Life Advice - What Advice Would You Give Yourself if You Were 18 Again

Ltoratiger on 01/02/2024 - 14:36
Last edited 01/02/2024 - 15:05

Hi OzBargain Community.

I'm now 18 years of old, an Adult. But I don't feel like one. I feel pathetic, I feel disgraceful, I feel like I wasted 18 years of my life doing nothing to be proud of. From a young age, being in a disruptive family, I had developed pretty severe anxiety which followed me throughout schooling. I was overweight and insecure, struggled mentally alot and was an introvert despite not wanting to be one. I cared too much about everything. I did seek professionals secretly but I have stopped ever since graduating, simply because I feel like its a big waste of money and I feel guilty considering how hard expensive it is.

I feel like I've found my purpose in Entrepreneurship. It's something I've always liked and been fascinated in. I started my first business when I was 16, it failed badly (lost 2-3k) and my mental did get pretty bad but I've been able to comeback. Entrepreneurship has also allowed me to not feel worthless, and feel like Im actually working towards something in my life. It has allowed me to somewhat get my life together, started to sleep more on time, workout more, and just study more, learning valuable information about life.

That's why I will be be fully committing to starting my own Ecommerce Store soon. I just have to do it. I will rather die doing this than pursue a boring degree I don't care about. I really hope it does well because I will put my all into it, but if it doesn't, oh well I'm still 18. Have some money from being spoiled but not much. Im putting all my money into this, I won't be asking my parents for any.

Is there any advice you would give?

I've found advice from strangers to funny enough be extremely useful especially with those relating to starting a business. I don't have anyone else to ask tbh.

PS - I'm really interested in Gym Apparel

Education & Work

Comments

  • wongsun on 06/02/2024 - 11:08

    1. Always be learning and growing - this applies for your whole life. The best way to do this is to do hard stuff every day. Don't stay in your comfort zone.

    2. Look at how you can serve or give to others - this is one of the most fulfilling things in life

    3. Get in shape - your physical shape has a direct correlation with your mental health

    4. Don't compare with others. Comparison is the thief of joy. The only person you should be comparing against is yourself and who you were yesterday.

    5. Don't chase women. Focus on levelling up into the best version of yourself. You have plenty of time ahead of you and if you will find that if you focus on the above, you will get plenty of female attention anyway.

    6. Get right with God - Investigate the big reasons is life. Why are we here, what happens when we die etc. This life is short. Is there more after?

    • toratiger on 06/02/2024 - 22:13

      1. Yea I definitely agree with this. You can never learn enough although it is hard to learn when its not fun for you lol. But breaking your comfort zone is definitely something I need to do more of.

      2. Yes definitely, i want to make my parents somewhat proud.

      3. Yes this is one of my main focuses right now. Being in shape makes me more secure and happier in general.

      4. Yea this was a hard one to get past, especially in this generation. But tbh I feel like I've somewhat gotten past this.

      5. Yes definitely, I feel like there is so much more in life you have to do such as working on yourself before chasing girls.

      6. Yes definitely.

  • Vind1cator on 06/02/2024 - 11:55

    Find a method that helps you let go of mental baggage. Otherwise, you will carry that weight with you for years and it will slow you down or even sabotage your life.

    There are many ways to do this. I would recommend speaking to different people and trying different approaches until you find something that works. Personally, it took a 10 day Vipassana meditation course to give me the conditions and tools to start to let go of some of the more stubborn baggage. I know people who journal, go to therapists, hiking, cycling, swimming, improv comedy and even take psychedelics to help process the baggage.

    Imagine how much better your 20's will be with 50% less anxiety. Imagine how much further you will go if your internal monologue is your best friend.

    • toratiger on 06/02/2024 - 22:11
      +1

      Yea definitely, If I keep getting dragged down by my mental. It could be costly, I'll definitely look for options such as seeking professional or speaking to people who've beaten it.

      Yea I definitely don't want to have this anxiety in the peak of my life.

      Thanks!

  • Brianqpr on 06/02/2024 - 12:55

    Buy a property or at least work towards doing this, I was already working full time at 18 (the days where you didn't need a degree and uni debt to get a start in finance/insurance). My Dad several times told me and my brother this and we ignored him.

    Pretty sure back then you could buy places in London that would pay for themselves in terms of rental income. I also worked for a company that would have provided a loan. It wasn't until I was much older that I understood investing.

    Hindsight is a wonderful thing!

    • toratiger on 06/02/2024 - 22:08

      To be Honest, my parents are immigrants and in a way they worked everyday and ended up affording their own property. They plan to pass that down like most families do? (Atleast in my culture).

      I feel really grateful to have this option but Im definitely not depending on it, I definitely want to achieve bigger things on my own but its definitely something that makes me feel safe I guess.

      Thanks!

  • Aerith-Waifu on 06/02/2024 - 16:31

    Buy as much property as you can and invest in VAS and no individual stocks. I lost over $100k in individual stocks but VAS is doing just fine

  • slipperypete on 06/02/2024 - 21:47

    and was an introvert despite not wanting to be one

    nothing wrong with being an introvert. It's actually great. Read the book "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking" by Susan Cain

    • toratiger on 06/02/2024 - 22:07

      I'll take a good look. Thanks!

  • nobro25 on 07/02/2024 - 07:45

    Don't feel bad. When I was 30 I was exactly in the same boat as you. You're still young and have plenty of time.

    I feel you though. First thing I think about was family, that screwed up a big chunk of my time atleast 20 years trying to deal with the situation.

    Honestly I rather my family did drugs at least that way I would've left the toxic relationship much earlier. It's the psychological torment they give you that's tricky.

    My two best advice is;
    1. Never try to fix people ( yes there are exceptions that people change) but you're talking about 1% of scenario's. Even thought they're family it's not your responsibility if you have put in the effort to mitigate and situation. For me it took me 20 years to realize and left. I'm behind compared to all my classmates who's have kids and already build a decent assets portfolio. It is what is.

    1. Work on yourself, have discipline and do the hard yards. Once you know your shit then you can be a bit more commanding. But at first keep your head down and just keep working. Eventually you'll see the patterns of people society… You'll know what to do.
  • Munki on 07/02/2024 - 12:00

    Don't get a credit card and learn to save more money.

  • cupcake on 08/02/2024 - 10:55

    I wish I was 18 again.

  • unoff on 09/02/2024 - 10:57

    Just learn how to love yourself on your bad days, you'll figure out most things based on your gut instincts.

  • PhilosophicalTurtle on 18/02/2024 - 10:51

    Your plans will not materialise and life will hit you on the face hard. Some of it was not your doing and some of it was your own doing. Don't make ties or associate with people who constantly talk negative things and breed and farm for negative thoughts even if they are family and close friends (sometimes it is ok ofcourse). Keep moving on and be kind to everyone and all species(as much as possible) that deserve to life a stress-free life just like you because being cruel others is the worst thing you will be doing to yourself.

  • cheekymonkey97 on 20/02/2024 - 17:10

    Just buy property, this country doesn't support entrepreneurialism or having a PAYG job.

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