Practice being your future self
"Do something today that your future self will thank you for.”
—Unknown
A question often posed is "what advice would you give to your younger self?" While philosophically intriguing, the question is limited in its usefulness as we can't change the past.
Perhaps a more practical question is "what would my ‘future self’ want me to do"? Motivational speaker Margie Warrell asks this many times in her coaching, and a common thread of courage weaves through most of the answers:
Trust yourself kid. You’ve got this!
Press on. The dots will connect.
Keep faith. What you're doing now is loaded with opportunity.
Just start. You don’t have to know everything before you do.
Speak up. People want to hear what you have to say.
Indeed... Why not you?!
Daniel Kahneman writes in Thinking, Fast and Slow, “Potential losses loom larger than potential gains.” This is why more people at the end of life regret the risks they did not take over those they did.
Furthermore, research shows that people who practice being their future selves save more for the future, delay gratification, live healthier, happier lives and have fewer regrets. Perhaps this is why the advice people give their ‘younger selves’ centres around courage. When we practice being our future self, we dare our present self to trust more and doubt less.
If you want to start practicing being your future self right now, here's a fun and practical way. Take a minute and use this tool to send a letter to your future self. You can set any future delivery date (1 month, 1 year, 5 years etc.) and will likely be inspired and amazed at your own growth.