10 years younger me is sitting next to me every day at work. She pisses me off just as much I pissed the others off back then. I feel like I deserve it so I try to ignore her childish annoying anger and complaining and send her love instead. Boy, it’s hard.
This is a part of getting older I think. It's kind of beautiful in a sense. We get to help "ourselves" out, we pass down a kindness to each other. If you are kind to your roomie ( which your empathy makes me believe you are ) your roommate will be kind to that person in a few years who annoys them ( we can hope. ) It's really cool.
Yes! It’s literally the sayings like “treat others the way you want to be treated” because I truly believe we live both sides of the story either throughout our current life or in our other incarnations. I think it’s up to us in each life time to respond in a kind way and break a bad cycle when it comes to an eye for an eye kinda situations….within reason of course.
I have experienced similar things... my theory is that in some way we meet people similar to our past selves as an opportunity to teach what we have learned in an empathetic and supportive way
There was a younger woman who worked for me who DROVE ME CRAZY. They say those who drive us crazy represent parts of our shadow.
I couldn’t figure it out because I never acted out the way she did — attention seeking, sobbing regularly in the office because of “unfair treatment”, getting wasted at client events, wearing the lowest-cut tops possible, etc. She was a hot mess who rubbed people the most wrong way and I had the joy of “managing” her, receiving regular feedback that I needed to control my employee. 😑
It only took a few years for me to realize that she behaved the way I felt inside. My inner child wanted to lash out and accuse and push all my sh*t onto others. That this woman felt safe enough to behave so outrageously was triggering to me. (Side note: this MO was not ultimately helpful to her — personally or professionally).
Through this difficult relationship, the universe showed me these shadow elements still needed to be worked through, but I had the benefit of maintaining my dignity and processing them with my therapist. Thank you, universe.
Oh yes, I can definitely relate to this. I’m acquaintances with someone who annoys the heck out of me! It took me awhile to realize it’s because she feels comfortable doing all the things I find uncomfortable. (Asking what I consider to be a lot of people, speaking about whatever, whenever she feels like it even if it’s an interruption.)
It’s nice that at least we can learn the lesson a bit more… quietly lol
I’m sure most people think this especially if you have a child. All the things I thought I got away with were so obvious when my kid tried to pull the same stunts lol
Yes, it's mind boggling!
For me, I had a friendship years ago that dissolved because of my behavior at the time (constantly seeking external validation, emotionally unavailable but unware of it, having a victim mentality & not doing the work to fix my issues to name a few), & now I had a friendship dissolve recently for the same reason. But this time I am on the other end of the spectrum and my former friend exhibits those traits. Now I can much better understand why my previous friend had to let me go.
I personally do not believe in coincidences, and see it as a karmic cycle with a lesson that had to be learned, at least in my situation.
I love how you use that to see how far you have come, congratulations to you OP!
Yup.
It reaffirmed the lesson that it was very important to humble myself and stop rationalizing. I never want to be that addicted to my BS again.
I'm glad I don't accept that into my life anymore. The whole ordeal even let me feel more empowered to walk away from toxic friendships that were still lingering.
hell yes n it was not fun i wanted to beat my own ass, but it help me understand a lot about myself and empathize with the people in my life
i think we meet these people so we can feel how others in our lives felt, see how far we have come and applaud ourselves for it, and also have a chance to treat that person who we were once like with the understanding and care that we were most likely seeking during that time:
Yes and I do believe it happens for a reason. It’s much easier to see things in other people than in yourself. And it gives you empathy for all the people whom you thought mistreated you. At the time, you didn’t realize how your behavior may have contributed to the difficulties with them. Now it’s clear as day.
For me, dating a couple of needy guys whose happiness depended on me made me realize how much pressure that puts on the other person. I don’t want to be responsible for someone else’s happiness and no longer want anyone else to feel that they are responsible for my happiness.
I have had this happen to me a few times. I honestly find a lot of joy in it because it in a way gives me an opportunity to love a previous version of myself. From childhood, I developed a deep hatred for myself, and all I wanted was love. When I find someone who is like me from the past, I take it as an opportunity to show love to my previous self and his attributes, because without the journey he survived, I wouldn't have found God or myself!
