Now that you are grateful for the life you have, it’s time to expand your thoughts to the life you can create. It’s about moving from wanting to change your life to deciding to change it. When you commit to creating a new future, you’ll end up doing things you never imagined you’d do, believing in things you can’t see, and overcoming fears that once held you back.
The journey to becoming your future self starts with understanding who you are today. It’s not just about setting goals but truly knowing yourself—your strengths, weaknesses, fears, and desires. By optimizing your current self, you can pave the way to the best version of your future self. In this blog, I will share some practical strategies for creating a vision for your future self and taking the steps to bring that vision to life.
I’ve learned the value of this journey firsthand. My late brother Jonathan battled alcoholism for five years before it claimed his life. It made me reflect on my own struggles. I remember spending five months in downtown Denver where I drank more than I worked. It wasn’t until my best friend offered me a place to stay at his old baseball teammate’s house in Golden, Colorado, that I began to change. My environment changed, my identity changed, and everything in my life began to shift.
You never know what amazing things your future holds if you’re willing to make a change today.
The Journey to Your Future Self
Creating your future self isn’t about setting lofty goals and hoping they come true. It’s about embodying a growth mindset—a belief that you can improve your present state through determination and consistent effort. Developing the future you mindset means taking ownership of your circumstances and your ability to change them. It means understanding that your past doesn’t define your future, and you always have the power to choose what happens next.
“Your future self is waiting for you to make the decisions today that will set them free.” —Unknown
The journey to becoming your future self requires visualization, positive affirmations, and learning from your past. Let’s explore these key concepts to help you create the life you desire.
Seeing Yourself Before Seeing Your Future Self
Before you can visualize the person you want to become, you need to see yourself clearly. This means understanding where you are today—your habits, beliefs, strengths, and weaknesses. You need to identify the things that are holding you back and the changes that need to be made.
“People believe they lack autonomy over who they are and who they can become because of their past—but know that you always have the power to choose what happens next.”
This mindset shift is crucial for building the foundation of your future self. Reflect on your past experiences and learn from them. Understand your current self deeply to lay the groundwork for future growth.
Visualization and Affirmation
Visualization is a powerful tool for shaping your future self. In Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill emphasizes the importance of visualizing yourself as the confident, successful person you want to be. Visualization involves imagining your future self in vivid detail—your actions, your feelings, your achievements.
A simple exercise involves spending 30 minutes each day visualizing your future self and then 10 minutes focusing on positive affirmations. These affirmations are statements that reinforce your confidence and belief in yourself.
“Affirmations are like planting seeds in the fertile soil of your mind.” —Louise Hay
In The Power of Positive Thinking, Norman Vincent Peale encourages us to create a “belief mindset” by repeating faith statements. You can select inspiring verses or affirmations that resonate with you and repeat them daily to increase the strength of your belief.
Here’s a simple affirmation exercise:
- Write down three affirmations that represent the future self you wish to become.
- Repeat these affirmations every morning and evening.
- Visualize yourself embodying these affirmations throughout the day.
Mental Time Travel: Learning from Your Past and Envisioning Your Future
Another effective tool for creating your future self is “mental time travel,” a concept discussed in Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke. Mental time travel allows you to reflect on past decisions and imagine future outcomes when making decisions in the present. This practice helps you learn from past experiences and align your current choices with your long-term goals.
Scenario Planning
One form of mental time travel is “scenario planning,” where you imagine all possible outcomes of a decision. This helps you prepare for negative outcomes and avoid being taken by surprise. Scenario planning also allows you to moderate your emotional response to success or failure by bracing yourself for various results.
However, it’s important not to overdo this exercise. As someone who used to rely heavily on scenario planning, I can tell you that it can lead to anxiety if you try to anticipate every possible outcome. The most incredible things that have happened in my life were unexpected, and it’s important to leave room for the unexpected joys that life brings.
“Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles; it empties today of its strength.” —Corrie Ten Boom
Embodying Your Future Self
In Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself, Dr. Joe Dispenza discusses the transformation that takes place when you create a new version of yourself. The new “you” is fully in control—your environment no longer dictates how you feel or how you live. You’re able to identify negative habits as they emerge and break them easily.
At this stage, your future self is not defined by the identity you once presented to the world. You’ve moved from a place of selfishness, characterized by fear, shame, and guilt, to a state of selflessness, defined by gratitude and joy. You’ve learned to break free of wants and needs, and instead, focus on simply being.
Here are some areas to consider as you reflect on your future self:
- Health/Nutrition: What kind of lifestyle do you want to live? How can you take care of your body to support your future self?
- Spiritual/Contribution: How do you want to connect to something greater than yourself? How can you make a meaningful contribution to others?
- Lifestyle/Adventure: What adventures do you want to experience? What kind of lifestyle will bring you joy?
- Personal Growth/Intellectual: What skills or knowledge do you want to develop?
- Family/Relationships: What kind of relationships do you want to cultivate?
- Financial/Investment/Material: What financial goals do you have for your future self?
- Environment/Tribe: Who do you want to surround yourself with? Who will support your growth?
- Business/Career: What does your ideal career or business look like?
Reflect on these categories and envision what they will look like for your future self. Create a three-year vision for your life and imagine the type of person you want to be at that point.
“…whole cemeteries could be filled with the sad tombstone: ‘Born a man, died a doctor.’” —Martin Lloyd-Jones
This quote is a reminder that we are more than our labels or careers. When envisioning your future self, think about who you want to be, not just what you want to achieve.
Taking Action Toward Your Future Self
Once you have a clear vision of your future self, it’s time to take action. The transformation from your current self to your future self requires consistent action, no matter how small. Break down your vision into actionable steps and commit to taking one step every day.
Here are some actions that will help you align with your future self:
- Set Goals: Set specific, measurable goals that align with your future self. For example, if you envision yourself as someone who is fit and healthy, set a goal to exercise three times a week.
- Create New Habits: Habits shape who we are. Identify the habits that will support your future self and start integrating them into your daily life.
- Surround Yourself with Support: Your environment plays a huge role in shaping your future self. Surround yourself with people who support your growth and inspire you to be better.
Remember that progress is not always linear. There will be setbacks, but the key is to stay committed to your vision and keep moving forward.
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” —Robert Collier
Conclusion: Your Future Is in Your Hands
The future you mindset is about more than setting goals—it’s about transforming who you are. It’s about taking ownership of your current reality, understanding where you want to go, and taking deliberate steps toward becoming that person.
The journey to becoming your future self is not always easy. There will be obstacles, setbacks, and moments of doubt. But every action you take, every visualization you do, and every affirmation you repeat brings you one step closer to your future self.
Reflect on your future self every day. Who is that person? What do they believe? What do they do? Start embodying those beliefs and actions today, and watch as you transform into the person you’ve always wanted to be.
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” —Peter Drucker
Your future is in your hands. What will you do today to bring your future self to life?
