Marrakech – So there I was, casually chatting with ChatGPT, asking it to pretend to be 40 years old and give advice to its 20-year-old self.

 

I figured, why not ask the AI to play the role of someone who’s been through it all — someone who’s learned a few lessons along the way? 

 

And let me tell you, what it came up with was like a conversation with a future version of myself, or maybe the version of me that I want to become.

First, ChatGPT, in all its 40-year-old wisdom, had this to say about change: “Life is unpredictable.” 

And honestly, how true is that? Things rarely go the way we plan, so it told me — and the 20-year-old version of itself — to embrace change. 

Adaptability was its golden rule. It wasn’t just about getting through life’s bumps; it was about growing from them, learning to roll with whatever came our way.

Then came the advice about money. And, oh, was that advice blunt. 

ChatGPT emphasized that understanding money was essential, and honestly, that’s something I think we can all take to heart. 

Time is on the side of the young, and if I (or anyone) started learning about saving, investing, and wealth-building early on, the future would look a whole lot brighter.

But then, there was something that hit me like a ton of bricks: “People are everything.” 

We’ve all heard that before, but hearing it in the context of advice from the future really made me pause. 

Life isn’t just about climbing the career ladder or acquiring skills — it’s about relationships. 

The people we meet, the ones we nurture, they’re the ones who will open doors for us, offer support, and, most importantly, share the ride with us.

And ChatGPT didn’t hold back on the health advice either. 

“You’ll regret not taking care of your body when you’re older,” it said, almost like a motherly nudge. 

This is the kind of advice we all hear but often ignore when we’re young. But I think we all know deep down that if we don’t take care of our physical and mental health now, we’ll regret it later. 

Exercise, eat well, and don’t forget to check in on your mental well-being. It’s all connected, after all.

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But here’s the part that really struck me: “Be patient with yourself.” 

The 20-year-old me (and let’s be honest, probably most of us) feels like we need to have everything figured out by a certain age. 

But ChatGPT — 40 years old — reminded me that life’s a journey, not a race. 

Growth takes time. There’s no rush. No one has it all figured out at 20. And honestly? That’s a relief.

And then came the part about taking risks. “Don’t be afraid of failure,” ChatGPT said. 

That one resonated deeply. The future version of itself wasn’t just saying “try hard and succeed.” 

No, it was encouraging failure. Because failure, as it pointed out, is just another form of learning. It’s the stepping stone to something bigger and better.

The emotional side of things wasn’t overlooked either. ChatGPT wisely told its younger self (and me) to develop emotional intelligence. 

“Your emotions will guide many decisions,” it said. And understanding both your own emotions and those of others will make navigating relationships and challenges a whole lot easier.

And this one — this one really hit home: “Don’t compare yourself to others.” 

It’s so easy to fall into the trap of measuring our progress against others, especially with social media making everything look so polished. 

But the 40-year-old ChatGPT reminded me that everyone’s journey is different, and the only comparison that matters is the one we make with ourselves.

Finally, ChatGPT wrapped it up with the best advice of all: “Invest in learning.” 

It couldn’t stress enough how important it is to keep educating ourselves — whether it’s through books, courses, or just life experience. 

Knowledge, after all, is the one thing no one can take away from us.

And as I sat there reading the advice from this future, wiser version of ChatGPT, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of calm wash over me. 

Maybe because it’s reassuring to know that, even in a world full of uncertainty, there are a few timeless truths that can guide us along the way.