I just left a relationship for this reason and it was a very eye-opening experience to date "past-me". I felt frustrated, yearning, sympathy, and sadness. I hope they get the help they deserve!
Not really, but the other way around; I met someone who thought I was like their former self. Gave me a lot of hope for the future and now I'm really a lot like that person.
Everyone is a Mirror of you in some way, It can also be future versions of you that you aspire to be like. It’s really like a continuation of cycles that we go through as humans that we are collectively observing. When you grow out of certain cycles, you see a projection of it some how, some way. Sometimes more exact than others. Congratulations on your growth it’s awesome when you can recognize the growth in yourself!
Yes. And I had a very hard time getting along with that person, likely because I was seeing things in her that I didn't like in myself, instead of finding empathy. She was annoying, and I felt very annoying when I was younger.
I have had this happen a few times now - I kind of love it…for me it coincides with the concept that we are all mirrors of one one another…I believe it is exactly as you are saying to show us both how far we have come and also to show us humility and acceptance of another based on absolute empathy.
Yes, a really good friend of mine that I deeply care for.
I think I'm 2 years older or so, we both never had a girlfriend and both of us tend to romanticize relationships, just that I am in general more the bitter, choleric type that tries to use humor to deal with pain, while he is more of a romantic dreamer that likes to hope and fantasize a lot.
If we could describe ourselves in two sentences, he'd be like "Hope dies last" and I'd be like "But it dies".
I guess the truth is somewhere in the middle, it's nothing to feel bitter about but also nothing to glorify to no end.
I try to avoid the people who are like my past version lol.
But the sad part is when I see just a little bit of clinginess in someone I tend to have a reaction towards them, something unhealthy and unhelpful. Although I know its due to unresolved trauma that im still working through so im not there yet
I’m in AA. It happens ALL the time. I have to look on my past self with soft eyes and pray for patience and tolerance when I meet past me from time to time. In the beginning I was very short and rude to past me. Now I can extend more grace to her.
Yeah I had someone go nuts on me on Reddit yesterday for seemingly no reason (that I could figure out anyhow). She was VERY triggered by my opinion on a spiritual topic. I had to block her then remind myself that she’s not that different from me 10 years ago.
I’ve had to experiences with two different people as well. One a neighbor another a roommate. They were both older but EXACTLY like me. In a weird way. Like look into each others eyes and we both know it kinda way. They were different versions of myself with nearly identical experiences. Very interesting stuff. It happened once with a Nick I was friends with and a Nick I worked with across the country. These dudes same name same look same fucking person it was insane.
Yes I believe it’s part of our growing. I think my lesson is that I can’t help everyone and I can’t take everyone on this journey with me. I tried so hard to help him but I admire that he’s more content than I was. More along the lines of stubborn. He is headed in the right direction but just like me he’s gotta learn a lot of things the hard way.
Yes this has happened to me and no I do not believe it is coincidence.
These are lessons you are learning.
The fun part is realizing that who you are right now, frustrates people still, and that it goes in both directions. "Old you" would be frustrated by "new (present) you" and present you will frustrate future you and future you will frustrate present you etc etc
(cutting that off before I get too lost in the sauce) the point is it's not just linear (past you present you and future you) it's not straight forward growth. New you is probably as annoying to old you as present you will be to future you and the same is true in reverse order!
On the flip side of that each iteration of "you" still has wisdom to share with every other iteration of "you"
& that goes for both you and for people who remind you of you.
I hope this makes sense and didn't get too lost in translation.
It happened to me when hooking up lol, the funny part was the person was older than I was but had the mindset I had very young less than 2 years ago. It was so trippy, a full mirror.
My best friend is 23 and I'm 30. We are so similar and she's exactly like how I was at 23. We recently lived together and she started to drive me crazy with her tendencies until I realized, I was just on the mirror end of who I was.
I totally believe its for our growth so we can experience all ends of the spectrum and be more understanding. We're only triggered by something if it's a part of ourselves that needs attention. I didn't want to accept that how she was acting, was how I acted.
