On Purpose with Jay Shetty - 6 Reasons Why It’s Never Too Late To Quit and Start Over

Episode Date: September 13, 2019

“I wish I started earlier” Have you ever told yourself that? Or how about “It’s too late” or “it’s not going to happen for me anymore”. My follow up is: Too late for what? Too late for who? Who made up these rules? We are all made to feel that we need to have our lives figured out by 21, but to put that false expectation on yourself is absurd. Our current education system is teaching us subjects not problem solving, emotional management or self awareness. Without experience under our belts, we rush into making bad decisions. Realize there are benefits in starting later, and many people have like Samuel Jackon and Stan Lee! Today you’ll get a brand new perspective and start becoming the person you should’ve been. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hi, I'm Brendan Francis Neum, I'm a journalist, a wanderer, and a bit of a bond-vivant, but mostly a human just trying to figure out what it's all about. And not lost is my new podcast about all those things. It's a travel show where each week I go with a friend to a new place and to really understand it, I try to get invited to a local's house for dinner. Where kind of trying to get invited to a dinner party? It doesn't always work out. Ooh, I have to get back to you. Listen to not lost on the iHeart radio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

I'm Dr. Romani and I am back with season two of my podcast, Navigating Narcissism. This season we dive deeper into highlighting red flags and spotting a narcissist before they spot you. Each week you'll hear stories from survivors who have navigated through toxic relationships, gaslighting, love bombing, and their process of healing. Listen to navigating narcissism on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Munga Shatekler, and it turns out astrology is way more widespread than any of us want

to believe. You can find it in major league baseball, international banks, K-pop groups, even the White House. But just when I thought I had a handle on this subject, something completely unbelievable happened to me and my whole view on astrology changed. Whether you're a skeptic or a believer, give me a few minutes because I think your ideas are about to change too. Listen to Skyline Drive on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. What would my younger self be sad that I stopped doing? Is it that I stopped playing an instrument? Is it that I stopped playing a sport? Is it that I stopped being entrepreneurial? Is it that I stopped being risk-? Is it that I stopped being entrepreneurial?

Is it that I stopped being risk-taking? What is it? For me when I asked that question, it was that I stopped using words to express my feelings. I stopped sharing that with the world because I loved writing when I grew up. I loved poetry, I loved spoken word. And I stopped using words in that way. Hey, everyone, welcome back to on purpose, the number one health podcast in the world. Thanks to each and every single one of you. I'm genuinely so happy and so grateful that you

listen in every single week to learn, to grow and to invest in your mindset, to invest in your happiness, to invest in your joy. And I love seeing the messages that show me that you leave these sessions, feeling that joy in your life, that you leave these sessions, feeling equipped, feeling focused, feeling direction in your life. And that's all I'm trying to do, as I'm just trying to facilitate growth, I'm trying to facilitate you to have the resources to make the changes and the difference that you're seeking in your life. It means so much to me that you're here right now, whether you're walking your dog, whether you're commuting, whatever

you're up to, and that you're so fascinated to learn the six reasons why it's never too late to quit something and start doing what you love. Now, here's where we kind of get it all wrong. Here's where it starts to get complicated in our minds. So, we're made to feel that we need to have our lives figured out by 21. How many of you've been in that position? Not your head, raise your hand, say yes, out loud. How many of you have been in that position? Well, you felt when you were 21 that you needed to have your life figured out, you needed to know what job you were going to do, you needed to know how and where you were going to live, you needed to know so many things. There was so much pressure around that age or whatever age you graduated. And that's the thing, it's usually the year

we graduate college or maybe we start working. And it's crazy that we expect people to know themselves, know what they want to do and start doing it. Like it's actually a ridiculous notion that the education system currently has its stands, which is teaching us subjects, not really teaching us thought patterns, not really teaching us problem solving, not really teaching us the management of emotional well-being and intelligence. What we're really being taught is subjects. What we're really being taught is retention. What we're really being taught is a bit of connection, but we're not really being taught application or experimentation.

