This Viral TikTok Wellness Trend Can Be Great for Self-Care
If there was a way that you could meet your younger self for coffee, what would you tell them? The author of the author of Deep In My Feels, Jennae Cecelia pondered this question and shared a video on TikTok where she met her younger self for coffee. Her video has inspired a trend where people are posting their own versions on social media. So far, there are more than 16 million “Coffee with My Younger Self” posts on TikTok. I believe that this exercise can be helpful for bipolar self-care.
What Is the “I Met My Younger Self” Trend About?
The viral “coffee with my younger self' trend involves imagining that you are meeting your younger self for coffee. You engage in an (imagined) conversation about your past challenges and the wisdom you have gained since then.
This trend is similar to a technique used in Gestalt bipolar therapy called the “empty chair” exercise. In this exercise, a therapist asks the client to imagine a part of oneself (such as one’s younger self) sitting in an empty chair and to engage in a dialogue with them. This can be very helpful for self-reflection.
This trend also involves another bipolar therapy concept —visualization.
Why This Trend Is Helpful for Mental Health
There are many reasons why this trend is beneficial for those living with bipolar disorder. It helps us recognize how far we have come. It can be easy to focus on everything that is wrong. But this exercise enables us to practice self-compassion and recognize the things that we have achieved in life. It helps us see that we’re often far more resilient than we think we are. It lets us know that we are doing our best in life.
How To Do It
To do this exercise, grab a journal. Picture yourself in a coffee shop across from 18 or 20-year-old you. Imagine talking with her (or him) about how your life has changed. Engage in self-reflection. Think about how far you have come. Some things to consider when you talk to your younger self:
Does he or she arrive on time? Do you?
What is he or she wearing? What are you wearing?
What is your younger self most worried about? Could you reassure them now?
How has your life changed?
What advice would you give your younger self?
Topics to reflect on include relationships, career, friends, body image, mental health, or anything really. Focus on growth. Once you have written to your younger self, you can create a post to share on social media if you’d like. To do this, find an image or video and overlay your text on it. The social media posts usually use a clip of the song “Sweet Heat Lightning” by Gregory Alan Isakov. But you can use any music you like. Here’s an example by real estate entrepreneur Barbara Corcoran, and here’s my take.
You don’t have to share this on social media if you don’t feel comfortable doing so. It's not necessary, and you can still benefit from just writing down answers to the above questions.
What if this exercise stirs up feelings like grief, sadness, or regret? This is something that you should then bring up in therapy. Not in therapy? Regular bipolar therapy sessions can help you navigate rough patches, deal with emotions, and get through mood episodes.
