Be Present With Your Future Self

How to live your dreams both today and tomorrow

Every stroke I take every day in the pool is a celebration of the present moment and of the future. Photo: Per Håkansson.

Have you ever had a conversation with your future self about your life? A real honest talk about expectations, dreams, and desires? It might sound weird but it can be life changing.

Scientists have found that people who are more connected to their future self make better life decisions and people that see their future self as a stranger make worse life decisions.

And it’s not just about financial decisions; it’s about any decision you make today that will impact your future time, social, mental, physical, and financial wellbeing.

The future can seem like an abstract concept but it’s anything after this moment. But how can we both life here and now, be present in our life and satisfy the often unknown needs of our future self?

To grind or not to grind

I think a lot of people believe that we need to grind in the now to have it better later. I also know that a lot of people believe that if they are having too much fun now there will be hell to pay later.

After all, that’s the prevalent “work hard, play hard” retirement model.

But having a conversation with your future self about how you would like to live your life, what freedoms you’re seeking, could make your road ahead much more visible and achievable.