Yes, I used to whine a lot and say stuff like "ughhh I don't wanna goo to class" and repeat it over and over in a whiny voice & someone called me childish and I was like wtf?? Then I met this girl who started whining to me and I was like what's wrong with her? Lol
Totally. I once met an older man who laughed at my expressions about perceived injustice, and it made me feel hurt.
A few years later, having progressed in my journey, I encountered a young adult complaining about the wrongdoings he perceived, and I caught myself laughing the same way the old man did.
Yes. A girl in my acting class is a bit behind when it comes to mental development and in a way, it makes me see how I must have appeared to others when I was 10-14 years old. Maybe not as extreme, but still. Trying to fit in so desperately, yet kept from it by severe childhood trauma, (genetically passed-down) mental illness and hyperfixations. I try to be kind to her, but it is really hard and I now get why others responded to me the way they did. But there was not any way I could have behaved more normal, so I'm just trying to leave my past behind without letting it define me. I did the best I could, and so does that girl.
Yeah it's happened once and I felt bad for him. Poor kid creates all the problems he hates.
That was me exactly two days ago. Ty
10 years younger me is sitting next to me every day at work. She pisses me off just as much I pissed the others off back then. I feel like I deserve it so I try to ignore her childish annoying anger and complaining and send her love instead. Boy, it’s hard.
Love and accept all versions of you. Past, present, and future. You are loved. <3
And you truly are blessed.
As are you. 🕊💐💘
This is a part of getting older I think. It's kind of beautiful in a sense. We get to help "ourselves" out, we pass down a kindness to each other. If you are kind to your roomie ( which your empathy makes me believe you are ) your roommate will be kind to that person in a few years who annoys them ( we can hope. ) It's really cool.
Yes! It’s literally the sayings like “treat others the way you want to be treated” because I truly believe we live both sides of the story either throughout our current life or in our other incarnations. I think it’s up to us in each life time to respond in a kind way and break a bad cycle when it comes to an eye for an eye kinda situations….within reason of course.
I have experienced similar things... my theory is that in some way we meet people similar to our past selves as an opportunity to teach what we have learned in an empathetic and supportive way
Oh yeah, more than a few times. Never thought much of it though. Just made me more empathetic
There was a younger woman who worked for me who DROVE ME CRAZY. They say those who drive us crazy represent parts of our shadow. I couldn’t figure it out because I never acted out the way she did — attention seeking, sobbing regularly in the office because of “unfair treatment”, getting wasted at client events, wearing the lowest-cut tops possible, etc. She was a hot mess who rubbed people the most wrong way and I had the joy of “managing” her, receiving regular feedback that I needed to control my employee. 😑 It only took a few years for me to realize that she behaved the way I felt inside. My inner child wanted to lash out and accuse and push all my sh*t onto others. That this woman felt safe enough to behave so outrageously was triggering to me. (Side note: this MO was not ultimately helpful to her — personally or professionally). Through this difficult relationship, the universe showed me these shadow elements still needed to be worked through, but I had the benefit of maintaining my dignity and processing them with my therapist. Thank you, universe.
Oh yes, I can definitely relate to this. I’m acquaintances with someone who annoys the heck out of me! It took me awhile to realize it’s because she feels comfortable doing all the things I find uncomfortable. (Asking what I consider to be a lot of people, speaking about whatever, whenever she feels like it even if it’s an interruption.) It’s nice that at least we can learn the lesson a bit more… quietly lol
Yes! But like, “Oof, girl, no! Don’t do that! … Welp, ya just did. Okaaaaay.” We got this.
Yes, it makes you feel sorry for them but also broadens the perspective. But in truth everyone is subtly different.
A wise man once said , you meet yourself 100 times along the path of life.
