Life Lessons: What I Would Tell My Younger Self

If someone handed you a time machine to go back and tell your younger self anything—what would you say? Recently, I sat down on my podcast with my son Jonathan to unpack some of those pieces of life advice I’d share.

Here are some of those things I would say to a young Greg if I could (aside from “Buy a couple of Star Wars figurines and keep them in their original package!”).

It’s Going to Be Okay  

Looking back at little Greg growing up in chaos—with my mom’s seven marriages and divorces, alcoholism, violence, constantly moving—I would tell him everything is going to be okay. I would give the same life advice to young people now. 

Whatever you’re going through, it’s going to be okay and you’re going to get through it. And I hope my story is a testament to that.

God had his hand on me, even though I didn’t know him yet. He was ultimately guiding me toward Him. 

Jeremiah 29:11 is a verse I really love: “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (NKJV).

“God loves you and has a plan for you” is what I would say.

Put God First in Everything  

If I could give life advice to my younger self, I would also say to put God first. 

Jesus put it this way: “‘Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you’” (Matthew 6:31–33 NKJV). 

Put God in the forefront of your life and everything will sort itself out. But what does it mean to put God first? It means to live by what the Bible teaches. Do what God tells you to do in His Word. 

Don’t capitulate to the peer pressure of the culture to do the things that will destroy you. Put God first in your relationships, career, finances, etc. 

Don’t Waste Your Pain  

Another piece of advice for younger me and others—you have a choice when bad things happen in life. You can either become bitter or better.

And when my son Christopher died, it was the worst event of my life. But my family and I determined we would not waste our pain. With our pain, we’ve been able to help many others. 

In fact, I find that I’m more willing now to go to those who just lost a child because I know I can help them. I can tell them they’re going to survive this tragedy.

Jonathan and I have much more to say on these topics, plus others, in this podcast episode. We talk about everything from my childhood and breaking generational patterns to the Bible’s importance in life and the power of forgiveness. To hear the rest of my “life hacks,” listen here.