You are currently viewing “The Young & Old Test”

“The Young & Old Test”

Making Decisions You Will Always Be Proud Of

Life is full of decisions. Some matter only for a moment, while others ripple across decades. The Young and Old Test is a mental model that encourages you to make choices that would make both your 10-year-old self and your 80-year-old self proud. It is about balancing long-term wisdom with youthful curiosity.

What the 80-Year-Old Self Wants

Your 80-year-old self represents the long view. This version of you has lived through the compounding effects of every decision you made. They value health, meaningful relationships, financial security, and a life lived with purpose. Thinking like your 80-year-old self helps you avoid impulsive choices that could cause regret later.

Before making a big decision, ask: “Will my future self thank me for this?” If the answer is no, it may be time to rethink.

What the 10-Year-Old Self Wants

Your 10-year-old self represents the joy of living in the moment. This is the part of you that loves play, creativity, and excitement. They remind you not to take life too seriously and to find fun in the journey.

Before turning down an adventure or a new opportunity, ask: “Would my younger self want me to try this?” Often, the answer will encourage you to step outside your comfort zone.

Finding the Balance

The magic of the Young and Old Test lies in balancing these two perspectives. If you only think like your older self, you may become overly cautious and miss out on life’s joys. If you only think like your younger self, you may neglect the responsibilities that protect your future.

When both versions of you would approve of a choice, you are likely making a decision that enriches both your present and your future.

Practical Ways to Use the Young and Old Test

Check major life choices: Career moves, investments, and relationships benefit from this double perspective. Evaluate lifestyle habits: Diet, exercise, and learning should please both your playful side and your wise side. Say yes to growth: Look for opportunities that are both fun now and valuable later.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Zsolt Zsemba

Zsolt Zsemba has worn many different hats. He has been an entrepreneur, and businessman for over 30 years. Living abroad has given him many amazing experiences in life and also sparked his imagination for writing. After moving to Canada from Hungary at the age of 10 and working in a family business for a large part of his life. The switch from manufacturing to writing came surprisingly easily for him. His passion for writing began at age 12, mostly writing poetry and short stories. In 1999, the chance came to write scripts. Zsolt took some time off from his family business to write in Jakarta Indonesia for MD Entertainment. Having written dozens of soap operas and made for TV movies, in 2003 Zsolt returned to the family business once more. In 2018, he had the chance to head back to Asia once again. He took on the challenge to be the COO for MD Pictures and get back into the entertainment business. The entertainment business opened up the desire to write once more and the words began to flow onto the pages again. He decided to rewrite a book he began years ago. Organ House was reborn and is a fiction suspense novel while Scars is a young adult drama focused on life’s challenges. After the first two books, his desire to write not only became more challenging but enjoyable as well. After having several books completed he was convinced to publish them for your enjoyment. Zsolt does not tend to stay in one specific genre but tends to lean towards strong female leads and horror. Though he also has a few human interest books, he tends to write about whatever brews in his brain for a while.