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I’m turning 30 this year and what better way to celebrate than to share with you 30 thoughts for my future 30 year old self. In no particular order, I bring you these thoughts:

1. Do it now — “Dos it while you can my boy”. That was the advice given to me by my great uncle before he past away recently and it stuck with me. Make every single day count. There’s a lot of cliches I could throw in here but I’ll leave it at this: Do it now, do it right f*cking now.
2. Take care of your body — You’ve only got one body and you are hugely influenced by it. Try to keep it simple here and focus on what’s more in your control: eat healthy food, avoid harmful substances, drink lots of water, and move every day.
3. Take care of your environment — We’re all a bit disconnected from our home, Earth. Our actions have impacts and we need to be more aware of them to act in harmony with nature. It’s hard to be connected when we don’t directly see the consequences of our actions. We’re lucky to have Earth and need to do a better job taking care of it.
4. Decisions compound — You’re either spiralling up or spiralling down. It’s starts slow at first but as your decisions compound the momentum picks up. Today matters so find the strength to make each decision count and choose which way you want to spiral.
5. Contribute to others — Your purpose is for others so contribute and make a lasting impact. How you contribute takes more time to figure out but once you do go all in and help others. It’s one of the most rewarding activities in life.
6. Perspective is everything — The lens you choose to look at the outside world will shape your inner world. Choose wisely and understand that it’s a good thing to swap out lenses every once in a while to make sure you’re looking at things clearly.
7. Pay attention — Observe and reflect often. This includes self-reflection. Choose where your attention is going. Don’t blindly give it away.
8. Think for yourself and think different — You’re the only you there is and only you can be you’er than you. Don’t follow the herd just because. Be authentically yourself.
9. Have some fun — Enjoy these moments. Do more of what you find fun and enjoyable. Find that joy and keep it.
10. Make a future plan — Have something greater than yourself you’re aiming for. Find that purpose and work relentlessly for it.
11. Anger can be a hot coal — It can have its place but do not hold onto it for too long. You’ll burn yourself more than anyone else.
12. Change is inevitable — This is a fact of life and always will be as long as time isn’t standing still. Learn to thrive in a changing environment through adapting and evolving.
13. You will make mistakes — Mistakes are a good thing. Mistakes mean you’ve tried something. They become worth it when you learn something.
14. Be kind — We’d all be a little bit better if we were kinder to one another.
15. Take some risks — Because why not? There are no points for playing it safe all the time. Use some risk management to help you not do something incredibly stupid. If said stupidity occurs refer to thought number thirteen.
16. Garden for the soul — There’s something special about the connection to nature you’ll get from gardening. It helps with thought number three and finding that connection to the consequences of your actions.
17. Stay curious and open minded — You’re only as young as the last time you’ve changed for mind. A promise I’ve made to myself (and one I will make every effort to keep) is that I will continue to learn with an open mind and never believe that I have absolutely everything figured out. I’m concerned in my older age when neuroplasticity isn’t as good I’ll be more stubborn in my beliefs. But I’m going to work real hard to overcome this potential outcome.
18. Life’s a journey — Not a race. You can always start over. You may not reach as far but at least you’re on the right path for you.
19. No attachment to the outcome — Focus on what you can control, the process. You’re entitled to your labour but not the fruits of your labour.
20. Show some love and gratitude — We can all use a bit more love so give a bit more of it. It tends to come back tenfold in return.
21. Be positive — Life’s too short not to be. Yes there are tough and tragic moments. Refer to thought number six. Change your perspective and you can change your life.
22. Oppression is our biggest mistake — The loss of a human’s full potential to oppression is a tragedy. We must help each other to reach all of our full potentials. One person being oppressed is a monumental loss for our society. Stand up against oppression.
23. See things for what they are — This can be extremely challenging and sometimes hard for me to put into words. Look through all of the noise and distraction to find the core of something. Don’t see only what you want to see. Stop tricking yourself.
24. Spend time with loved ones — It’s our relationships with others that matter the most. Spend more time with them than you think necessary. The opportunities to see them will pass faster than you think.
25. Stay connected — Be aware of the outcomes of your actions, including higher order consequences. Keep that connection to those outcomes strong so you can adjust your actions accordingly. We’re all far too disconnected from the effects of our actions we take every day because a lot of the time we don’t see the direct consequences. And if we do see them they’re far too delayed to drive change.
26. Write to clarify your thoughts — Writing is going into a wrestling match with your mind on paper. Everyone comes out a winner although sometimes it won’t feel that way.
27. Be present — You’ve only got this moment so make it count. At 30 you’re still a time billionaire. The best wealth that not even money can buy.
28. Watch incentives — Incentives drive behaviour. Think about what your incentives are currently. Understand incentives and you can connect them to outcomes. Incentivize yourself in strategic ways.
29. Use systems for success — Place and remove friction in your life strategically. Don’t want to do something? Add friction on your path to it. Looking to do more of something? Reduce the friction that leads to its action. We fall to the level of our habitual systems.
30. Always be learning — If you’re hungry for knowledge, you’ll be hungry forever. I think that’s a good thing. It’s the pursuit that never ends.

Thanks for reading. If you enjoyed this post and would like to continue to read more of my writing then be sure to sign up for my newsletter today. These 30 thoughts are not exhaustive and are subject to change. They will change. See thought number seventeen. Yes there’s always obvious exceptions to the rule. You get the idea. Here’s to 30.

“Dos it while you can my boy” — Ewrin Gebers

I appreciate you.

M