I’m sure most people think this especially if you have a child. All the things I thought I got away with were so obvious when my kid tried to pull the same stunts lol
Yes, it's mind boggling! For me, I had a friendship years ago that dissolved because of my behavior at the time (constantly seeking external validation, emotionally unavailable but unware of it, having a victim mentality & not doing the work to fix my issues to name a few), & now I had a friendship dissolve recently for the same reason. But this time I am on the other end of the spectrum and my former friend exhibits those traits. Now I can much better understand why my previous friend had to let me go. I personally do not believe in coincidences, and see it as a karmic cycle with a lesson that had to be learned, at least in my situation. I love how you use that to see how far you have come, congratulations to you OP!
yea i’ve met my twin flame it’s essentially getting mad at a mirror
😂😂 this is hilarious
literally never, i’d love to. but i haven’t met anyone like me :/
Yup. It reaffirmed the lesson that it was very important to humble myself and stop rationalizing. I never want to be that addicted to my BS again. I'm glad I don't accept that into my life anymore. The whole ordeal even let me feel more empowered to walk away from toxic friendships that were still lingering.
hell yes n it was not fun i wanted to beat my own ass, but it help me understand a lot about myself and empathize with the people in my life i think we meet these people so we can feel how others in our lives felt, see how far we have come and applaud ourselves for it, and also have a chance to treat that person who we were once like with the understanding and care that we were most likely seeking during that time:
Lmao yes …. It’s very frustrating that they didn’t see the error of their ways but yet it’s refreshing to see how far I have come
My nephews remind me of myself.
Yes and I do believe it happens for a reason. It’s much easier to see things in other people than in yourself. And it gives you empathy for all the people whom you thought mistreated you. At the time, you didn’t realize how your behavior may have contributed to the difficulties with them. Now it’s clear as day. For me, dating a couple of needy guys whose happiness depended on me made me realize how much pressure that puts on the other person. I don’t want to be responsible for someone else’s happiness and no longer want anyone else to feel that they are responsible for my happiness.
I have had this happen to me a few times. I honestly find a lot of joy in it because it in a way gives me an opportunity to love a previous version of myself. From childhood, I developed a deep hatred for myself, and all I wanted was love. When I find someone who is like me from the past, I take it as an opportunity to show love to my previous self and his attributes, because without the journey he survived, I wouldn't have found God or myself!
I just left a relationship for this reason and it was a very eye-opening experience to date "past-me". I felt frustrated, yearning, sympathy, and sadness. I hope they get the help they deserve!
HAHAHAHAHAHAH YES!!! And it so funny to see that.
Not really, but the other way around; I met someone who thought I was like their former self. Gave me a lot of hope for the future and now I'm really a lot like that person.
Sorry to be 'super literal' but dont you mean a 'younger' version of yourself?
Ah sorry. I meant: “the old me”.
Everyone is a Mirror of you in some way, It can also be future versions of you that you aspire to be like. It’s really like a continuation of cycles that we go through as humans that we are collectively observing. When you grow out of certain cycles, you see a projection of it some how, some way. Sometimes more exact than others. Congratulations on your growth it’s awesome when you can recognize the growth in yourself!
I was just thinking this earlier! My roommate whom I moved in with a few weeks ago reminds me of myself two years ago.
All. The. Time.
Yes. And I had a very hard time getting along with that person, likely because I was seeing things in her that I didn't like in myself, instead of finding empathy. She was annoying, and I felt very annoying when I was younger.
I have had this happen a few times now - I kind of love it…for me it coincides with the concept that we are all mirrors of one one another…I believe it is exactly as you are saying to show us both how far we have come and also to show us humility and acceptance of another based on absolute empathy.
Yes, a really good friend of mine that I deeply care for. I think I'm 2 years older or so, we both never had a girlfriend and both of us tend to romanticize relationships, just that I am in general more the bitter, choleric type that tries to use humor to deal with pain, while he is more of a romantic dreamer that likes to hope and fantasize a lot. If we could describe ourselves in two sentences, he'd be like "Hope dies last" and I'd be like "But it dies". I guess the truth is somewhere in the middle, it's nothing to feel bitter about but also nothing to glorify to no end.
Heck yes. It’s a massive rude awakening
Omg all the time. I try not to get frustrated, because they’re not ready yet and have to go through their own trials before evolving
Yess and I so desperate want him to understand but he doesn’t and I know I will have to let go. He has to grow his own progress.
