I Had Tea with My Younger Self… Here’s What She Needed to Hear ?
Erica Anderson Rooney
?? Founder, HER Collective | ?? Executive Coach for Women in Leadership | ?? Keynote Speaker | ?? Bestselling Author | ?? Chief People Officer | ?? Breaking Barriers & Building Powerhouse Careers
Today, I met my younger self for tea.
She sat across from me, hands wrapped around her mug, eyes darting nervously. She was worried.
“Not everyone likes me,” she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.
I smiled and took a sip of my drink before answering.
“They won’t,” I said simply. “And that’s okay. You liking yourself is what truly matters.”
She blinked, taking that in. “But… what if things don’t go the way I planned?”
I laughed softly. “Oh, they won’t. The path you think you’re on? It will twist, turn, and detour in ways you never saw coming. Some doors will slam shut so hard you’ll think you lost everything. But those doors? They weren’t meant for you. And the ones that open instead? They’ll lead you somewhere even better.”
She traced the rim of her mug, hesitation still in her eyes.
“But what if I fail?” she whispered.
I reached for her hand. “You won’t. You’ll learn, you’ll grow, you’ll become. Failure isn’t the end—it’s the beginning of something bigger.”
She let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding.
And then, after a long pause, she asked the question she’d been most afraid to say out loud:
“What if I’m not enough?”
I leaned in. “You are. You always have been. Not because of a title. Not because of a paycheck. Not because of what other people think.
Just because you are you.”
Her shoulders relaxed.
The weight of proving herself, of seeking validation, of chasing enoughness—it all started to fade.
She took one last sip of her tea, then looked up at me with a flicker of something new in her eyes.
“So… what should I do?”
I smiled.
“Do the thing. The scary thing. The big thing. The uncomfortable thing. The thing you’ve been waiting for permission to do. It will lead to infinite possibilities.”
She nodded.
And as she walked away, I suddenly realized something.
She wasn’t just my younger self.
She was me. Right now.
Because no matter how much we grow, no matter how much we achieve, there’s always a part of us that wonders: Am I enough? Am I on the right path? Am I doing the right thing?
And the answer, every single time, is: You are enough. You are exactly where you need to be. And the best is still ahead.
Now, I turn to you.
? If you could have tea with your younger self, what would you tell her?
Drop it in the comments—I’d love to hear.
-Erica
Helping Women and Minority Professionals Achieve a Thriving Career and Life-Work Balance | Creator of the MindFlow Cycle | Transformational Leadership Coach | Free Consultation-mindflowcycle.com
1 周My conversation with my younger self wasn’t as nearly so polite. I needed a bit of a kick in the rear. Things I rolled my eyes to back then, didn’t become habit until I either had a health issue or a breakdown. Eliminating limiting beliefs would have been easier back then but I was too proud to admit they inflicted me, too proud to go to therapy or to develop meditation or mindfulness practice habits.
Leadership Coach, Leadership Trainer, DEIB Trainer, Career Coach, Team Development Expert & HR Consultant
1 周This is a great "conversation" and a great reminder that I went through some of these same challenges and the importance of positive self-talk, and reminding me of the growth that I have achieved.
Associate Director, Human Resources | Kymanox | Your Life Science Solutions Partner
1 周Love this. Happy birthday my friend! Hope it is a GREAT day!
Education Research & Policy Professional
1 周This is so great Erica! If I sat now with my younger self I would say to keep working hard, it's what you love but it isn't who you are or all there is about you. No matter how great you are at what you do, how appreciated you are (by your boss, colleagues, or staff), or how effective and impactful you are... it can disappear! Pour into yourself and other things as much as you do your job/career! Its not being selfish! That way, if it's ever taken away, you won't feel completely empty and like it was all for nothing. Celebrate the wins, don't just glance by them, moving on to the next project! You are willing to dwell in the failures and losses, learning from each mistake. Why not give the wins their time in the sun!? Define yourself by your character, not your job! Your job may be one that provides for so many, but that's more your character. It's hard when they say "find something you love and you will never work and day in your life". While true, it won't feel like work, what they don't tell you is what it will feel like when it's gone! Remember it's not the ONLY thing you love! Pour equally into multiple cups! And know it's ok to love many things!