How Your Younger Self Can Be Your Mentor

Although it never snows in Hong Kong, 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit can feel chilly. One of the most memorable experiences as a child was going to a stay away camp. I remember that my Mom signed me up to go during the winter recess. I just turned eight.

The day before the camp started, I dreaded. Not because I did not want to go. It was because I did not want to finish my winter break assignments before going. I was crying while writing on the homework sheets.

There were probably around twenty children in our group, all between eight and fourteen years old. I was the second youngest one there. It was all about outdoor activities and team building. We were expected to wake up at 6:30 am every morning and walk to the pier. After the group gathered, we were to put our life jackets on and go swim. “Morning dip” it was called. It was at least a twenty-minute ordeal to swim in the water that was in the 60s at best. Since we were instructed to and expected to do it, I decided to follow.

Swimming in the cold with the group was my goal. There was an assigned distance to swim. Thankfully I knew how to swim. I followed the instructor, went with my group, and focused on swimming that set distance. I did not hesitate. I just believed, believed that I could do it. I expected to be cold and I knew I would not die (because everyone else was doing it and survived).

Splash! I jumped into the cold water and started to move my arms and legs as fast as I could. That would help me go the distance faster. My movements would also generate heat. “You can do it, keep going!” I remembered that I cheered for myself. The faster you swam, the quicker you could get out of the cold ocean. I kept swimming, with a rhythm for my breast stroke (at that time, breast stroke was the only stroke I knew).

Mission accomplished! I did it. I quickly crawled out of the cold water and was amazed at what I just did. It was not easy. It was not comfortable. I did it anyway because I wanted to and because I believed I could.

How is your younger self guiding you? How is your younger self an example of what is possible?

Set a goal. The goal is such that it is not easy to achieve and it is not so out of reach that you immediately think that it is impossible for you.

Just like the 8-year-old version of me, I followed guidance. I listened to what my instructor said. We worked as a team and went as a group. Staying back at the pier was not an option.

Believe that you can. If you do not believe in yourself, how are you going to take actions which will get you to your goal? If you do not believe in yourself, you will face a lot of resistance.

This is what I always share with my fellow physicians during our coaching sessions. Set a goal – the time you want to go home with all your work done. Follow the guide. I have been there, done that. I experienced all the heartaches, frustration and despair of going through the motions and finishing my work late at night, and many weekends – and I am leaving work on time now. Am I not an example of what is possible?

Believe. That is such a powerful tool you can utilize. Believe you can leave work on time without cutting down on your patient load. Believe you can do it with the proper guidance. Believe there are ways to do things you have not tried to achieve your goal. Be willing to try different things – different ways of thinking and doing.

Be your own cheerleader. Keep it upbeat especially when you think you cannot do it. Keep yourself going when you are about to give up. Cheering yourself on brings about hope. The hope that you can achieve your goal is a powerful motivator.

Be willing to endure some discomfort. If it was easy, everyone would have done it. If it was comfortable, your goal would probably not be a goal but a routine.

If we look carefully, there are many examples of what is possible. You have done many amazing things. You do not have to look around and search hard. Just look at yourself. Look at your younger self. What has he/she accomplished? What challenges were there that you overcame? How focused were you on your goal? If you did it before, you can be on your way to achieving your goal now.