Jordan Peterson was 25 years old when it all began. He was young, uncertain, and vulnerable. His hair was long as he neared his science philosophy graduate school exit exams. He was also struggling with drugs.
‘Before you knew, your girlfriend’s mother would answer the door, and you’d tripped your balls off,’ he told me in a recent interview. ‘And you couldn’t even hide that from your girlfriend. There’s only so much facade you can affect.’
He talked to me about the years between childhood and midlife — the years of young adulthood he left behind as he grew into an older man who now spends his days opining about how things went so wrong. Here is what he had to say:
How to be more aware at age 25.
- Make Lifestyle Changes: ‘I decided … that I was really going to try to get my act together.’ There’s a strong element of commitment here. Those who applied themselves to their internal tasks spoke again and again of what Dorian Scott Dickson called ‘going for the bigger prize, and the work it takes to get there’. Or, as Peterson put it: ‘I decided … that I was really going to try to get my act together.
- Adopt positive habits: Peterson’s decision to quit smoking, cut back on alcohol and to set time aside for physical activity highlight the importance of adopting positive habits. ‘I started exercising, started playing sport…,’ he says.
- Intellectual Curiosity: Although hindered, Peterson’s intellectual curiosity was undiminished: ‘I was intellectually obsessed… working on hard problems,’ he said later. A thirst for learning and the pursuit of new ideas can lead to fulfillment and intellectual growth.
- Prioritize Honesty and Trust: Peterson always stressed honesty and truthfulness in his marriage to Tammy. ‘We each swore we’d tell each other the truth,’ he tells Oprah. Open communication and trust are hallmarks of a strong healthy relationship.
- Don’t run away from stuff: Peterson’s life was difficult, but he faced difficulty with guts and grit. ‘I had to quit screwing around and shape up’; said Peterson. Confronting challenges and embracing adversity can lead to hardening and aiding in personal evolution.
- Value Authenticity: Throughout his writings, Peterson consistently emphasizes the value of authenticity. ‘There’s a lot that’s terrible about the truth, but the truth is far worse than any kind of falsehood,’ Peterson concludes. To live one’s life in a way that seems consistent with one’s articulation of who one is can, at least potentially, make one’s life more meaningful and rewarding.
Jordan Peterson turned 25 years old last June; if we take his life seriously, we’re also reminded what’s worth learning to do and how to do it on the way to that positively transformed self. Train ourselves. Get involved. Develop good habits. Be curious. Be rigorous. Be honest. Don’t sleep around. Trust others. Do the readings. Dig in. Practice. Be yourself. Be natural. Don’t fake it. Don’t telephone it in. Do your homework. Listen. Sweat. Take care of your hair.