MODULE 12: Reigniting Joy
Get to Know the Future You
By now you know that the way you think about yourself creates results in your life now.
And if you spend all of your time thinking about your past, you will create the same result, over and over.
It's time to get to know the future you, and to start to live from this place.
By focusing on your future and who you wanted to be, you will start to create your future instead of constantly recreating your past and letting life just happen to you.
How much time do you spend thinking about your future self, the version of you one year from now, five years from now, ten years from now, even twenty? Many of us have a hard time connecting with, or visualizing our future selves. We often view this person as a stranger, or we don't spend much time thinking about her at all.
But it is so important .
When you are trying to create an extraordinary life, it is important to get to know this version of you so that you feel inspired today to make decisions today that serve your future instead of sabotage it. It can help to envision your future self as someone you love and care about. Someone who's back you have, no matter what. You would never blow off a best friend, right? You would never let her down. Let's start giving that care to yourself now. It can be absolutely transformative to consider your future self in every single decision you make, and to try to make her proud.
Let's explore some ways to connect with your future self.
Visualize Your Future Self. Imagine yourself in ten years, or even twenty years. Where do you want to be? What kind of life do you want to be living? Who is surrounding you? How are you feeling physically, emotionally, spiritually? Allow yourself to dream in vivid details. Image your face, your voice. Study how you are showing up in your life. Study how you are feeling in your body. See this version of you with love and compassion. What do you want for you? What are you willing to do for her now, so that she is not struggling or living in regret? How do you want to take care of her now? Picture this version of you often.
Ask Often: What Would My Future Self Do? There is a wise and loving mentor inside of you, and she is your future self. She is always there, trying to guide you in the right direction, but you have to be willing to pay attention. Consider often, what would you future self do? What would the version of you in the future - in five minutes, five weeks, or five years - be proud of and grateful for? Use this question to guide your actions and decisions every day. What will serve you in the long run?
Have Q&A Sessions With Your Future Self. Have focused conversations with this version of you. Ask her specific questions and see what wisdom she imparts on you. Ask anything and listen for her answer, to questions like: What do I need to let go of? What can I do to grow my business? How can I support myself? How can I have more connected relationships? What can I do for my body to improve my health? What decision do I want to make? Listen to the version of you who is living an extraordinary life. Let her guide you. Listen to her. Trust her. Let her coach and mentor you.
Journal From Your Future Self. Write to yourself from the you who has reached her goals, who feels healthy and happy and is loving life. Let her guide you from where you are now to where you want to be. This is especially helpful when you are struggling or when you are faced with a decision or a challenge. She's on the other side of it now. Notice what she has to say to you. It's like you're watching a movie and she already knows how it's going to end. What advice does she have? What thoughts does she offer?
Research shows the value of visualization in the future that you want to create. Those who connect with their future selves and make decisions from this place are happier, healthier and have an improved sense of wellbeing. Their relationships are more aligned and fulfilling. They have better financial outcomes and more professional satisfaction. Living with a the goal of making your future self proud will guide you towards deliberate and intentional thoughts, feelings, actions and decisions.
Practice being your future self now. And this requires that you decide what you want.
What do you want your future to look like?
What is your extraordinary goal that will change how you see yourself?
What do you want?
Go to the place of already having achieved your goals.
Who is that version of you? How is she thinking differently than you’re thinking today? How is she feeling different? What decisions is she making that maybe you’re not making? Who is she surrounding herself with and what is she surrounding herself with? How is she showing up?
Start living into this now.