Do you love Future You enough to help them win?
Start taking small steps now to help your Future Self's dreams come true
I was in a business success webinar1 the other day when a participant commented, “I loved my future-self enough to help her win”.
That sentence really hit me with all the “feels”: Do I love MY future-self enough to help her win? And what exactly do I want her to win...?
Hi, I’m Holly - coach, mindfulness facilitator and author of Zestful Zen. I write about self-care, change, personal growth, mindfulness, and purpose. If you like life to be full of zest and energy, complemented by a zen, calm mind, Zestful Zen is the community for you! 💖✨
🧘♀️ Recommitting to Self-Care
If you read last week’s post, you’ll know I’ve been feeling a bit burnt-out by work demands lately, lacking my usual zest for life.
Along with my lethargy, bad habits crept into my routine (need an afternoon pick-me-up? A pain au chocolat and chai latte will jazz me right up!), while good ones stalled (it’s hard to keep up a weights routine with a busted shoulder).
But last week, I recommitted to prioritising self-care, starting with some basics:
10 minutes of morning meditation
Walking to work (no reading emails while commuting)
Healthy meals and no takeaways
Eating lunch away from my desk
What self-care basics can you start with?
🏆 Small Wins
I’ve been away on leave, so some habits haven’t been tested yet, but I’ve had a few wins so far:
I put away my work phone.
I spent a couple of days by the sea in Brighton.
Plenty of meditation and mindful movement, a few exhibitions for some cultural stimulation, and lots of nature, sleep and rest. It’s what my body needed.
Mixed success on the healthy eating: plenty of nutritious home-cooked meals but weaning myself off the sweet treats has been harder.
What were your self-care wins this week?
They’re baby steps, and I know a few days’ leave isn’t enough to rejuvenate me after months of sliding. I’m worried I’ll stumble again after I return to the office on Monday.
But maybe that webinar comment can strengthen my resolve and motivate me?
Gazing at the summer sky, clouds drifting by, in Tooting Common. Video by author.
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🥇 What do I want my Future Self to win?
It certainly got me thinking. What do I want my future self to win? And how can I help her get there?
I want my future self to be:
Fulfilled: having a positive impact in the world, using my precious energy for things I see purpose in.
Healthy: in body and mind. Connected to both, responding to what they need.
Fit and strong: I want to be travelling the world in my nineties having adventures, not worrying about frailty.
Intellectually stimulated: learning and growing every day and using my knowledge and skills to help others.
Loved and loving: surrounded by and connected to people I love, seeing the best in humanity, mutually supporting each other.
Caveat: There’s a slight conflict in that I’d also love my future self to have financial security, which right now seems somewhat divorced from my goal of giving up my 9-5 in favour of more fulfilling solopreneur work.
But I’m determined to change career soon (my sanity demands it), and I hope that in a few years I’ll be able to make a sustainable income from coaching and teaching mindfulness.
Brainstorming this Future Me list has given me an injection of hope and motivation.
Things might be tough right now, and my progress may be slow, testing my patience when I don’t see quick results. But I need to pace myself if I don’t want to derail as I ease self-care back into my life.
Each little step will be another piece of the jigsaw puzzle back in place.
Next time I walk past the patisserie shop, I’ll ask “would Future Holly really want that croissant?” When I’m tempted to blow another 6 euros on a chai, I’ll remember that this cash would be better saved for my business. And when I’m tired but reluctant to say no at work, I’ll take a breath and ask for help.
✍️ What does Future You want and need?
Grab a pen and paper, and start brainstorming:
When you picture your Future Self, leading your dream life, what do you see?
How does your ideal future life feel? Where are you? Who is there with you? What are you doing?
Imagine it’s thirty years from now, you’re looking back over your life and you tell a friend, “I’m so glad I…” How does this sentence end?
What does your Future Self need you to invest in now to support them?
What support do you need now to help you become your Future Self?
I’d love to hear your thoughts about supporting Future You, now, in the present. Let’s have a conversation in the comments, or feel free to drop me a DM.
Have a sublime Saturday, friends! 🌞
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In case you’re interested, it was hosted by Carrie Green from the Female Entrepreneur Association - I’ve found FEA a similar supportive space to Substack.