Befriend the future you. I know that sounds really strange, but your future self can be one of your most valued advisors. Imagine if your future self traveled back in time to talk to you. Wouldn’t you have some pretty big questions? Wouldn’t Future You be able to offer invaluable guidance and encouragement?
Here is how you use this technique to improve your current situation. FIrst of all, you need to get clear on your future self. Create the image of your ideal self in the future… successful, healthy, joyful, peaceful, and walking in your higher purpose. Do not shortcut this process. The more clear you get, the more effective this will be.
Once you have this self-image in mind, invite a conversation whenever you are working on a solution or whenever you need encouragement. Here are some things you might discuss with Future You:
- How did you get to where you are now?
- How did you solve the problem I’m experiencing right now?
- What encouragement can you offer in the midst of this experience?
Imagine the conversation, and ask whatever you want.
“I don’t know” is not an option for an answer from Future You. Your present is your Future You’s past… He or she knows the answer. What this is doing is shifting your perspective and engaging your creative mind about possibilities. It removes the obstacles between what you “know” and what you want. Further, it switches your brain into solving problems rather than remaining stuck in them. Finally, it helps you visualize your desired future from another perspective which will help solidify the image of your desired outcome.
I am not suggesting that you can actually know the future, but your mind will absolutely work to realize (make real) your desired future if you engage it properly. What if you later work through a problem but it doesn’t match the solution/advise Future You provided? How can you continue to trust Future You? Simple. Future You told you what you needed to hear at the time. Remember the Oracle in The Matrix? She told Neo he wasn’t “The One” when in fact he was. When Neo told Morpheus what the Oracle said to him, Morpheus responded with, “She told you exactly what you needed to hear.” Future You is your Oracle
Befriend your Future You. Seek his/her advice. And trust the Future You. After all, (other than God) who can you trust more than yourself?