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future-self design
April 2, 2023 / Ronny Eriksson
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Realizing how much the COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives is rough.
We've had to adjust how we work, socialize, and interact with the world.
The rapidly changing world has forced us to re-think our life – because what was certain yesterday is not today.
And now that we're in the "new normal," life is not like before; we are not like before.
Our future changed, and with that, our future selves and the plans we had (or our parents had for us).
I woke up to realize this a year ago. I found myself stuck, not able to make any decision. I didn't have a direction – because the world had changed, but I hadn't done it with it.
In an uncertain world, the doubtful mind constantly looks for purpose and thus never settles.
So, I had to create a vision – a north star to follow.
The realization is that we make our future, and thus we must wake up and create a path we can walk confidently to find that future self we have been ignoring, thinking everything "will just sort itself out."
It starts with getting to know your future self and then living accordingly.
Today we are reconnecting with our future selves, which will also be the first monthly challenge.
But first, we need to break free.
breaking free from the fixed mindset
The human mind is impressive because you can "code" it to work for you.
In my previous journals, I've been talking about the fixed mindset, which keeps holding us back. We focus a lot on the past and present because those are tangible to us.
We think life is definite:
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"I'm shy, so I don't have the guts to talk with people."
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"I'm not good with numbers."
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"I don't like coffee."
We label ourselves as something which closes the door for us to see things differently.
Fixed mindset.
Our mind is tricking us because, at the same time, we all know we are not the same as we were before.
We don't think and act the same. We grow, we change, and we learn.
Breaking this pattern helps you to realize there is a future you – a person that can be different.
It's just up to you to decide – and then start changing.
How do you figure out what you want?
envisioning your future self and taking action
"If you don't know what you want, you end up with a lot you don't."
- Chuck Palahniuk
My life took a big turn when I decided what I wanted from my future.
Understanding that without knowing who you want to be, you will float wherever the wind of life will take you. You'll survive, but it's unlikely you will reach the dreams you have.
These dreams are your vision. You can achieve this vision by putting deliberate practice into your goals.
Sir Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Group, and Kobe Bryant are two of my favorite examples of individuals who have succeeded by envisioning their future selves and taking action to make that vision a reality.
When Branson was in his early twenties, he just lived his best life, partying and enjoying his youth. But then he realized he wouldn't achieve his long-term dreams if he kept going down that path. He started his first business, Virgin Records, by envisioning his future self as a successful businessman, eventually leading to the establishment of Virgin Group.
Similarly, Bryant's vision of his future self as a businessman and investor helped him make intelligent decisions and investments that would prepare him for his post-basketball career, including starting his venture capital fund.
Today, we remember both Branson and Bryant for achieving success in their respective fields and the business world, proving that envisioning one's future self and taking action to make that vision a reality can be powerful.
Research backs these stories up by showing that motivation and hopes result from a specific, desired outcome supported by a path toward it.
Humans are not a result of their past – but drawn forward by our views of the future.
With this said, our vision of the future drives our behavior. If you have a clear idea you trust, your behavior today will reflect that.
So who is your future self? That is up to you.
Your future self is not someone you discover. It is someone you decide to be.
creating your future-self
Warren Buffet once said that a tree planted long ago provides shade for someone today.
Similarly, investing in your future self today will set you up for success tomorrow.
Have you planted the seed of your future self?
Not just the seeds growing into your future work tasks or fun activities, but who do you want to be in your future?
Most of us haven't; the rest of this newsletter is about helping you to plant that seed correctly.
First, creating a vivid and detailed picture of your future self is crucial for designing a life you love.
self-description - turn your future into words
According to the book "Designing Your Life" by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, creating a future self-description is a critical step towards designing a life that you love. Think about it as a vivid and detailed picture of the person you want to be.
It starts with You visualizing your ideal life ten years from now, imagining the person you want to be, the things you want to have accomplished, and the kind of life you want to live. Be specific and detailed in your visualization, and try to engage all of your senses to make the image as vivid as possible.
Once you have a clear picture of your future self, write down a detailed description of that person. The description should include the following:
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Your values.
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The kind of work you want to be doing.
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Your relationships.
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Your health and fitness.
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Your hobbies and interests and
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any other essential aspects of your life.
In your future self-description, you should also include a narrative of how you got to where you are in ten years.
What actions did you take to achieve your goals and become your envisioned person?
What obstacles did you overcome, and what lessons did you learn?
Journaling can be an excellent tool to help you move from envisioning your future self to taking concrete steps toward becoming that person.
Humans are not a result of their past – but drawn forward by our views of the future.
With this said, our vision of the future drives our behavior. If you have a clear idea you trust, your behavior today will reflect that.
So who is your future self? That is up to you.
Your future self is not someone you discover. It is someone you decide to be.
journaling your way to becoming your future-self
I know from experience the task above feels daunting. When we sit down and think about an uncertain future, our thoughts get the best of us.
If you have never done it, many elements will be challenging.
The good thing is that there are no right and wrong answers.
You are a work in progress, a permanent beta; you will never be finished.
Like a product, you grow to be what you build yourself to be. Then you make it better.
So as you come up with ideas, it is time to start to turn them into practice. Here journaling helps.
Journaling can kickstart your imagination and help you envision your path toward the future self.
Start by asking yourself what actions you can take today to progress towards that vision.
While stepping out of your comfort zone may be uncomfortable, it's necessary to become psychologically flexible and grow into the person you want to be.
This flexibility is further fueled by understanding the concept of identity and its impact on our lives is essential to transform into the person we want to be.
Our mind is tricking us because, at the same time, we all know we are not the same as we were before.
We don't think and act the same. We grow, we change, and we learn.
Breaking this pattern helps you to realize there is a future you – a person that can be different.
It's just up to you to decide – and then start changing.
How do you make it a reality?
future-self = identity narrative
Identity is a concept that has been studied extensively in psychology and philosophy. It is how we see ourselves and our beliefs about ourselves. And while it may seem like a simple concept, it has a profound impact on our lives.
One of the most important things to understand about identity is that it is far more potent than personality. As we commonly understand, personality is the sum of our consistent attitudes and behaviors. But personality is merely a byproduct of identity.
Identity drives our behavior, which over time, becomes a personality. We can change our personalities by tapping into our identity and creating a straightforward narrative about who we are and want to be.
Creating an identity narrative rooted in our future self can be transformative. Focusing solely on our past and present will keep us stuck in our fixed mindset, which makes our personality feel permanent.
But if we envision our future selves and focus on who we want to become, we can change our identity narrative and transform into the person we want to be.
Telling people who we want to be is a potent tool. It can compel us to make our behavior consistent with our new story. It takes courage to share our vision with others, but it is the only way to be intentional about who we become.
to make it simple, here is the monthly challenge.
Week 1: Visualize
- Imagine your ideal life ten years from now.
- Write down a detailed description of your future self.
Week 2: Journal
- Write in a journal about your future self.
- Ask yourself what actions you can take today to progress toward your future self.
Week 3: Identity Narrative
- Create a story about who you want to become.
- Focus on your future self, not just who you are now.
Week 4: Share Your Vision
- Share your vision with someone you trust.
- Ask for their support and feedback on how you can continue to grow and develop into the person you want to be.
That's it. 8 executable tasks.
As the blog "Wait But Why" says, we don't have all the time in the world, and if we don't plan, time will slip away.
Invest in yourself.
Your future self will thank you.
I'm eager to see what you come up with. I'm keen to help you. I will create a Discord community to share your journey and results. You can pre-sign here to spar, see concrete examples, and chat with others.
See you on the other side.
- Ronny Eriksson
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