What would I tell my 16-year old self?

I asked some siStars what they would say to their younger selves....

I was pleasantly surprised by the rich reflections that poured in. Find below my invitation to them (and you) and their uncut answers.

Know that you are loved... beautiful... gorgeous... talented... fabulous

Know that you are a light to the world just the way you are.

Close your ears from the outside noise and tune in to the Voice of God, your Creator that is within you so that it may guide you on how to fearlessly live your life out loud. And shine in the space you were created for in this world. Oh, my darling, that space is so vast, it is a big big space, and it has no limits. In it you can be anything and anyone you choose to be! So, go on then and be the movement of love and believe in yourself. I love you.

At 16 I was completely fulfilled, I have reached all my goals, I was at the top of the mountain. The next year everything changed and I had a nervous breakdown...

It has been a very long healing journey of 18 years. I don't want to tell her it got really bad... I want to tell her: "Celebrate Life, Enjoy your successes! Never stop dreaming, visioning and creating. You are a magnificent being of Light... you will always be supported. You will meet the right people at the right time, you have the right tools and the right resources when you need them - and you will be alive to experience the rest of your amazing life!

"I see you...broken in body, you isolate yourself from people around you. You trust no one and watches everyone. "

I would tell my 16 year old self: Nothing you going through lasts forever. Breath deeply if you are making a choice to live. Live in the now: the only reality we can change. Time to rise and show the world who you are. Do it! You are braver than you think and stronger than you will ever know. Life can really happen for you - even though you feel - if you are there - that you will rather die.

It's a lot! It can be an emotionally intense time. Just accept that. You are totally cool, as you are.

It is going to be OK, and you are going to be OK! Things are going to get a lot better. You are still developing... Another Life hack: self-regulation. That is self-soothing, calming down your nervous system, dropping back into your body. You can come up with new ways of doing that is better for everyone.

It was the first year I lived with my mother. Before that I lived with my grandmother...

"Life IS full of joy. Don't be afraid to go after what you find adventurous or fun. You will be learning a lot by going after and exploring what your heart wants. You will make a lot of mistakes, and there is no separation between learning and making mistakes and living the life. It is not as much about balance as it is about acceptance and then moving on as quickly as possible from especially the hard experiences."

I am 60 going on 16!

When I was 16, that was a difficult time for me. I was so fearful of guys, scared of getting pregnant. I didn't like all the groups, trying to fit in was awkward. I wish I knew then how to be fully in myself... how to hold a boundary, to even know your Yes and No. So powerful to have that. Be YOU, Absolutely YOU. Be passionately wound up in stuff you like. Be ready when you are ready, not push when you are not.

No one really understood me. If you don't have that feeling of belonging, it gets to you.

You are beautiful, you are authentic, there is no one just like you and keep on coming back to yourself. It doesn't matter what anybody else thinks of you. It matters what you think of yourself. You will have many relationships to learn from. Another thing is that change is inevitable, and go with that flow. Life will be easier if you don't resist it. And keep on having fun! Connected with the creative child within.

Trust life, life has your back.

Everything is an opportunity to learn, to grow into the truth of who I really am. I would like to let her know: it is not what happens to us that defines who we become. It is how we respond to what happens to us, that defines our character.

I made the decision to be happy, I put on my brave smile and went through life caring for others

I was very afraid... mainly of not being loved - and that in a dysfunctional family that didn't show love - I became a pleaser, a helper, an encourager and a caregiver. It took me a very long time to realise what the Bible says that you have to love your neighbour as you love yourself. Through lots of therapy, counselling and courses I realised that self-love must come first. It was a journey to find out what I wanted to do... a lovely journey of self-discovery! Today I dance through life, caring for myself and loving the people around me. Let's work through the trauma of our childhood.

You are going through tough times and ask yourself "What the bl**p am I doing here?"

Liebe Inge... I know you feel lonely and lost. Your parents are getting divorced and this is something you never expected. But there is so much more waiting for you... it is worth holding on to life and go further. You will... [do all these amazing things!] You will discover ease, joy and glory and find out that life does not necessarily have to be pain, suffering and worry. You will figure out to choose, and change anything and everything. Start Now loving yourself! No one else can give you that acknowledgement and proof. That you feel different and strange: that IS you, and that is beautiful. Enjoy the journey, go for more, it will pay off many times.

Love yourself like your own best friend then you will always have someone amazing to be and play with!

Just relax and play! You have a whole life ahead of you and the most important thing is to feel joy and pleasure. And to follow what makes you happy. Let go of any angst and drop into what brings you joy. Move towards the people who make you feel good. The rest will sort itself out. There is always another chance, you don't have to get it all right the first time. It is a work in progress.

Chin up, eyes open, heart open

Choose to step up into this new young life with an attitude of adventure and exploration

Our job here is to discover our own unique map because only then the adventure can begin. There is no treasure on this map... no x marks the spot. Exploration is the gift of this map.

Sex? Don’t be in a hurry

and don’t let anyone hurry you. ~ by Cousin T

What I would tell my 16 year old:

1. Stop eating sugar and wheat – especially wheat.

2. Stop treating your body like it is garbage. The stupor of intoxication is not pretty. It ruins your skin and makes you puffy and fat.

3. If you like a boy, spend time with him minus the drugs or alcohol. If that’s no fun, move on.

4. Protect the health of your vagina. Don’t leave this care in the hands of others (refer to #6).

5. Choose to do what you love because if you don’t, life will make choices for you and they won’t be very nice.

6. Sex? Don’t be in a hurry. And don’t let anyone hurry you. (refer to #4)

You can look forward to a life that continuously changes and evolves

Bringing you more awareness of your true essence

At sweet 16 I became a people pleaser... a job if done over a long time, can become very draining. Become aware of 1) who am I and 2) what do I really want?

Life can be beautiful

Life will be disappointing, life can be cruel, but never stop dreaming and creating.

Thank you for reminding me of that sweet, absent-minded 16-year-old with dreams in her eyes. Never ever stop dreaming. Life will be disappointing, life can be cruel, but never stop dreaming and creating. Life can be full of surprises, joys... Life can be interesting.

I had to think a bit about my 16 year old self...

Now 40 years later, I wish at 16 I was told:

I deeply care for you.

I love you, no matter what.

I believe in you.

You are an awesome girl who doesn’t need to do anything to prove your worth.

I trust you.

Don’t try to fit in, you fit perfectly in YOU. You are your own most beautiful fit.

Follow your heart….you can BE or DO anything you want.

I am so proud of you.

Don’t grow up too fast.

Have FUN !!!