We're not being taught self awareness. These would all be super useful skills to be able to be clear by 21 about what we want to do, but we've never had that. So to put this false expectation on ourself, to have everything figured out by 21 actually seems highly unrealistic. It's actually absurd based on the fact that when we're 21 or 25 or even 30, we've had very few experiences that we've been exposed to to actually make a valuable

decision. And that's why it's never too late to start anything you want to do because we're almost made to decide too early, right? There's this pressure to figure things out early. And because it is too early, we recognize that we need more time and we can find that more time. It makes a huge difference in our life. So this is kind of how it goes for all of us.

And of course, it's slightly different for each and every one of us, but I see these trends. So in our 20s, we think we have to commit to a job, start working hard because it seems like the adult thing to do. And at that time, what we really needed to do was the opportunity to explore, to experiment, to try new things and learn about ourselves. Now, in the traditional way of kind of how it works is we do what's expected in our 20s, we work hard, we commit to a job. In our 30s, we start

realizing, wait a minute, I actually didn't get to explore anything. I didn't get to learn anything. Like, I have different passions. Wait a minute, I don't understand myself. And for a lot of us, our thirties is when we start taking alternative routes. Our thirties is when we start trying out new and different things. Now, if we had used our twenties to experiment,

then our thirties are a time we can get in the groove, get in the zone and start focusing. Notice how different it is when you have time to figure yourself out, when you have time to learn about yourself and you have time to grow. Notice how different it is, right? It's just a completely different experience. And I'm fascinated by that because I think so many of us miss out, right? So many of us miss out on these opportunities. For a lot of us then, we really start exploring at the age of 40, at the age of 50, at the age of 60, at the age of 70, whenever it may be for you, at the age of 30, that's when you start exploring, learning about yourself, self-awareness, your passions, your purpose. And it's funny. So many of us think that's late. So many of us think that's behind.

So many of us think we came late to the party. I speak to so many 30, 40, 50 year olds who say, ah, I wish I started earlier. Well, the truth is, of course, you wish you started earlier. That makes complete sense. Or doesn't make sense is to quit now. Or doesn't make sense is to quit now. Or doesn't make sense is to now finally having this realization and saying, well, it's too late, too late for what? Too late for who? Who made up these rules?

This is a question I ask myself all the time. Whenever I hear something is too late, too early, you know, not enough, et cetera. I'm like, who made these rules? Who made these norms? And these norms really govern so many decisions in our life. And what we decide to do with our life, and they'd really de-abilitate us. That's what I notice about norms, norms actually de-abilitate us, because we start comparing ourselves against the average. Now, if you compare yourself against the average, guess what? You become more average, right? Because that's what you're comparing yourself against. But if you compare yourself against you, I want to live my

passion and I want to do what I love and grow, then that's what really makes the difference, right? That's what's really going to have the experience. So what I wanted to share here is that there are certain things that we're better off doing when we're younger, like learning a language is easier when you're younger, learning how to walk, of course, is easier and more natural when you're younger. There are certain things that we pick up more naturally at a younger age. And I'm sure you can think of some things now that you're like, yeah, you know what? I picked it up at that time.

I'm not sure I can pick it up now. Maybe it was riding a bike, right? It was easier to pick up when you were younger. But there are certain things like that. Maybe it was surfing, whatever it may have been. There are a few things that were easier to pick up when you were younger. But the interesting thing is that actually science shows that there

are plenty of things that we actually pick up as we get older. And this really fascinated me when I read this business inside our article, talking about how these studies show how we actually perform better in specific strengths at different times in our life. So it was really interesting for me to see in that same article that people between the ages of 82 and 85 reported the highest psychological well-being, right? Nobel prize winners were more likely to make their big discovery at 40, right? 40 years old. And so many of us are, you know,

wanting to be published by 30 and all of this kind of stuff, but things happen a bit later. And there were a few more here that I want to share with you. [♪ piano music this sexy vibe and Montreal, this pulse, this energy. What was seen as a very snotty city, people call it bozangelis. New Orleans is a town that never forgets its pay. A great way to get to know a place is to get invited to a dinner party. Hi, I'm Brendan Francis Newdum and not lost as my new travel podcast,

where a friend and I go places, see the sights and try to finagle our way into a dinner party. We're kind of trying to get invited to a dinner party. It doesn't always work out. I would love that, but I have like a Cholala who is aggressive towards strangers. I love you, dogs.

