The Power of Future-Self Thinking
Dear Future Me: Sorry for the Snacks, but You're Welcome for the Glow-Up.....
Let’s be real for a minute!
You know that moment when you're elbow-deep in a family-sized bag of crisps, Netflix is asking if you're still watching (rude), and you suddenly think, 'Ah crap, future me is not going to be impressed'? Yep, you know it, because we’ve all been there... Well, listen up, because your future-self wants your attention!
Your future-self isn't just a mere fantasy in your head. Your future-self is real, and shaped by everything you do right now - even the small stuff, like drinking filtered water instead of instant coffee number five or choosing to actually write something constructive down in that productivity journal you bought last year.
(And don’t worry, this post isn’t about guilt-tripping you out of your huge bag of crisps, it’s about giving you a totally new perspective - or 'glow-up' as we like to call it, from the inside out that begins with a mindset shift called 'future-self thinking').
Future Self Thinking: Not Just a Hashtag
You’ve probably seen it floating around Instagram or scribbled in a wellness journal: “Be her now.” "Future you is waiting!"
Cute. Pleasing on the eye. Possibly written in glittery gel pen. However, behind the perfect influencer-filtered version of it is something that is actually so transformative it can change your life.
Future-self thinking is a powerful mindset tool that is backed by psychology. It means imagining your future self in great detail now and making decisions today that align with who you want to become tomorrow.
As Hal Hershfield, a professor of marketing and psychology at UCLA, says:
“When we feel more connected to our future selves, we make better decisions for them—just like we would for someone we love.”
What are we saying? We are saying you essentially need to love yourself forward. Care enough about Future You to make choices today that give her the best shot. Look where you are now. look where you want to be. Look for the changes that will make this happen!
Meet Your Future Self (She’s Actually Amazing)
Let’s set the scene.
She wakes up earlier (not 5 a.m. unless she’s into that), drinks water before coffee, and actually stretches like she’s got some kind of personal trainer living in her head. She has boundaries. She says “no” without guilt. She doesn’t ghost her planner. She doesn’t panic when the phone rings. She is happy. Emotionally regulated. Hydrated. Glowing. Here is the best thing - she’s not better than you. SHE IS YOU!
How did this happen we hear you ask?? She’s a result of compounded, intentional micro-decisions. That’s all. She’s built from the daily, slightly awkward practice of being a little more aware, a little more consistent, and a little more forgiving.
The Glow-Up Isn’t Glamorous (At First)
It surely comes as no surprise that the glow-up doesn’t start with a facial, new pair of shoes, and a bullet journal.
It starts when you choose to walk past the fridge and sit with your feelings for five minutes instead. When you initiate the awkward conversation you’ve been putting off. When you finally tackle the to-do list that contains all of the to-do lists you've been hiding for two years.
It’s not sexy, but it’s sacred and essential to your future-self shift!
This is where the shift happens. You go from reacting to your life to designing it to how you want it. You move from living on autopilot to becoming the conscious creator of your outcomes. That’s next-level energy. That’s Future You showing up early.
But What About the Snacks?
Look, I'm a snacker. I'm a borderline chocoholic. There, I've said it. But we’re not here to demonise snacks. Snacks are joy. Snacks are ❤️. Snacks are sometimes survival. Snacks give us valuable thinking time! What we are saying is that even your snack choices can become part of your glow-up mindset.
Ask yourself this - “Would Future Me grab this out of habit or because I really want it?”
“Is this snack numbing something I should actually feel?”
“Would Future Me maybe choose a walk, a stretch, or a call to a friend instead?”
Even if you still eat the snack (and you probably will sometimes), the simple act of pausing and reflecting is powerful. That’s the work. That’s the mindset rewiring.
Five Ways to Start Future-Self Thinking Today
Let’s make this real. No glitter pens required (unless you want them).
1. Write a “Dear Future Me” Letter
Yes, you can be sassy but you need to be honest. Start with something like:
“Dear Future Me, sorry for the snack binges and lack of cardio. But you’re welcome for the therapy and finally unsubscribing from that toxic email list.”
Let it be true and raw. Funny. Hopeful. Honest. Then write back as Future You, offering gratitude and encouragement for where you are now. You’ll be surprised what she says... When you write to Present You from Future You, you will be forgiving and understanding - and grateful for the small changes that are about to take place...
2. Create a Future Self Vision Board
Not just aesthetics - we don't just need a picture of a beach and a mansion. We need genuine desires, you need to add emotions and feelings. How does Future You feel waking up in her life? Empowered? Calm? Creative? Fulfilled? That energy matters more than her haircare routine.
3. Set a “Future You” Alarm
You can literally have an alarm go off each day that says something like “What would Future Me thank me for today?” It’s a tiny moment of gratitude and awareness that builds big results. You will be grateful for any small changes that you have implemented. You will know that it is your accomplishment and yours alone. You must show yourself appreciation and love.
4. Audit Your Inputs
Are you consuming content that aligns with who you’re becoming, or who you’re trying to outgrow? Future You probably isn't deep in a three-hour Reddit thread about celebrity scandals. Scrolling is terrible for us! It shows us the fake lives of other people that we think are real. We get jealous and wonder why we are stuck in this horrible rut.
Truth is - social media is fake! It's all 'filters and fakery'! Don't compare someone else's level 10 to your level 2. You are just getting going - they have been going for ages (and are possibly exaggerating their results). Be true to yourself and stop consuming content that doesn't help you progress. You are working on you, not copying someone else. Social media is designed to keep us hooked and scrolling. Get the willpower to turn it off and start working on yourself.
5. Choose One Tiny Upgrade
Future You doesn’t expect you to renovate your life in 48 hours. Pick one thing:
Drink water when you wake up
Stretch before bed
Say no to one thing you don’t want to do
Plan tomorrow before scrolling tonight
Consistency beats intensity every time. Stick to your upgrade for 21 days and it will start to become automatic. The more you do it, the more you build your 'habit forming muscles'.
You’re Not Behind—You’re Becoming
Here’s a hard truth wrapped in love: you’re not stuck, you’re just building.
You’re laying the foundations. You’re doing work that nobody sees yet. That glow-up you’re after? It’s coming. It just takes self-discipline, boundaries, and maybe the odd scream and cry because you can't believe you got stuck in your present rut. It's fine. Go for it.
Just remember the tears are sacred, the silence is strengthening, and the snacks are negotiable (or not in my case).
Every single time you choose intentionality over impulse, you bring that future version of you a little closer. You collapse the gap between where you are and where you’re going.
Some Final Words from Future You
If Future You could send you a voice note, here’s what she might say:
“Hey. It’s me—you, but with less sugar and better boundaries. Thank you for every tiny choice you’ve made that brought me here. I know you doubted yourself, but I never did. Keep going. Keep choosing you. The glow-up is real, and so are the dreams. I love you for showing up—even when it was messy.”
TL;DR?
Snack if you need to. But also—sit up straight, drink some water, and write a letter to the absolute baddie you're becoming. You don’t need to fix everything right now. You just need to remember this:
The smallest choices compound. The smallest shifts become seismic. And your future self? Much closer than you think.
Want more support stepping into your Future Self with clarity, confidence, and momentum? Join my Future Self Accelerator waitlist to get ready to glow up from the inside out.
Because Future You deserves everything you’re dreaming - and you're already on your way. 💫
