else. More hours. More intensity. Less rest. You’ll wear exhaustion like a badge of honor and convince yourself that being busy is the same as being effective.

It’s not.

In your career, stop chasing every opportunity just to prove you can handle it. You don’t need to say yes to everything to be valuable. Learn the difference between growth and noise. Focus on building skills that compound—communication, consistency, leadership—because those will matter long after job titles change.

Ask for help sooner. Speak up when something doesn’t feel right. You don’t have to earn rest or clarity by burning yourself out first.

In your training, understand this early: more isn’t always better. You don’t need to crush yourself every session to make progress. Technique matters. Recovery matters. Longevity matters—even if you don’t think it does yet.

There will be days when your body feels unstoppable. Enjoy them, but don’t build your identity around them. There will also be days when progress feels slow. Those are not failures—they’re part of the process.

Be patient. You’re not behind.

To My Future Self

I hope you’ve remembered that consistency beats intensity over time. I hope you didn’t abandon movement just because life got busy or priorities shifted. Training doesn’t need to look the same—but it does need to stay.

Keep working out for what it gives you beyond aesthetics or numbers on a barbell. Train for strength so daily life stays easier. Train for conditioning so stress feels manageable. Train because it sharpens your mind, steadies your emotions, and reminds you what you’re capable of.

In your career, don’t confuse comfort with fulfillment. Stay curious. Keep learning. Mentor others. Measure success not just by outcomes, but by how you treat people and how you protect your health along the way.

If you’ve achieved things you once wanted, don’t forget the discipline that got you there. If you haven’t, don’t let that turn into regret—let it turn into recalibration.

Above all, I hope you’re still playing the long game.

Key Takeaways to Remember:

• Career and fitness aren’t separate paths—they teach the same lessons:
  • Progress is rarely linear
  • Showing up consistently matters more than going all-in occasionally
  • Burnout helps no one
  • Discipline creates freedom
  • You don’t need to prove your worth by suffering

Take care of your body. Protect your time. Build things that last.

You’re allowed to evolve.
And you’re allowed to rest.

What would your letter to your past self and future self say…? 📝

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