Future You

Future you is a version of you that is 100% possible, but not who you think you are right now. They have already done the trying, falling over and getting back up, and made the cringe worthy mistakes, and achieved the things present day you feels stuck in.

Future you exists one second from now, one hour from now, one day, month, year, and decade from now. Or possibly a simple hop, skip, and jump sideways into a parallel universe. Whichever one sits in your brain easier is fine.

Future you loves you endlessly because they have been you. Future you can look back with oodles of compassion and belief in you because they have already done what present moment you is still waiting to do. It's way easier to believe something is possible if you've already done it, right?

And the thing is, whatever present moment you does, future you knows it is exactly what you need to do in order to grow and become future you. So future you knows you can’t do it wrong.

This future you sounds kinda magical, heh? Here's how to meet them.

1. Think of a goal that is simmering in your head (I suggest starting with a small goal but you’re in charge)
2. Rate how you feel about this goal on a scale of 1-10 (1 = makes me sick with anxiety and 10 = I can’t wait to start this thing)
3. Now answer each of the questions below while thinking about this goal.

Answer these as present day you while thinking about the goal you chose from step one.

For goal setting, ask, “What needs to happen for me to know I am on the right track?”

For resource gathering, ask, “What hard thing have I overcome and how did I do that?”

For motivation, ask, “How confident am I that I have the skills to do this? If I’m not confident, what skills do I still need?”

For a clear path, ask,: “If I were to meet me in a few months time and things were getting better, what would I say had happened?”

For self-awareness, ask, “How will I know I need extra support?”

For momentum, ask, “What will I say to myself when I experience a setback?”

For strategies, ask: “What is the smallest step I could take in the next 48 hours that would be helpful?”

Step three - Rerate

Re-rate how you feel about the goal after doing the questions.

Comment and let me what you thought of this little exercise.

PS - These questions are from a type of counselling called Solution Focused Therapy. The cool thing about Solution Focused is it deals with the here, now, and future only; so no matter who you are or what has happened in your past, you can use this.

Of course, your past will colour how you answer these questions but with this method, it does not need to slow you down.

That said, your past is still important and might need to be addressed in other ways IF that is what you want.

Many people with hard pasts find that navigating the present in ways that feel successful, and being motivated for the future, is enough for them to let the past go.

For other’s the past still haunts. Doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong and Solution Focused will always be helpful.

I offer Solution Focused Therapy and trauma informed counselling and fitness. Have a look here.