Are you ready to unleash the power within and turn your dreams into reality? We all have goals and objectives, but only some know how to turn them into reality. Get ready to ignite your passion and create the life you deserve.
I was reading Benjamin Hardy’s book “Be Your Future Self Now,” and it blew my mind. It’s packed with tons of practical tips and strategies for becoming the person you want to be in the future, starting right now.
I was so inspired by this book that I had to share my key takeaways with you all.
Hardy argues that our past does not dictate our actions or behaviors; instead, our future pulls us forward. As human beings, we have the unique ability to contemplate countless potential scenarios for our future, and everything we do is driven by our prospects of the future. Psychologists call this unique human ability “prospection.”
All our goals or motivations fit within two categories — approach or avoid. Hardy notes that 80% of people are primarily driven by fear or avoidance, while only 20% are driven by approach and courage. But shifting our goals from fear-based, reactive, and short-term to proactive, long-term, and love-based is the path to a successful and happy life. Our view of our Future Self is the compass that draws us forward.
When you lack hope in your future, you lose sight of the meaning and purpose of your present. It can lead to a sense of emptiness and apathy, ultimately leading to a loss of motivation and a downward spiral of negative thinking.
The pitfall here is allowing yourself to fall into a state of hopelessness, which can profoundly impact your overall well-being and future success.
Benjamin Hardy said, “Purpose provides an unparalleled life force, vibrancy, and zest.” Without hope in your future, your presence loses meaning.
If you allow your past to define your present and future, you limit your potential for growth and progress. If you’re constantly looking back, reacting to past events, and reliving old stories, you’re likely missing out on opportunities in the present and limiting your future potential.
Instead, focus on creating a new narrative for your life that empowers you and inspires you to reach new heights. In the words of Benjamin Hardy, “To have a bigger future, have a better past.”
A reactive narrative about your past limits your future.
Personal growth is a continuous process that requires intentional effort and investment.
You risk becoming stagnant and complacent if you’re not actively seeking out opportunities for self-improvement and growth. It may limit your ability to adapt to new challenges and opportunities and ultimately hinder your progress toward achieving your goals.
When you fail to connect to your future self, you’re more likely to make short-sighted decisions that don’t align with your long-term goals. Because of that, you may miss opportunities that you’ll regret down the road.
By staying connected to your vision for the future, you can make more informed decisions that support your long-term success.
Dan Sullivan said, “The only way to make your present better is by making your future bigger.”
It can be easy to get caught up in life’s daily tasks and urgent demands, but if you’re not careful, you may neglect the critical tasks that will move you closer to your goals. To quote Benjamin Hardy, “The only way off the day-to-day hamster wheel is to prioritize the important.”
To avoid this pitfall, taking a step back and regularly assessing your priorities is essential. Make sure you’re focusing your time and energy on the tasks that will most impact your future success.
Hardy cautions, “A massive threat to your Future Self is simply that you’re thinking way too small.”
The arena represents the challenges, risks, and opportunities that lie ahead. If you’re unwilling to step onto the field and face these challenges head-on, you risk missing out on the growth, learning, and achievement that come with taking risks and pursuing your goals. Don’t let fear, doubt, or the opinions of others hold you back from pursuing your dreams and creating the future you want.
Start now. Don’t wait until everything is perfect.
In Ecclesiastes 11:4 it says, “Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.”
Hardy said, “Spectators are caught in paralysis by analysis, fear, and decision fatigue. The longer you wait to enter your arena, the more you limit your Future Self.”
You must have a clear vision of your future self to achieve your goals. To do that, you need to define measurable and detailed objectives that provide tangible mile markers along the way.
Benjamin Hardy wrote, “Without clarity of where straight is, you’ll wander in circles despite thinking you’re making progress forward. Without a clear goal for yourself, and tangible mile markers along the way, you’ll wander in circles.”
Without a clear goal, you’ll wander in circles despite thinking you’re making progress. The more detail and vividness your Future Self has, the better your chances of achieving it.
Focus on your current context and determine what’s most important to achieve or realize in the next five to ten years.
I like the questions Hardy suggests: “Given your current context, what is the absolute most important thing you could achieve or realize right now?”
The further out you imagine, the more informed and strategic you will be. The challenge is having clear priorities.
Anything that doesn’t take you toward your Future Self is a lesser goal. Lesser goals are easy and offer a quick reward, but they won’t help you achieve your dreams.
The problem is that we commit to our lesser goals far more than we should. As a result, we’ll go after the dopamine kicks instead of committing to what will move the needle in our lives.
The French writer and poet Antoine de Saint-Exupéry said it well, “Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”
As the saying goes, “You get in life what you ask for.” In other words, if you want something, you need to be clear and specific about what you’re asking for. Sometimes, you might need to be persistent in your asking.
Having a clear picture of your future self helps you specifically ask what you want.
In the Bible, Jesus taught his followers the importance of asking for what they want. In Matthew 7:7-8, He said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Asking is not enough. You must take action.
Automating and systematizing your Future Self means creating habits, routines, and systems that align with your vision and values. By doing so, you can ensure consistency in your actions and progress toward your goals.
For example, if your Future Self is a successful business owner, you can start building habits such as daily goal setting, networking, and taking courses on business management.
Automating and systematizing your Future Self reduces decision fatigue and frees up mental energy for other tasks. If you have a morning routine that you follow every day, you don’t have to waste mental energy deciding what to do next. You can follow the routine and start your day with purpose.
Your identity drives behavior. To achieve your goals and become your Future Self, you need to schedule your actions and make sure they align with your priorities.
Your schedule is a reflection of your priorities, and your time is the clearest indicator of your commitment. So, it’s crucial to schedule your Future Self to make progress toward your goals.
However, scheduling doesn’t necessarily mean filling every minute of your day with work. In fact, scheduling time for rest and recovery is just as important. Psychological detachment from work is a growing concept in occupational psychology that shows the importance of unplugging. Flow, creativity, and high performance are practically impossible if you’re always working or always available and never fully recovering.
That’s how you bring your vision to life and make your future self a reality.
Now, get started on the path toward achieving your goals because you are the hero of your own story.
