The Wisdom Harvest
We asked over 12,000 people one question: What would you tell your 25-year-old self? Here are 100 real answers, organized by the Nine Pillars. Tap a section to read more.
Physical Vitality 12 voices
“There is still a lot to learn and there is always great stuff out there. Even in the dark, look for the spark.”
“Don’t work so hard that you forget to live. No one on their deathbed ever said, ‘I wish I spent more time at the office.’”
“Learn to advocate for yourself at the doctor’s office. Nobody knows your body better than you do.”
“The gut and the brain are in constant communication. A healthy gut leads to a healthy mind and a more resilient immune system.”
“Learn to cook. It’s cheaper, healthier, and a great way to bring people together. Your future self (and wallet) will thank you.”
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“Hara Hachi Bu: The Okinawan 2,500-year-old mantra said before meals to remind them to stop eating when their stomachs are 80% full.”
“Stay hungry, stay foolish. Don’t let the ‘adult’ world beat the curiosity out of you.”
“Exercise is a non-negotiable maintenance requirement. You don’t do it to lose weight; you do it because your body is a machine that needs to move.”
“Sleep is a biological imperative, not a luxury.”
“Don’t let your ‘inner critic’ drive the car. It can stay in the back seat and complain, but it doesn’t get to touch the wheel.”
“Psychological resilience in the face of loss is one of the strongest predictors of physical health and longevity in later life.”
“And don’t pet the sweaty things.”
Mental Fortitude 12 voices
“Teach your children how to handle failure with resilience. It is the most important skill they will ever learn.”
“The most expensive thing you can own is a closed mind. Stay curious about people who live differently than you.”
“Apologize to your kids when you’ve been unfair; it models integrity and teaches them that respect is mutual.”
“Don’t give up on a job or a path too early, but don’t stay in a ‘dead-end’ situation out of fear of change.”
“The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places. Resilience is a choice.”
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“Encourage your children to think for themselves, even if it means they end up disagreeing with you.”
“Optimism is true moral courage. Even when the ice is closing in, keep your spirits up for the team.”
“Protect your hearing; the world gets very lonely when you can’t participate in a conversation.”
“Wisdom is the ability to see the ‘Long Game’ in a ‘Short Game’ world.”
“Beware of ‘The Joneses’. They are probably broke and stressed.”
“It turns out that you can be a winner, you can even be the best in the world, and not be happy doing it. And if you’re not happy, it’s okay to call it quits.”
“The world doesn’t owe you anything.”
Relationship Health 13 voices
“At the end of the day, family is the only team that truly matters; invest in them more than any other project.”
“Support your spouse’s need for time with their own family of origin, even if you don’t always get along with them.”
“A lot of heartache, money, and even lives, can be saved if people can cut ties with abusive and toxic family members.”
“Success isn’t about the position you reach or the money you make; it’s about the quality of your relationships along the way.”
“Have a hobby! Save money. Stay friends with your family. Don’t go to bed mad.”
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“Don’t buy things to impress people you don’t even like. Live below your means.”
“You can’t expect anyone to love you if you don’t even love yourself.”
“You can’t change people who don’t see an issue with their behavior.”
“Make dinner time a screen-free zone for everyone, parents included.”
“Teach your kids how to fail gracefully and try again.”
“Trust is built in drops and lost in buckets.”
“Listen to what people do, not what they say.”
“Always fight for what you love!”
Purpose & Meaning 12 voices
“Your worth is not tied to your productivity. It is okay to have a Saturday where you do absolutely nothing.”
“Do the math, but don’t forget the mission. Detail is important, but never lose sight of the big picture.”
“Ignoring isn’t the same as ignorance, you have to work at it. Be careful what you choose to ignore.”
“The best work you will ever do is the work you do when you stop trying to please everyone else.”
“Speak in person, more can be said through personal contact. And stronger networks built.”
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“You can’t have work life balance if you don’t have a life.”
“The best way to get a mentor is to be worth mentoring.”
“My goal everyday is to make at least 1 person laugh.”
“A high salary is not the same as high net worth.”
“A “quiet life” is a valid and noble ambition.”
“Stop waiting for permission to lead.”
“Have compassion for the elderly.”
Spiritual Well-being 10 voices
“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known. Stay curious about the universe and your place in it.”
