Dear Diary: 5 Letters to Write to Yourself This Year

We’ve all written a letter to a loved one when we were kids.

Whether it was an angry letter to Mom—letting her know that we weren’t talking to her—or to our favorite teacher, we’ve had our fair share of writing letters to other people.

But have you ever written a letter to your present, past, or future self?

It may seem silly, but writing a letter to yourself is a great opportunity to identify your weaknesses and turn them into strengths.

Here are five types of letters you should write to yourself:

1. A Letter Addressing Your Flaws

We all have flaws. There isn’t a single person in the world who isn’t flawed, no matter how perfect they seem.

There is nothing wrong with identifying your weaknesses and writing about them. In fact, it will give you insight into areas you need to improve. Write a letter to yourself talking about your flaws and why you think you developed them.

Conclude it by coming up with different solutions that could help you overcome your weaknesses.

2. Write a Letter Reminding You of Your Worth  

We are our own worst critics. When something goes wrong, it’s easy to blame ourselves. We feel responsible. We feel guilty.

But remember, some things aren’t in our control; just because you made a mistake doesn’t mean you’re not good enough. It doesn’t define your worth.

What’s important is learning from our mistakes.

Write a letter to yourself that reminds you of the fact that you’re capable of being loved. Remind yourself that you have what it takes to conquer the world.

3. Write a Letter Regarding Your Goals

It’s important to not lose focus of your life’s ambitions.

This letter will remind you of why you’ve been working so hard. It will give you the strength to carry on when you feel like throwing in the towel.

You can use it to prioritize your goals as well. Which goal do you want to work toward achieving first and which one should be left for last?

4. Give Yourself a Pep Talk

You are so much more than you know. You are more capable than you believe. You have what it takes to achieve your goals.

Write a letter to yourself that serves as a pep talk. Encourage yourself to do your best, and work on any projects you’ve been delaying. Remember, motivation comes from within.

5. Ask Yourself What Lessons You’ve Learned

Write a letter to yourself asking what you’ve learned so far in life. This will help you figure out how much you’ve grown and what you need to work on.

Think about how you’ve grown personally and professionally. What do you like about yourself? What do you want to improve? What kind of person were you five years ago?

Think of everything you’ve done so far and after writing the letter, give yourself a pat on the shoulder.

These are five letters I believe everyone should write to themselves.

Ashley Yeo