From Here to Her: Becoming Our Future Self
I am just over here trying not to screw my future self over LOL
She sometimes gets the short end of the stick
There have been plenty times that I’ve put off what I could do today for tomorrow. And I would love to tell you why I do it. But honestly, I don’t know sometimes.
Sometimes changing… just sounds like too much hard work for where I’m at at the moment.
Sometimes the thoughts of new habits and new ways and new schedules sounds like I am about to have too many decisions to make.
Sometimes I am just too damn tired.
But during those times… I have a tendency to dream of something else I could do. How I could do it. How long it could take me and if I could really make it happen. What my life would be like after that. I dream big. ADHD unmedicated on a hyper focus big. Yeah, I am totally that person.
And I journal a lot and always have. Like when I was three, I had one of those mini composition books in my back pocket. Writing has been my thing. Well, that writing…. sometimes it becomes the seed that is planted and gets me to move despite how much hard work might be ahead. Despite all the decisions that I might need to make. Despite being too damn tired.
That process gives me hope for what could be around the corner.
And then I can see it… I begin to envision it, and I move forward toward it like it’s just part of who I am and where I’m going.
This process of mine… It has taken me from
- Learning to sew then eventually sewing a wedding dress and running a successful Etsy shop for a while.
- Losing over 100 pounds & switching career paths from project management to health & fitness coaching.
- Having no idea what I’m doing running to running an ultra marathon & now coaching people to do it.
This is not a list where I’m sitting here bragging. I promise you…. but I want to give you some thought process on how I make it through.
I think like a child still. I look for excitement. I look for wonder. I look for possibility. I stay curious.
Friends of mine know that I am notorious for messaging them crazy “what if”s or asking their thoughts after pouring multiple messages or long voice notes onto their phone.
I am that person. And I think that is what we need sometimes in order to really see something other than where we are.
Really think about it…
When you think about things from a child’s perspective a lot feels very possible because sky’s the limit, right?
We as a society tend to tell children that they can be anything they want to be. And because of that a child can close their eyes and imagine their entire life. They can tell you what they will do on a daily basis and what they will have. What they will look like. What kind of job they will do. They can fully imagine their future self without a hitch…and with confidence too.
Somewhere along the way, though, we lose that bold visioning.
We become grounded in the “real world” and start building our lives more around constraints than imagination. But what if we could return to that child-like sense of wonder… not to be naive, but to dream freely again?
Dream with Detail
Let’s begin at the foundation: your vision.
Think of your future self.
The version of you who’s been showing up consistently.
The one who’s leaned into the discomfort of growth and come out stronger, clearer, and more alive.
Take a few moments to reflect and journal on these prompts:
- What does your ideal daily routine look like? From the moment you wake up to when you go to bed… what are you doing differently than you are now?
- How does your body feel? What’s your energy like? What’s your strength, mobility, or physical confidence like?
- What are you able to do now that you couldn’t before? Think about movement, social ease, clothing choices, or new experiences.
- What kinds of foods are you eating regularly, and how do they make you feel? What’s your relationship with food like in this version of you?
- What habits are second nature now? Is exercise automatic? Do you prioritize sleep or hydration without needing to think about it?
- How do you show up for yourself and others? Think about your relationships, boundaries, and emotional presence.
- What does self-care look like for you? Is it more intentional and consistent? What practices nourish you most?
- What challenges feel easier now and why? How has your mindset or strength helped you handle stress, setbacks, or anxiety?
- What are you most proud of in this future version of yourself? List some qualities, choices, or achievements that reflect your growth.
- How do you talk to yourself now? What’s the tone of your inner voice? How is it different from today?
- What three words describe your life after achieving your goals?
- And finally… what would your future self say to you, right now?
This future version of you isn’t just a dream. It’s a blueprint.
Checking your Vision
Here’s the thing though… we aren’t kids. We don’t have a blank canvas.
We have to think about what it is that we want, but then we also have to measure that against what we ARE currently doing or what we CAN currently do.
Take a minute and reflect on what we just did with dreaming in detail.
Then ask: Are the choices you’re making today helping to build that version of you?
Try not to get overwhelmed here. It can easily happen. You might feel like you have to do a complete life overhaul right away. The very second you start.
But you don’t. And that’s the beauty of this.
Transformation doesn’t usually come in sweeping, life-altering moments. It usually comes in small little habits. Things that we lay down in front of ourselves like bricks. One at a time. Building our way forward.
Brick by brick… Step-by-step.
Shaping the Decision
Once the vision is clear, the next step is to shape your environment to match it.
Even in the smallest of ways… This matters.
Your environment should pull you forward, not drag you back.
Ask yourself:
- Does your kitchen or pantry look like it belongs to your future self?
- Are your clothes, gym bag, water bottle, or meal prep habits setting you up for success… or slowing you down?
- Does your calendar reflect the priorities of the life you’re building?
- Are you surrounded by people who encourage your growth or hold you back through old patterns?
Because even the best goals won’t survive in an environment that resists them for long.
Go back to the “brick by brick” mindset.
No need to overwhelm yourself here.
What is one thing that you could do tomorrow that will only take you five minutes right now?
- Could you take a look at what you have in your cabinet to be able to eat well the next day and have some sort of mental plan?
- Could you put your clothes out before bed to help yourself get to the gym a little bit easier?
- Could you block out sometime in your calendar to create a little bit of structure?
- Could you skip a social event because the person it’s for doesn’t really support you, especially when you share things you’re excited about?
Focus on the actions that you can take that will help you with the results you want tomorrow. You don’t have to worry about five years from now you and the actions that get those results. Just tomorrow.
And if something feels off… your space, your schedule, your circle… don’t just tolerate it.
Adjust it. It’s OK to, you know. You get to do that.
You’re an adult now. You get to do anything you want to do unlike your child self who was limited by a child bank account and child rules. LOL!
Takeaway
The child version of you once believed anything was possible.
And a lot of it can be still.
We just need to dream big, lay down the bricks, and remember: this is our life. We get to decide how we build it.
And try your best not to screw your future yourself over LOL
I hope this helps
With love, Coach Nik