We learn about the places we're visiting, yes, but we also learn about ourselves. I don't spend as much time thinking about how I'm gonna die alone when I'm traveling. But I get to travel with someone I love. Oh, see, I love you too. And also, we get to eat as much. And I'm very sincere.

I love you too. My ex a lot of therapy goes behind that. You're so white, I love it. Listen to Nut Lost on the iHeart Radio App or wherever you get your podcasts. I am Miomla, and on my podcast, the R-Spot, we're having inspirational, educational, and sometimes difficult and challenging conversations about relationships.

They may not have the capacity to give you what you need and insisting means that you are abusing yourself now. You human! That means that you're craziest hell, just like the rest of us. When a relationship breaks down, I take copious notes and I want to share them with you. Anybody with two eyes and a brain knows that too much Alfredo sauce is just no good for you. But if you're going to eat it, they're not going to stop you.

So he's going to continue to give you the Alfredo sauce and put it even on your grits if you don't stop him. Listen to the art spot on the iHeartRadio app Apple Podcast or wherever you listen to podcasts. I'm Danny Shapiro, host of Family Secrets. It's hard to believe we're entering our eighth season. And yet, we're constantly discovering new secrets. The depths of them, the variety of them,

continues to be astonishing. I can't wait to share ten incredible stories with you, stories of tenacity, resilience, and the profoundly necessary excavation of long-held family secrets. When I realized this is not just happening to me, this is who and what I am. I needed her to help me. Something was gnawing at me that I couldn't put my finger on, that I just felt somehow that there was a piece missing.

Why not restart? Look at all the things that were going wrong. I hope you'll join me and my extraordinary guests for this new season of Family Secrets. Listen to season 8 of Family Secrets on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This one really fascinated me that we're best at understanding other people's emotions and feelings in our 40s and 50s. That's a huge, huge thing. I mean, whether it's business, whether it's content, whether it's empowerment, whatever it may be, understanding people's emotions, whether it's empowerment, whatever it may be, understanding people's emotions

and being able to communicate with them, being able to connect with them. If you're only really getting good at that in your 40s and your 50s, of course, if you're gonna accelerate to that, it's great, but the point being that there's a lot of things that we actually grown when we're older, and we think we grow

when we're younger, right? So this is some, this is really interesting stuff for me because I'm just like, we kind of think like, oh, if I didn't do it when I was young, then it's really hard now. And actually, the opposite is true, that actually, if you, you know, as time goes by, you're learning a lot more. So what I want to share with you in this podcast is the six reasons why it's never too late to quit what you don't want to do and start doing what you do want to do because I don't want you to give up. And I'll tell you the biggest reason why I don't want you to give up. I mean this one I say it like I really mean it. I genuinely believe that you have something to offer the world. How do I know that? How am I sure of that? Because after spending time with thousands

of people, after listening and hearing from so many people, I have seen that even people we underestimate. I have seen that even people that we didn't expect big things from. I have seen that even people that have underestimated you for years, we get surprised all the time. Think about someone from your school that you didn't think was going to do anything, right? That you didn't think was going to make it but made it. Is there someone from your school, someone that you studied with, maybe even in elementary school or high school? Who was there in your life that you kind of wrote off, but then they grew up

and surprised you. Doesn't it fascinate you? Fascinates me. I know that there were people in my school that wanted to break into music and people would never believe that they would break into music. And guess what? They broke into music. And it was the same for every other field.

And there are so many things like that. So many people like that that actually grow and gather their life experience and actually get to where they want to later on in life. So often there's no, there's no clues or there's no understanding when people are young and you only see that happens afterwards. So take a, take a, think about that. Take a walk down memory lane, like if there's a person in school and you might even be wondering, oh, what was their name? What was their name, right? But you know who it is?

You can picture them in your mind and recognize that success isn't just, you know, I think we live in a culture right now where you have like so and so became a billionaire at 21 and so and so, bought their 10,000, 30 or whatever it may be. And that kind of pals on this pressure that everything's happening earlier.

And the truth is that everything will happen at the right time for you when you're ready, when you're focused, when you're working about it, when you're obsessed about it, when you're committed to it. And so I really want these six reasons to get you started. I really want these six reasons to get you going. And I really want you to realize

that I believe you have something to offer. And I believe that you have it inside of you, even if it's hidden away and you can't see it, but I want you to see it. And these six reasons are gonna help you unearth it so that you actually gain more confidence as well. These are the six that I wanted to share with you. So the number one, listen carefully.

