Most people view their next career or life move as a step-change from the previous one.

This thinking is flawed. It leaves no room for reinvention, locks you into a fixed path, and ignores that life is a canvas to be painted on.

Your life is a masterpiece, not paint-by-numbers 🎨

I always believed you can do anything you set your mind to — in theory. But I didn’t fully believe it until I discovered Dr. Benjamin Hardy’s work. He’s a renowned organizational psychologist and author.

A few months ago, I read his best-seller Be Your Future Self Now. It forever shifted how I think about time and choice. I highly recommend it, but I'll share the core premise now.

Shifting from Linear to Holistic Time

The primary view of time is linear. The past determines the present, and the present determines the future. This leads to step-change thinking where the present is limited by the past, and the future by the present. There’s little agency to change course.

Victor Frankl, Holocaust survivor and author of Man’s Search for Meaning, found that without a clear future purpose, we lose all hope. We must have a reason to live and a future worth anticipating. Our life is dictated by the meaning we assign it.

Dr. Hardy agrees. He argues for a holistic model of time based on psychology and neuroscience. His work centers on using it to accelerate personal transformation.

In this model, our view of the future dictates how we operate in the present. And our view of the past is determined in the present, so we can change it anytime.

Your Identity is a Tool

Dr. Hardy also teaches:

Your identity is what you're most committed to. Identity determines your actions, which lead to your results.

This follows the BE → DO → HAVE concept. First you are, then you act, then you achieve.

James Clear discusses identity in Atomic Habits too. Saying “I’m going to start running” doesn’t spur action. Declaring “I’m a runner” makes you far more likely to lace up and go. Choose your identity and the actions follow.

When I started my business, I called it a “side hustle”. As a result, I treated it like one rather than a real business to bet on. When I adopted the “founder” identity, my actions changed. I began thinking like a business owner and leader.

Why your future self matters:

Being disconnected from your future self leads to short-sighted decisions. Every choice compounds and you could end up far from who you want to be.

When you determine who you want to become and then decide to be that version of you today… you take action from your future self’s perspective and accelerate your path. The interest compounds in your favor, at a much higher rate.

Rapidly Transforming Into Your Future Self

After reading Be Your Future Self Now, I was enthralled by the concept of future self transformation.

I jumped at the chance to join Ben Hardy’s Q2 Intensive. The group gets weekly coaching from him and tools from his upcoming book to rapidly transform into our future selves.

It’s mind-blowing how much you can change by connecting with your future self and committing to being them now.

You make power moves you wouldn’t have made. You operate on a whole new timeline — possibly cutting out years of doing the wrong thing to accelerate toward the outcomes you want. I've watched others in the group transform week-over-week and have seen huge changes in myself as well, even though it doesn't always feel that way day-to-day.

The best part? Dr. Hardy shares in real-time how he’s making massive changes aligned with his future self, saying “no” to things his former self would’ve said yes to.

A core principle of this work:

It’s better to fail as your future self than succeed as your current self.

Who you become in the journey will be far different than if you never went for it.

Determining Your Future Self

You might wonder… who IS my future self?

Only you can answer that.

This is why it’s imperative to get to know yourself and decide who you want to be.

We become someone daily through our thoughts, words, and actions. If you keep living as you have the past 6 months, will you be happy with who you are in another 6?

Hard hitting question, I know.

Life is a series of choices - you decide who you’re becoming.

4 ways to connect with your future self today:

1) Self-Reflection Journaling

Connect with yourself on multiple timelines to get a range of perspectives.

• 80-year old self
  • What do you want to be known for?
  • What do you want to leave behind?
• 5 years from now
  • Be — Who do you want to be?
  • Do — What do you want to do daily?
  • Have — What do you want to have?
• 1 year in the future
  • What must be true in 1 year to layer into your 5-year vision?
• Childhood self
  • What did you love to do?
  • Who did you want to grow up to be?

2) Future Scripting

Journal as if you are your future self. Choose any future date/age. Write about your ideal day, what you’ve created, who you spend time with. Express gratitude for how amazing life can get.

If you’re more of a talker, try speaking as your future self. Open a voice memo on your phone and talk about your life updates as if they’re happening now. Allow yourself to get excited about what’s coming in your life.

3) Visualizations

Einstein famously said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

Your mind is magical. Spend 10 min daily visualizing who you want to become…

What do they look like — their clothes? Their hair? What type of energy do they have? What do they do each day? Who do they spend time with? How does that feel?

Close your eyes and truly imagine you’re living it today.

4) Letters to Your Future Self

Write letters to current you from future you. What do you hope they’ve accomplished? What should they remember about where you are now? Send them via futureme.org if you’d like.

I just read one I wrote on January 29, 2024 when I quit my job to bet on myself — it serves as a reminder of my WHY, which I often need. Rapidly becoming your future self is not a comfortable process. It involves a great deal of discomfort. More on that another day.

These tools will help you connect with your future self. Once you do, you can begin to shift how you’re operating. Remember: It’s a decision you commit to.

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I highly recommend Be Your Future Self Now to go deeper on these concepts. This science has become a core part of my work as a coach and mentor — and is actively shaping how I think about my next evolution.

I’d love to hear from you — what’s your #1 takeaway? Hit Reply and share your thoughts/questions. I’m curious to learn about who’s reading and what content you’re interested in.

Let’s grow together,