One day, Sam was sitting quietly on a Saturday, a rest day, in a coffee shop after a full week of responsibilities. There was nothing dramatic that had happened last week. No crisis. No breaking news. But there was a quiet weight of expectations in his heart — deadlines, conversations he was avoiding, upcoming decisions that felt heavier than they should.
Instead of being a restful Saturday, he notice that his mind was already overthinking about next week. “This will be exhausting.” “You’re behind.” “You’re not ready.” And before he could rest, he felt exhausted already
Then as he talked to his friend, he notice something that his friend said that was powerful. It was nothing big, it simply says…
“Mistakes are opportunities to learn.” It was something simple, but he felt lifted up.
When he went home, he quickly wrote these five words on a sticky note and paste it on his wall so that he can be reminded of it daily.
This kept him going every day. That was it. No motivational speech. No grand strategy. Just a simple note to himself. But something shifted. His circumstances didn’t change, but the note stuck in his head.
That’s the power of “Notes to Self.” Nothing big – just anchors to keep you going. Notes to Self interrupt fear and discouragements. They keep your heart steady when life gets hard.
Even the world’s most iconic figures rely on these simple anchors. Here are four “Notes to Self” born not from comfort, but from the fire of struggle.
1. “Turn your wounds into wisdom.” — Oprah Winfrey
The Truth: Peace isn’t the absence of trouble; it’s strength in the middle of it.
Oprah wasn’t born into a charmed life. She faced poverty, trauma, and was even fired from a news role for being “unfit for television.” She could have let those wounds scar over into bitterness. Instead, she asked: “What is this teaching me?”
- The Shift: When you feel defeated, stop asking “Why did this happen to me?” and start asking “What is the wisdom hidden inside this?” Your current struggle is not your “forever”—it is your preparation.
2. “You change your circumstances.” — Jackie Chan
The Truth: Acceptance is not giving up—it’s choosing your next best step.
Jackie Chan was a “failed” student who slept on wooden boards and spent years as a stuntman being laughed at. In Hollywood, they mocked his English and his style. His note to self? “I don’t want to be the next Bruce Lee; I will be the first Jackie Chan.”
- The Shift: Stop wasting emotional energy fighting reality or wishing things were different. Accept what is, stop comparing your path to others, and ask: “How can I adapt and create my own way within these limitations?”
3. “You are never past your prime.” — Michelle Yeoh
The Truth: Your story is still unfolding; don’t let a timeline trap you.
At 60, Michelle Yeoh became the first Asian woman to win the Oscar for Best Actress. Her journey involved a career-ending ballet injury at 15 and years of being cast as the “damsel in distress.” She refused the narrative that her window had closed.
- The Shift: We often assume the future will be just like a difficult today. It won’t. If you feel “stuck” or “too late,” remember Michelle Yeoh’s beacon of hope. Trust your journey and focus on improving the skills you didn’t have yesterday.
4. “Today is hard, tomorrow is worse, but the day after is sunshine.” — Jack Ma
The Truth: Growth happens through small daily actions, not instant breakthroughs.
Jack Ma was rejected by KFC and failed his university exams multiple times. He didn’t build Alibaba through a stroke of brilliance, but through sheer endurance. He focused on surviving today so he could see the “sunshine” of the day after tomorrow.
- The Shift: You don’t lift a thousand pounds at once; you lift one pound a thousand times. When you’re overwhelmed, don’t ask “How do I fix everything?” Ask “What is one small step I can take right now?”
Create Your Own “Sticky Note”
You don’t need a motivational speech to change your life; you just need a few anchors to keep you from drifting. Choose a few truths that resonate with you and put them where you can see them.
Practical Examples:
- Mistakes are opportunities to learn.
- Trust the process; I am exactly where I need to be.
- It’s okay to not be “Number One.” I will enjoy my own journey.
- Emotional honesty is better than “faking it.”
What’s the one sentence you need to hear today? Write it down. Stick it on the wall. Let it be the anchor that holds you steady.
Written by:
Mr. Lee Teck Ming
(Psychotherapist and Relational Trauma Specialist)
New Vision Counselling and Consultancy 