The number one reason why it's never too late to start doing something that you love is plenty of people started late. We have this assumption like I was just saying that everyone started early. And in an article by Richard Fologne in Business Insider, he talks about 20 people who became highly successful after age 40. Now there's tons of these lists, but I took a few from this one that really stood out

to me. And in the article, he mentioned Stan Lee, who created Marvel at the age of 39. They're a Wang who is a figure skater and journalist before moving into fashion at 14. Now that's mind blowing because you think oh well, you know I'm a figure skater and a journalist how do I move into fashion designing of 40 which is amazing Samuilau Jackson started at 43 and then you got people like Julia Charles and Martha Stewart and the list goes on and on and on and the point is that plenty of people

have risen to heights later in their life and you can too. And it's so easy to make the excuse to write yourself off that it's too late. It's not going to happen for you anymore. There are enough obstacles in the way. Things are only getting more complicated. No one's going to care about me as I get older. Whatever it is, any excuses that go in your mind. And it's just so, so important and so, so powerful for you to recognize that so many people in the world didn't start as early as you think they did. And that's really what it is.

It's a mindset, it's a perception. If you keep telling yourself it's too late, guess what? It's too late. But if you recognize that actually amazing things have happened for me and for other people, so many things start to change. So I really, really want you to reflect on that point. And I want you to find the stories of people that inspire you who started later so that you can remind yourself of them whenever that excuse comes to your mind.

And that's what you really want to do. If you can picture the stories, the response, the attitude of other people and how they dealt with your excuses, how they got through them, then you can actually bring them to the fore of your mind when it happens for you. So I really, really want you to think about that. Now, number two, this is a huge one. You have more experience today than you did yesterday. Your wiser, your smarter, you've been through more, you've had more experiences, your

better at reading energies, you've worked with people from different backgrounds, you know how to deal with more, this will all make you or help you make better decisions. And I think we forget that. We look at time as a resource, the time, you know, time is a resource that we can't get back. You can't buy it. You can't loan it. You can't borrow it. But guess what?

Maybe it's not about time. Maybe that time actually made you wiser. Maybe it made you stronger. Maybe it made you smarter. And you've been able to develop so much, so strongly. And you're just putting that all aside for time, right? So we're only measuring one thing. So when we're measuring, like, oh, I could have started earlier, all we're doing is measuring time. We're not measuring the fact that, hey, what about my knowledge?

What about my skills? What are my strengths? What about my abilities? All of that has changed and we just ignore that. And I think it's so important to recognize that you have more experience today. You have more to bring to the table today. You have more to grow with today than you did yesterday.

And that's all going to help you if you recognize it. Whereas if you just think, oh yeah, it's useless because it's late, then you forget that. So what I want you to do right now, and I mean this, I want you to write down all the strengths you have, the experience they have, all the strengths that you have that you believe are going to be useful to you. Anything that you've learned from your job, anything you've learned over the years, write down at least three strengths, and I want you to write write down at least three strengths. And I want you to write this down. I mean this. I want you to write this down right now.

I want you to write down three strengths. And if you can write down three, I want you to write down 10, right? You can write down three. But if you write down three, I want you to write down 10. I'll tell you why. We are not aware of our own strengths. We constantly focus on our weaknesses and amplify them. We constantly get distracted by that which we're not good at, rather than that which we excel at. And I can't stress enough how easy it is to forget your strengths and start focusing on your weaknesses. When we actually need to focus on our strengths and slowly develop our weaknesses.

Now make sure you've done that, right? I'm being serious, make sure you've done that, make sure you've ridden down those three strengths that you have, that you've developed, that you've learned over time, that you know are going to be useful. And this is the practical piece of advice. You may not think you have transferable skills, but believe me, you do. Now, I'll give you an example of this in my own life. When I started my first job, I was 26 years old, because I lived as a monk, of course, and then took me a while to find a job. When I started,

I was 26 years old. Now, everyone that I was starting with was 21. So, by that account, I was late. I was late by five years, which at the beginning of your career actually makes a a big difference. As you grow old in your career, it makes less of a difference because everyone grows their experience. But for me, that was a pretty big deal. Now, at first, I had the same fear. I was just like, oh my god, I'm late. Everyone is younger than me. They've got more time. They've got more energy. But hey, they don't have more experience. And guess what? I had to try and find the transferable skills of a monk, right?