“Understand the ‘why’ behind the ‘how.’ The logic of the universe is beautiful if you look deep enough.”
“Remember that your child is not an extension of yourself; they are a completely separate soul.”
“Gratitude heals, energizes, and changes lives. It is the most vital spark of the human spirit.”
“All but five of the 263 centenarians we interviewed belonged to some faith-based community. Denomination doesn’t seem to matter.”
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“Sing, even if you’re bad at it. Music is a bridge to the soul that words alone can’t cross.”
“The core task of mid-life is generativity—the desire to mentor and leave a legacy for future generations. Failing this leads to stagnation.”
“The universe is under no obligation to be emotionally satisfying to anyone.”
“When you choose a gratitude attitude, you SEE things differently.”
“Gratitude is the antidote to the ‘Hedonic Treadmill’.”
Financial Health 12 voices
“Risk comes from not knowing what you’re doing. Educate yourself before you put your time or money on the line.”
“Teach your children how to manage their money, but also teach them how to be generous with it.”
“Automate your bill payments and your savings. If you don’t see the money, you won’t miss it.”
“If your employer offers 401k, get in as soon as you are able to the max what they match. It’s FREE money. And spend time with your Mother!”
“The only reason they can afford things in our time is because they could afford things in their time, which saved them lots of money over the Decades.”
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“Plan for tomorrow and save but don’t forget to enjoy the ride.”
“Automate your savings so you never have to ‘decide’ to save.”
“This is my own saying, but there are really two types of problems: ones that money can solve and ones that time can solve. Knowing the difference is most of the answer.”
“Have a hobby that has nothing to do with money.”
“A penny saved is a penny earned.”
“Happiness is not something that happens. It is not the result of good fortune or random chance. It is not something that money can buy or power command. It does not depend on outside events, but, rather, on how we interpret them.”
“Similar to what Peter said: open a savings account/money market account and start saving money with your first paycheck, even if it’s only $5 a week. Pay yourself first and do not touch it!! As he said, you can thank me later. :)”
Growth & Adaptability 12 voices
“In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. Be a person of character, especially when it’s hard.”
“No person is more preoccupied than the one who is always busy. They are busy living, but they have no time for life.”
“Learn to sit with your boredom. It’s in the quiet, empty spaces of life that your best ideas are born.”
“To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else. Stop and be startled more often.”
“The elder’s role is to represent the wisdom of the past, but only in service to the future.”
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“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.”
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
“Change is the only constant. Embrace it or be crushed by it.”
“Don’t try to change your partner. Change your reaction.”
“Learn to enjoy the process of ‘boring’ consistency.”
“live in the present. Focusing too much on the past or worrying about the future can rob you of today’s opportunities and joys. By embracing the present moment, you can find peace, appreciate what you have, and make the most of every experience.”
“Learn to listen then listen to learn”
Environmental Wellness 10 voices
“From space, there are no borders. Try to see your life from a high enough altitude to ignore the petty fights.”
“We are part of nature, not above it. If you destroy your home, you destroy yourself. Protect your environment.”
“If you want to have a peaceful home, you must be the primary source of calm in the midst of chaos.”
“Acknowledge the effort your partner puts into the home, even the things that ‘should’ just be done.”
“Give your adult children space to figure out their own lives. Offer advice only when asked.”
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“Less is more. In your acting, in your words, and in your possessions. Simplify your life.”
“Be the first to forgive and the last to hold a grudge. A happy home is built on grace.”
“The same boiling water that makes an egg hard also makes a potato soft. So you have to Dictate your environment and not let it Dictate you”
“The more you allow negative comments to be said to you, the more you hear negative comments and the more negative your environment becomes.”
“A clean house is nice, but a happy home is essential.”
Integrated Living 7 voices
“Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, but don’t force a resolution when you’re both exhausted.”
“It’s okay to have boundaries. You don’t have to shake hands with everyone; protect your peace.”
“Acknowledge the small, daily contributions your partner makes that often go unnoticed.”
“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”
“If you have a positive attitude, you will fare better against misfortune.”
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“Commit to a life partner. This can add up to 3 years of life expectancy.”
“Automate your savings; willpower is a finite resource.”
100 voices out of over 12,000.
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