16 July 2024

Understanding the person, you need to become to live your desired life isn’t just a thought exercise; it’s a dynamic blueprint for transformation. Begin by visualising your ideal self on a daily basis. Picture the habits, routines, and mindset that you would embody. Is your future self a person who prioritises health and fitness? Imagine how you might exercise, what you eat, and how you manage stress. Picture yourself waking up early, hitting the gym, preparing nutritious meals, and practicing mindfulness. The more you visualise these details, the more you condition your mind to adopt them.

This mental rehearsal sets the stage for real-world application. Start small and be consistent. If the ideal ‘you’ is someone with a broad and supportive social network, envision attending social events, making meaningful connections, and being an active part of your community. Then, take tangible steps like joining clubs, attending meetups, or volunteering. Even when it’s challenging, acting as your ‘future self’ bridges the gap between your current reality and your aspirations.

Equally important is adopting the beliefs and thought patterns that align with your desired identity. If your dream involves being a successful entrepreneur, cultivate a mindset of resilience, innovation, and persistence. Read about successful businesspeople, adopt their strategies, and implement practices that foster creativity and problem-solving. Remember, beliefs shape actions, and actions yield results. By thinking as your ‘future self’, you are rewiring your brain to support new habits and behaviours.

In essence, you are not just aiming for a future state but creating a paradigm shift in your present. Each step you take, no matter how small, is a deliberate effort to mould yourself into the person capable of achieving your dreams. This transformative journey is not about faking it until you make it; it’s about becoming until you are. By consistently aligning your thoughts, actions, and beliefs with your envisioned self, you gradually turn your dreams into reality.

Look to the Future to Change Your Present with These 6 Strategies

Breaking down the strategies above are 6 easy steps to refer back to, to see if you are living as the person you aspire to being:

1). Look ahead and visualise the life you’d like to have. Imagine yourself 10 years from now living the life of your dreams. Notice how you feel and behave. Imagine how you deal with your average day. Imagine the income, physique, social life, relationship, and so on that you’d like to have.

• What do you eat each day? How much do you exercise? What type of exercise do you do? What are your attitudes and beliefs around diet and exercise?

• How much money do you make? How do you make it? What are your saving and spending habits?

• Think about your future social life. How many friends do you have? How often do you go out? Where do you go? How do you manage that social circle? How often do you communicate with them?

• If your ideal future includes a partner, how do you manage that? What do you do each day to keep your relationship strong?

• Consider the habits and hobbies you’d have, too.

2). Take a look at your current life and behaviour. Contrast the above with your current life. Take particular note of the differences in the following areas:

Reflect on your current life and behaviour:

• Examine daily habits and routines.

• Assess personal and professional relationships.

• Consider your mental and emotional well-being.

Contrast with your envisioned future self:

• Identify key differences in behaviour and thinking.

• Compare your current achievements with future goals.

• Evaluate the gap between your present state and desired state.

Recognise necessary changes to align with your future self:

• Pinpoint specific behaviours to alter or enhance.

• Develop actionable plans for personal growth and development.

• Prioritise adjustments in mindset and attitude.

• Set realistic, attainable goals to guide your transformation journey.

3). List the behaviours you would like to incorporate into your life to match your future self. If you can think and act the same way, you’ll eventually attain the same results.

• Write down the actions and habits you want to have in the future. If you think and act like your future self, you’ll achieve the same success they have.

4). Begin making the changes. Start slowly and only make a couple of changes at first. You might decide to cut out the sugary foods, go to the gym three times a week, and go out once a week with a friend.

• Or you might decide to review your goals each night, keep a journal, and start meditating.

• Once the first set of habits starts to stick, add a few more.

5). Adopt a new mindset. When you’re faced with a decision or challenge, ask yourself what your future self would do in the same situation. Begin making decisions this way and see what happens.

• Think differently. When you need to make a choice or solve a problem, imagine what the future you would do. Start deciding like this and watch what changes.

6). Expect resistance. It won’t be easy to approach life with a new perspective and new behaviours.

• It will feel uncomfortable at first, but that’s good. When you do something uncomfortable, your life can change.

• When you do the things you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got. That’s comfortable, but that’s not progress.

Why delay a decade to start embodying and believing in a different way? You can begin right now and accelerate your progress significantly. Visualise yourself living your ideal life ten years from now and simply embrace the same habits, behaviours, thoughts, and beliefs. Success will arrive faster than you ever imagined.