How To Spark Your Zeal by Having a Heart-to-Heart With Your Younger Self
Today, I went for coffee with my younger self.
She was 25. She walked in like a storm. Fast. Precise. Unstoppable. ⚡️
Her ochre suit hugged her frame perfectly, her brown-heeled boots clicking sharply against the pavement. Her long, wild hair spilled over her shoulders—chestnut, kissed by golden streaks, catching the light with every step. Her nails, impossibly long, shimmered with glitter over a perfect French manicure. Because even on the hardest days, she had to shine.
I watched her, and for a moment, I forgot to breathe because she had no idea what was coming.
She sat down, her movements sharp but graceful. She ordered a soy cappuccino. I asked for a long decaf Americano with a splash of oat milk. And then, we began to talk. ☕
She told me about her $800-a-month internship.
She also told me about the fear of having to flee the apartment she shared with friends because they threatened her. How she ran, breathless, clutching a half-zipped suitcase, heart pounding in her chest. 💔 And how, by some miracle, she found a tiny studio in Porta Venezia. It was $600 a month. Almost everything she made. But at least... she was safe.
She told me she was lucky they paid commissions—she was good at selling and made it work. She had just been given a company car. And now, she traveled across Italy, barely sleeping, always chasing the next sale.🚗
"Five hours a night," she said, shrugging. "Sometimes less."
Then, with a grin that could set the world on fire: "But I'm making it."🔥
She told me she was single and had flings every weekend, but she always tried not to fall in love. "I can't afford to," she said. A colleague, Fabio, had been pursuing her, but she wasn't interested.
She spoke as if her story was nothing special. She spoke to me as if she wasn't already extraordinary. ✨
Then she looked at me. And for the first time, I saw it—the exhaustion and the hunger. "I don't know what's next," she admitted, her voice a little quieter. “I just know I need to make money. I need to be free. I need to feel safe."
My hands trembled as I reached for hers. "It's all going to be okay," I replied.
She frowned, skeptical. But I pressed on.
"In less than two years...you'll leave for Dublin. " She blinked.
"Google will hire you," I continued. Her lips parted slightly.
"You'll walk into an office that smells like fresh starts and possibility. You'll build a career beyond your wildest dreams. You'll fly across the world. You'll sit in skyscrapers and land in places you haven't even heard of yet."
Her hands trembled now.
"You'll master digital advertising—all of it," I smiled. "You'll still sleep too little... but you'll never have to worry about money again." 😊
Her eyes began to widen.
"You'll buy every handbag you ever wanted. The shoes. The jewelry. The trips. And one day... you'll have so many that some will sit in your closet, forgotten."
She was silent as a tear welled in her eyes, but I wasn't done. "You'll take care of your body. You'll make your health a priority."
"And then—" I said with a smile on my face, "Fabio."😌
Her whole face shifted and a tear slipped down her cheek. “Not only will you end up together…” I continued, "But you'll marry him and you'll have two beautiful daughters."
"He has always loved you," I told her softly.❤️
She squeezed my hand. I squeezed back.
I told her about her mother. How she would cherish her, hold on tight and how she would lose her. I shared words with her about the grief—the kind that crushes you and forever changes you.
I also told her about forgiveness. About healing. How one day, she would make peace with her father. And how she would feel lighter. Whole.
She let go of my hand, only to wrap her arms around me. That's when I felt her body shake. She pulled back, her face now wet with tears.
She looked into my eyes tenderly as she said, "I love you, and thank you."
“Thank you for your courage. Your strength. Your zeal.” she continued to say me. ”Because it's thanks to you that I am here, living the life of my dreams."
She studied me. Her face was a perfect storm of disbelief, gratitude, and wonder. Then she wiped her eyes and laughed. A laugh that was full of resilience.
Before leaving she gave one last embrace, one last knowing look. And then she walked away. Back straight. Chin up. And ready to conquer the world. 🚀
👉 What about you?
When was the last time you sat down with your younger self? What would you say to them? What wisdom would you share? What dreams would you reassure them are on the way? ✨
I invite you to pause for a moment today—maybe over a cup of coffee—and have a chat with the version of you who got you here. 💖 Honor their courage. Celebrate their resilience. Forgive their mistakes. And thank them for carrying you through. 🙏
YOUR PAST HOLDS WISDOM.
YOUR FUTURE IS YOURS TO MANIFEST.
Everything I have in life, I manifested—and you can too. The Zeal Letter is your sacred ritual for reflection, gratitude, and calling in your deepest desires. Write to yourself. Honor your journey. Activate your zeal. And begin manifesting your dreams—today!
ZEAL AFFIRMATION
“I honor every version of myself that brought me here.”
This affirmation encourages you to acknowledge your past choices, challenges, and growth without judgment, recognizing that every experience— good, bad and in between—has shaped you into the person you are today. By honoring your past selves, you cultivate self-acceptance, release regret, and create space for a deeper sense of confidence and peace in the present moment.