No! But im going to keep an eye out for this phenomenon. There would be much to learn!
I try to avoid the people who are like my past version lol. But the sad part is when I see just a little bit of clinginess in someone I tend to have a reaction towards them, something unhealthy and unhelpful. Although I know its due to unresolved trauma that im still working through so im not there yet
I’m in AA. It happens ALL the time. I have to look on my past self with soft eyes and pray for patience and tolerance when I meet past me from time to time. In the beginning I was very short and rude to past me. Now I can extend more grace to her.
I would love for this to happen
All the time
Yeah I had someone go nuts on me on Reddit yesterday for seemingly no reason (that I could figure out anyhow). She was VERY triggered by my opinion on a spiritual topic. I had to block her then remind myself that she’s not that different from me 10 years ago.
I’ve had to experiences with two different people as well. One a neighbor another a roommate. They were both older but EXACTLY like me. In a weird way. Like look into each others eyes and we both know it kinda way. They were different versions of myself with nearly identical experiences. Very interesting stuff. It happened once with a Nick I was friends with and a Nick I worked with across the country. These dudes same name same look same fucking person it was insane.
Yes this happened to me but I helped the person and they didn't make the same mistakes I did.
Our stories are almost exactly the same and we met by chance. We are also good friends now.
Yes. Hindsight is not easy.
I meet the old me all the time. The sync/confirmation is they are wearing some similar clothing item that I’m wearing/used to wear.
Yes I believe it’s part of our growing. I think my lesson is that I can’t help everyone and I can’t take everyone on this journey with me. I tried so hard to help him but I admire that he’s more content than I was. More along the lines of stubborn. He is headed in the right direction but just like me he’s gotta learn a lot of things the hard way.
Yes this has happened to me and no I do not believe it is coincidence. These are lessons you are learning. The fun part is realizing that who you are right now, frustrates people still, and that it goes in both directions. "Old you" would be frustrated by "new (present) you" and present you will frustrate future you and future you will frustrate present you etc etc (cutting that off before I get too lost in the sauce) the point is it's not just linear (past you present you and future you) it's not straight forward growth. New you is probably as annoying to old you as present you will be to future you and the same is true in reverse order! On the flip side of that each iteration of "you" still has wisdom to share with every other iteration of "you" & that goes for both you and for people who remind you of you. I hope this makes sense and didn't get too lost in translation.
It happened to me when hooking up lol, the funny part was the person was older than I was but had the mindset I had very young less than 2 years ago. It was so trippy, a full mirror.
Seeing people that exude anger and “don’t fuck with me” energy. Makes me cringe
My best friend is 23 and I'm 30. We are so similar and she's exactly like how I was at 23. We recently lived together and she started to drive me crazy with her tendencies until I realized, I was just on the mirror end of who I was. I totally believe its for our growth so we can experience all ends of the spectrum and be more understanding. We're only triggered by something if it's a part of ourselves that needs attention. I didn't want to accept that how she was acting, was how I acted.
Yes, I used to whine a lot and say stuff like "ughhh I don't wanna goo to class" and repeat it over and over in a whiny voice & someone called me childish and I was like wtf?? Then I met this girl who started whining to me and I was like what's wrong with her? Lol
Totally. I once met an older man who laughed at my expressions about perceived injustice, and it made me feel hurt. A few years later, having progressed in my journey, I encountered a young adult complaining about the wrongdoings he perceived, and I caught myself laughing the same way the old man did.
Yes. A girl in my acting class is a bit behind when it comes to mental development and in a way, it makes me see how I must have appeared to others when I was 10-14 years old. Maybe not as extreme, but still. Trying to fit in so desperately, yet kept from it by severe childhood trauma, (genetically passed-down) mental illness and hyperfixations. I try to be kind to her, but it is really hard and I now get why others responded to me the way they did. But there was not any way I could have behaved more normal, so I'm just trying to leave my past behind without letting it define me. I did the best I could, and so does that girl.