The good NEW days - practice being your future self
We don’t think enough about our future self. More importantly, we don’t practice being our future self.
When I saw Adam Grant’s post with this image (below) on LinkedIn, I knew I had to write about it. It pictorially captures the essence of future-proofing you.
It seems that our future self often draws the short straw. We don’t prioritise our future self. When was the last time you spent time with your future self?
We get caught up with the daily busyness that we forget about our future self.
And we often get stuck by focusing on one thing in a particular moment or by our busyness in general when what we want most is to move forward.
As Peter Bregman says in his book, Leading with Emotional Courage, ‘being busy is not the same as being productive. It’s the difference between running on a treadmill and running to a destination. They are both running but being busy is running in place’.
The busyness paradox can sabotage our future self by:
Keeping us busy in the moment that we do not to look ahead.
Or we are distracted by our past that we cannot envision a future.
Either scenario, we are on a treadmill. Not ideal.
So, what is a way forward?
Our default settings, deep-held thoughts and beliefs, can hold us back. These on-demand, instant replay, thoughts and beliefs can show up where the future is concerned especially if it involves doing something new.
But the great thing is we can change our default settings. This is where our future self plays a role. We can change our default settings through actions of our future self.
This requires some effort and may not seem productive at the beginning.
Again, in the words of Peter Bregman, ‘you need to spend time on the future even when there are more important things to do in the present AND even when there is no immediately apparent return to your efforts.’
Peter takes it one step further, ‘sometimes you need to be irresponsible with your current challenges in order to make real progress on your future self’.
For me, it was writing. Though I have written articles in the past it was not something I looked forward to nor did it feel natural.
My writing default setting was ‘I can’t write’. It still lingers in the corner of my writing default setting, but its strength has diminished. And I achieved this by writing!
I knew I wanted to help people future-proof themselves and realised that a good way to do this was to write about it.
It was a future skill I wanted and I started writing (again).
Long story short, I have written an article every week for the last 8 months. Sometimes 2 for other publications.
Each article could be better but that’s not the point. It was about honing the skill, finding my voice, and being of service.
It took effort at first, but it did get easier with time and now I have a specific day in the week when I write and publish. It has become a habit and one that I look forward to.
Practice being your future self
When asked to define ourselves, we often describe our past, a verbal resume. But we are more than our past. Your future self has a vision and that is a core part of you too.
And that’s why the image above is priceless.
We are in unusual times but don’t let it stop you from thinking about the future. The moment is now.
Take time out every day to spend some time thinking about your future self. Even 5 minutes will do. Distill, from your past, the knowledge that will help your future self. And add to it what you want for your future self.
Who is your future self?
Envision your future self. Who are you in the future? What are you doing? Where are you? Who are the people around you?
Act on one of your future self goals
Take one future self outcome that you have envisioned above. What can you do today, one thing, that will move you closer to your future self. ONE small step.
Plug the gaps
If you find any gaps, learn a new skill, or practice an old skill to bridge the gap.
Get out of your way
It will be uncomfortable but action mitigates the discomfort. The first step is the hardest and possible. Then see your future self evolve.
Most things you do for your future self may not feel productive today. But you will value it when you arrive at your future.
And remember, your future self is ALL of you, not limited to your work goals.
For me, beyond my future-proofing you goals, I want to cycle the Tuscany trail. It is something I have wanted to do ever since I heard about it 2 years ago. I will have to train for it when the time comes. AND I want to learn to play the piano - by ear not reading music notes. Watch this space!
So, what about you? What do you want for your future self in the good NEW days and how are you practicing for it today?
I am here to help!
*** Join me in Choose YOUR Future, my online masterclass from fear and inertia to clarity and results! *****