What do you want to thank your younger self for doing? The value of this question is at least threefold: It helps you 1) reflect, 2) show self-compassion, and 3) direct your future actions.

The idea for asking this question came to me while reading the engaging, insightful new book Don’t Trust Your Gut: Using Data to Get What You Really Want in Life by bestselling author and data scientist Seth Stephens-Davidowitz. In the book’s chapter about the secret to great parenting, the author reveals some counter-intuitive research on what most influences children and helps them prepare for success later in life.

Turning the spotlight on these topics is a much more productive exercise than asking the hackneyed question: What advice would you give to your younger self? 

For more about the value of exploring what your younger self did as well as my personal story, check out my Forbes.com article published August 23, 2022, What do you want to thank your younger self for doing?