It’s so easy to get caught up in where we are now that we don’t consider or connect with the version of ourselves that lives tomorrow, next year, or even in the next decade. I can say from experience that learning to include consideration and care for our future selves in our habits and routines now can have a powerful impact on the direction our life takes and the way we’ll experience it. And, connecting with your wise future self now can enhance your life with a great new friendship!
Creating the habit of taking proactive steps in the present to care for the future version of you is a powerful concept for creating a life filled with wellness, happiness, and greater success. When you start taking care of the future you, in both small ways and big ways, you’ll find yourself frequently thanking your past self for all the care and favors, and noticing an overall difference in the quality of your life. It can be something as small as changing your sheets before you leave on a trip so the tired, traveled out version of you comes home to clean sheets (one of life’s nicest small pleasures). Or, as important as stepping up how much you’re saving for retirement so the future you can live well (compound interest is a magical form of abundance).
How to be a BFF to your future self:
- Consider Your Future Wellbeing by Stepping Things up by 10%: While many of us try to eat clean overall, get some exercise, and look be generally conscious about avoiding toxins in products we use and have in our surroundings, taking these things to the next level can significantly increase our quality of life in the future and even help prevent disease. While we may not notice a huge difference now from further cutting out sugar, alcohol, toxic ingredients, or working out a little more, the long-term benefits of just a little extra effort can be huge. Try harnessing this power by stepping up all your self-care efforts by 10% (or more!). Really thinking with love about your future self and how great that version of you will feel, makes it easy to begin considering that person in all you do. It’s great inspiration!
- Ensuring a Happier Future You: By aligning your present actions and choices with your future goals and values, you can create an enhanced sense of purpose and direction in your life. Take some time on a regular basis to connect mindfully with the future you for guidance. Ask them what they’d love to experience or feel and take steps now to set it up. You can even ask that wiser, more experienced version of you for advice – you can actually receive some great insights from connecting in this way. What would your future self tell you about your current situation? What are they thanking you for?
- Live in Greater Abundance: I mentioned above stepping up retirement investing. Compound interest and long term investing can be an incredibly powerful way to multiply money. Small amounts invested now can grow significantly over time. I can’t say enough how much your future self will thank you for making a few easy cuts now in order to increase your retirement investing. And, it’s never too late! The S&P 500 has an average rate of return of 10.22% over the last 30 years. This means a $500 monthly investment could put an extra 100K in your pocket in just 10 years!
I personally like a self-directed retirement account that aligns with the S&P 500 (self-directed saves a ton on fees). I opened mine with Fidelity and set up an automatic deduction each month so I don’t even have to think about it. Their customer service on the phone helped me get it done correctly. It’s so fun to watch it grow over time. I know the future me will thank the now me when she buys that cabin in the mountains! Talk to a professional to see what might be a fit for you (but definitely do your homework and watch out for high fees). I also recommend checking out Tony Robbins’ book, MONEY: Master the Game. Then set it and forget it!
As a present-day bonus to all this, knowing now that we’re actively working towards caring for our amazing future self can boost our mood, increase our resilience in the face of challenges, and enhance our overall sense of happiness, security, and fulfillment. The benefits are endless.
Taking incredible care of the future you is a huge act of self-love and empowerment.
It really is an important and overlooked part of self-care. By considering the needs and desires of that version of you and taking proactive steps today to care for them, plus tapping into the wisdom that version of you has to offer you now, you’ll be creating a life filled with more wellness, happiness, and greater success. Ready? Let’s go!