That was harder than just like, okay, I've got some skills like, I was like, oh, wait, what do I have? It's transferable skills. And I realize I have self awareness. I have the ability to manage stress and pressure. What else do I have from living as a monk? I have the value of discipline and focus. What else do I have? living as a monk? I was a value of discipline and focus.

What else do I have? I love researching and I love teaching and I love learning and I love presenting. So I started focusing on all those things and slowly forgot that I didn't have any of the challenges anymore because I started to realize that I had more experience and I had to play to that strength. Right, and I want you to play to that strength. Right? And I want you to play to

that strength. Rather than me sitting there worrying about everything I didn't have, I could focus on what I did have. And that made a huge difference for me in the corporate world as I transitioned into that space. And I really think it will for you as well. Now, the number three point that I want to share with you is this Just like you have more experience today. You have a broader network today Right, you can actually ask people how to do things take their recommendations and learn from their actual experience Right, if you think about yourself at 18 or 21 or 25 or 30 or whatever age it is if you look at yourself five years ago You knew less people you knew less people. You knew less people could actually help you.

You probably knew less people in areas that you cared about. And as time went on, you started to find these people. And these people started to become your friends. They started to know you, they started to become friends of friends and guess what? Now you have access to them. You didn't have the access before. The access means you waste less time,

that access means you learn quicker, that access means that you no longer have to live in this world where you're thinking if something's right for you, you can actually go and do it. And this is how I'd like you to think about it. I'd love for you right now to write down three people in your network and they could be first degree or second degree connection.

So first degree is people, you know, second degree is people that you know, that know people that you wanna know, right? And the first degree of second degree connection. So first degree is people, you know, second degrees, people that you know, that know people that you want to know. Right? And the first degree of secondary connection or even third degree, write down three people that you're curious about. Write down three people that you'd love to learn about. Three people's careers that you intrigued about. And I want you to go and set up meetings. So I want you to do this right now and you'd write down as three people. And I want you to set up meetings with those people with no agenda, apart from to learn about what they do. Because if you start saying it's too late,

well, it's not too late because you know more people, more people means more access, more access means more opportunities, more opportunities means a potential transition. And we're so quick to write off, but actually we have the biggest strength sitting right there in our pockets, right? Sitting right there for ease in our lives.

And that is our network. And we know this, we really, really know this. And we've heard it a million times whether it's from Richard Branson and others of your network is your net worth. And this isn't even a financial thing. It's just recognizing that it's never too late to start because you actually have access to more people.

And so what I'd love for you to do is not just sit down and talk to them, you could go and shadow someone, right? You could interview someone and get to know them. You could ask them about what their role actually is. You're more likely to know people in roles that you're actually interested in now than when you first started out,

and you didn't know anyone in the roles that you really care about. So really think about it in your network, who's your first degree, your second degree, your third degree connections that you wanna meet with, and I want you to schedule those meetings this week. And I'm not messing around. I want you to schedule those meetings this week.

Right, take advantage of that amazing network. I'm Jay Shetty and on my podcast on purpose, I've had the honor to sit down with some of the most incredible hearts and minds on the planet. Opro. Everything that has happened to you can also be a strength builder for you if you allow it. Kobe Bryant. The results don't really matter.

It's the figuring out that matters. Kevin Haw. It's not about us as a generation at this point. It's about us trying our best to create change. Lumin's Hamilton. That's for me been taking that moment for yourself each day. Being kind to yourself. Because I think for a long time I wasn't kind to myself.

And many, many more. If you're attached to knowing, you don't have a capacity to learn. On this podcast, you get to hear the raw real-life stories behind their journeys and the tools they used, the books they read, and the people that made a difference in their lives so that they can make a difference in hours. Listen to on-purpose with Jay Shetty on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Join the journey soon. How's that New Year's resolution coming along? You know, the one you made about paying off your pesky credit card debt and finally starting to save your retirement? Well, you're not alone if you haven't made progress yet. Roughly four and five New Year's resolutions fail within the first month or two.

