Need Motivation? Get to Know Future You.
“We believe that tomorrow will be different. We believe that we will be different tomorrow; but in doing so, we prioritize our current mood over the consequences of our inaction for the future self.”
— Procrastination and the Priority of Short-Term Mood Regulation: Consequences for Future Self
What’s the future you doing right now?
Are you touring the nation, marketing your bestselling novel? Slurping oysters and downing champagne from your not-so-humble abode? Creating a cancer-curing technology? Rolling in a pile of award-winning golden retrievers? Yelling “action” on the set of your directorial movie debut?
Or is the extent of what you envision your future self doing microwaving a pepperoni hot pocket in a few minutes?
Or maybe…. You can visualize your future wants and goals.
But when you look at “future you”… you don’t know who that person is.
You’re as acquainted with them as the flustered mom of three standing behind you in line at Starbucks.
You can picture yourself blowing out your birthday candles next year… and maybe even in three years. But what about blowing out your birthday candles in 20 years?
Do you see the future you as a human being? Who has needs, wants, and still faces challenges? Whose heart still pumps blood to survive?
People who can visualize themselves in the future are more likely to take action towards their goals. They’re motivated to make better decisions with how they choose to spend their time. Since they have a different understanding and appreciation of their time.
Let’s explore the power of getting to know future you, and how they’ll provide you with the motivation you’re craving.
We have a 3rd party perspective on our distant futures
“We did a study to document the disconnect people feel to their future selves and how we have a third-person perspective on ourselves in the distant future. Only those who saw their own future selves were more likely to favor long-term rewards.”
— Hal Hirschfield, “You Make Better Decisions If You See Your Senior Self”
Hal Hirschfield has done mountains of research about financial spending and saving patterns.
He concluded when we see images of what our future self looks like; we are significantly more likely to save money for our future self. Rather than spend money on something to satisfy a current emotional need that doesn’t hold much future value.
This same premise can apply to your goals and the actions you take towards achieving them.
It’s easy to lack motivation or stay inactive when you believe tomorrow is another day for you to try again.
Your current self doesn’t really face many consequences if you avoid necessary actions towards your goal. It’s future you who must deal with the compounding interest of your inaction.
If you can envision the future you savoring the long-term rewards of your efforts, it becomes easier to put action towards your goals TODAY.
Our Brains Interpret Images As Real Life
For example, when we envision ourselves running up a flight of stairs, the neurons in our brain receive an impulse that tells them to perform the movement.
This then creates a new neural pathway that tells our bodies to act as we have just imagined.
So when you visualize doing things, your body is creating pathways and memories of how to do that action, even though you never performed the action.
And the more times you visualize it, the better you get at perfecting not only the mental aspect of the task but also the physical.
— Don Dulin, “The Importance of visualizing Your Goals.”
When we visualize our future selves, we’re feeding our brains images that we then interpret as being real.
If we mentally understand and own these images of our future selves, it’s easier for our current physical state to follow suit. Meaning we can physically put more action into our vision because mentally we’re already there.
Mentally we already believe it to be true, so our physical efforts have an easier time following. Since we’re motivated by what we believe to be true, there’s less resistance to take action and less decision making about where our efforts should go.
Visualization Without Action Is Futile
Visualisation without action is futile because mental preparation and inspired action are both necessary to bring to life your desires. Visualisation is the seed fertilised in the mind, whereby action is the flowering plant that blossoms. One needs the other to manifest your goals and dreams.
— Tony Fahkry, “Why You Should Make It A Habit To Visualize Your Ideal Future.”
Visualization gives motivation to your actions.
Whenever you’re feeling a lack of motivation, tap into the future you.
Pour future you a glass of wine or share some tea… spend some time with them. See them living the life you so desire and current you is capable of creating.
Also, visualize the alternative. What would happen if you don’t take action to move fearlessly toward your goals?
Think about what the future you’s existence looks like if you continually fall into cycles of avoidance and inaction. What’s their quality of life?
How do they feel when they look back on how they spent their time? Don’t let future you be distraught over the hours spent binging Netflix and doom scrolling Instagram.
Let future you reap the rewards of the brave actions you took to give them the life they always desired. Think about how your future self would feel about the way you’re working towards your goals right now?
Spending time with your future self will help you see the macro picture of your life and help guide what current actions you should take.
When You Visualize Future You, Focus On The Details And Create A Sensory Experience
Meditation and journaling are two simple ways to visualizing your future self. If those don’t tickle your fancy, take yourself on a walk. Remove the distractions of technology and other people. Leave space to listen to future you.
I know sometimes it can be a drag to add another thing to your never-ending to-do list.
But think of this as something that can help inform what the rest of your to-do list should be.
Take the time to journal for your future self. What would your perfect day look like? What would you want to do right when you wake up? What does your presence feel like? What people or things are they surrounded by? Get creative and have fun with it.
For my meditators, you can check out guided meditations here and here.
If neither of these do it for you, there are loads of wonderful future self-guided meditations online.
Conclusion
Your future self suffers the consequences of your current actions.
Let the fact that you have the power to give your future self a life that’s fantastic to be a motivator for you to take action.
Find the motivation that your current self can actualize the design of your future self’s life. They’re one and the same, working together to live the same dream.
More inspiration…
Maddie is a writer + voice-over artist. She’s a soon to-be certified life coach through the JRNI program. Self declared boxed wine aficionado.
