“The one constant in our lives is change.” Psychologist David Gilbert
It took me a long time to grasp the idea of my Future Self. But once I did, I have embraced it with enthusiasm and regularly spend time defining, shaping and inviting my Future Self into my life.
The concept was introduced to me by Life Coach Extraordinaire, Reggie Adams of Reggie’s Coaching Academy. Creating your Future Self is a primary focus in Reggie’s GUTS Program, her course that teaches how to Give Unbelievable aTtention to Self. In guiding her clients to create their Future Self, Reggie invites us to imagine who we want to be and how we want to become that person. Then she asks us to “practice” being that person as often as possible. The power of imagining who you wish to be and putting energy towards this effort has been huge for me in my self care journey.
Harvard Professor, David Gilbert, speaks about our Future Self in his 7-minute TED Talk, “The Psychology of Future Self.” He talks about why we make decisions that our Future Selves often regret such as tattoos, chosen partners, or making poor choices regarding exercise or diet.
Mr. Gilbert suggests these poor decisions have to do with the “ease of remembering versus the difficulty to imagine. And if it’s hard to imagine, we think it is unlikely to happen.”
“Human beings are works in progress that mistakenly think they are finished,” David says.
When I first imagined my Future Self almost 20 years ago, she was older, wiser, more compassionate. She listened a lot more than she spoke and she dressed with flowing scarves and colorful layers. She was kinder and more considerate of others and lived a life that was slower paced, more intentional and authentic.
I believe that by imagining who I wished to be, I was more likely to become that person, not over night, but through years of refining, defining, and imagining a woman I’d like to be friends with.
I’d like to believe that is exactly who I have become.
“The person you are right now is as transient and as fleeting and as temporary as all the people you’ve ever been,” Mr. Gilbert says.
Who would you like to be in your future? Who is your BEST self? What do you want more of in your life? What can you do in this New Year to support you becoming your Future Self? Pull out all the stops and describe that person in detail. Write it down. And read it daily. Tell someone you trust about her and support each other in the process.
Then start imagining that you already are your Future Self. She’s in there and aching to come out. Invite her to stay awhile and enjoy this new you. Believe that you can have and be what you want. No matter your age, you are by no means finished. Be the change you want to see. Then watch that change transform you into your Future Self.
You can watch David’s TED Talk here: David Gilbert TED Talk
Find out more about the GUTS Program and Reggie Adams, who coaches clients all over the world at Reggie’s Coaching Academy
For more ideas on how to self care go to Fuzzy Red Socks