But that doesn't have to be the case for you and your goals. Our podcast, How to Money can help. That's right, we're two best buds who've been at it for more than five years now, and we want to see you achieve your money goals. And it's our goal to provide the information and encouragement you need to do it. We keep the show fresh by answering list our questions, interviewing experts, and focusing on the relevant financial news that you need to know about. Our show is Chalk Full of the Personal Finance Knowledge that you need with guidance three times a week and we talk

about debt payoff. If let's say you've had a particularly spend thrift holiday season, we also talk about building up your savings, intelligent investing, and growing your income no matter where you are on your financial journey, how do money's got your back. Millions of listeners have trusted us to help them achieve their financial goals. Ensure that your resolution turns into ongoing progress. Listen to how to money on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Not too long ago, in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest, this explorer stumbled upon something that would change his life. I saw it and I saw, oh wow, this is a very unusual situation. It was cacao. The tree that gives us chocolate. But this cacao was unlike anything experts had seen. Poor tasted. I've never wanted us to have a gun fight.

I mean, you saw the stacks of cash in our office. Chocolate sort of forms this vortex. It sucks you in. It's like I can be the queen of wild chocolate. We're all lost. It was madness. It was a game changer. People quit their jobs. They left their lives behind. So they could search for more of this stuff

I wanted to tell their stories So I followed them deep into the jungle and it wasn't always pretty Basically this like disgruntled guy and his family surrounded the building armed with machetes and we've heard all sorts of things And you know somebody got shot over this Sometimes I think all all these for a damn bar of chocolate. Listen to obsessions, wild chocolate, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Principle number four.

This applies to some people and it may not apply to everyone, but I do think it's important to throw out there for all of you listening. That it's never too late to start because you might actually be in a better place financially. When you first started working, you were scared because you were like, I need to earn a living, I need to pay my rent. And now maybe it's not that you don't feel that way, but there is some system where you're a bit more organized, you've saved some money in the bank. And this applies to those of you who don't feel this way. You may want to save money before taking a break. And this is what I found, like my friends who were working as lawyers in the city or in

the corporate world. I said to them, if you experimented for a year and it didn't go right, you could walk straight back into your career without it being affected, or for three months, or for six months, or for nine months, or actually for 12 months. And if you don't take this test or experiment, okay, you're going to come back to your career one year behind, but isn't that one year worth it? Because what if you came back and you're actually light years ahead? What if it actually made the biggest difference in your life?

So you could literally take a break for three, six, nine, 12 months and come back and nothing would change. And if you're not in that position, you could save to make that change and see how it can happen. Now, that's something that only happens later on in life, to actually have that flexibility, right? So, that's something to try. Okay.

And number five, this is more of a philosophical statement or a thought process statement that time becomes more valuable and you appreciate more. So it's never too late to quit because you realize how valuable time is, as time goes and you realize how much time you've wasted and how much you could use it more wisely. And I really want you to think about that point because that should motivate you that it's never too late, right? Because time's so valuable. It doesn't should motivate you that it's never too late, right? Because time's so valuable. It doesn't matter if you figure it out now. It's just important that you have time to figure it out, right? You have the time. You still have time.

It's not all disappeared. It's not all gone away. So you can start here. You can start right now. And point number six, this is why it's never too late to start. Because if something's that important to you, it shouldn't have a deadline. If it's been on your mind for a few months, a few years, it's real. Trust it. Don't just get distracted. Don't just make excuses. Don't just tell yourself it's too late because that makes you feel safe from failure. It saves you from your fears. Because guess what? Then you have to face the ultimate fear of never having tried, which is so much more painful. And a few years ago, this is what I did. And it really helped me. I asked myself, what would my younger self be sad that I've stopped doing?

What did I use to do when I was younger that my younger self would be sad now that I'm older that I've stopped doing? And when I answer that question, I want you to write down your answer to that question. I really want you to think about it. And this is how that question, I want you to write down your answer to that question. I really want you to think about it. And this is how a question meditation worked. I want you to ask that question really sincerely, really deeply, really genuinely to yourself and wait for the answer to come to you in a day, in a week,

right? In a day or a week, let the answer come to you and write down that answer and see how it evolves every day. Keep asking the question genuinely, not demanding the answer come to you and write down that answer and see how it evolves every day. Keep asking the question genuinely, not demanding the answer, but genuinely directing the question and saying, what would my younger self be sad that I stopped doing? Is it that I stopped playing an instrument? Is it that I stopped playing a sport? Is it that I stopped being entrepreneurial? Is it that I stopped being risk-taking? What is it? For me, when I asked that question, it it that I stopped being risk taking? What is it? For me when I asked that question, it was that I stopped using words to express my feelings. I stopped sharing that with the world

because I loved writing when I grew up. I loved poetry, I loved spoken word. And I stopped using words in that way. And then I asked myself this second question, I want you to answer it as well. If you were fast forward to being 90 years old on your death bed, a hundred years old on your death bed, and ask yourself, what will you regret that you didn't do?

Not what will you regret that you did do, what will you regret that you didn't do? And again, I want you to ask that question deeply and in a day or a week, keep re-asking that question and find the answer and write it down. When I asked that question to myself, my answer was that I'll regret if I never tried to share wisdom in an accessible, relevant and practical way that I never tried to give people what I'd learned and what I had gained through my amazing teachers, coaches, and mentors. And so I said to myself, I said,

okay, now let me look at these two questions. The first question, it uses the past to empower the present, whatever you didn't do, whatever you don't do anymore that you did in the past and you could do it again now, you're using the past to empower the present. Because guess what, no matter what answer you give to that question, you can start doing that now. So if you're like, my youngest self will be sad that I stopped playing an instrument, you can play that instrument now. So you've empowered the present from the past.

If you say, what would my youngest self be sad that I stopped doing right now and your answer is writing? Guess what you can do that right now? You've just empowered your present with your past. And with the second question, asking yourself about what you'd regret on your deathbed

that you didn't do, well, in that case, you're using your future to empower the present, because in the future, if you're feeling, oh, I didn't do this, guess what? It's not in the future yet, which means you can do it now. So both those questions use the past and the future to empower the present, because that's where everything happens. And I want you to know that, that no matter how late you think it is, no matter how you feel you've wasted time, your time is now. And the present is powerful, the present is the most powerful and you can change anything.

You can change your experience of the past and the future by what you do right now. So this is how and why there are six reasons why it's never too late to quit what you do right now. So this is how and why there are six reasons why it's never too late to quit what you don't like doing and start doing what you love because number one, plenty of people started late. Number two, you have more experience today than you did yesterday. Number three, you have a bigger network

that you can ask for help. Number four, you might be in a better place financially or you can ask for help. Number four, you might be in a better place financially or you can train to be. Number five, you realize how valuable time is. And number six, if it's that important to you, it shouldn't have a deadline. I heard this podcast has got you empowered, powered up, focused, and driven to make that change

in your life. It's not too late. Get started today. And thank you so much for listening to On Purpose. I'll see you all soon. Thank you so much for listening through to the end of that episode. I hope you gonna share this all across social media. Let people know that you're subscribed to on purpose. Let me know. Post it.

Tell me what a difference it's making in your life. I would love to see your thoughts. I can't wait for this incredibly conscious community we're creating of purposeful people. You're now a part of the tribe, a part of the squad. Thank you for being here. I can't wait to share the next episode with you. Our 20s are often seen as this golden decade. Our time to be carefree, make mistakes, and figure out our lives. But what can psychology teach us about this time? I'm Gemma Speg,

the host of the Psychology of Your 20s. Each week we take a deep dive into a unique aspect of our 20s, from career anxiety, mental health, heartbreak, money, and much more to explore the science behind our experiences. The psychology of your 20s hosted by me, Gemma Speg. Listen now on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Eva Longoria. And I'm Maite Gomes-Rajon. We're so excited to introduce you to our new podcast.

Hungry for History! On every episode, we're exploring some of our favorite dishes, ingredients, beverages, from our Mexican culture. We'll share personal memories and family stories, decode, culinary customs, and even provide a recipe or two for you to try at home. Listen to Hungry for History on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The Therapy for Black Girls podcast is your space to explore mental health, personal development,

and all of the small decisions we can make to become the best possible versions of ourselves. I'm your host, Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, and I can't wait for you to join the conversation every Wednesday. Listen to the Therapy for Black Girls podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Take good care.