Close your eyes and picture yourself 20 years from now. What do you look like? How’s your health? Your relationships? Your finances? Now, imagine that future self could travel back in time and chat with you today. What would they beg you to do differently? What regrets would they urge you to avoid?
This surreal bit of mental time travel may sound like sci-fi, but it’s actually a powerful psychology hack for making better decisions. And with AI image generators, it’s easy to do.
How picturing your future self leads to happier choices today
Have you ever wished you could give your past self some sage advice? While we can’t change the past, an innovative visualization exercise can help us make wiser choices for our future selves.
The technique is simple but powerful: Create a photo of yourself at an older age, then imagine having a conversation with that version of yourself. What would they want you to do differently today to set them up for greater happiness and fulfilment?
How to picture your future self
To apply this technique in your own life:
This exercise taps into the concept of “future self-continuity” – the degree to which we feel connected to the person we will become. When we feel distant from our future selves, we’re more likely to make shortsighted decisions that provide instant gratification but cause long-term harm.
When we vividly imagine our future self as a real person, it becomes easier to align our current actions with their best interests. Seeing an aged photo of yourself makes the future feel more tangible and relatable. Talking to them creates empathy and concern for their wellbeing.
Dr. Laurie Santos, a Yale psychology professor, experimented with this technique herself. After generating images of herself at 60 and 70 years old, she engaged them in conversation. The impact was eye-opening.
I really don’t want [my future self] to be unhealthy or have diabetes. I don’t want her knees to be screwed up. It really did change the amount that I worked out and how I was eating. It made it easier to make choices that would help my future self rather than screw her over.
This simple yet profound visualization can motivate all kinds of positive changes. Maybe your future self wants you to save more money so they can have a comfortable retirement. Maybe they wish you would quit smoking so they don’t get lung cancer. Or maybe they hope you’ll be braver in pursuing your dreams so they don’t end up with regrets.
By bringing your future self to life in your mind, you naturally start to consider their perspective in daily choices. That fleeting impulse to procrastinate on a big project or splurge on an unnecessary purchase suddenly seems a lot less appealing when you picture the stress it will cause future you.
The next time you’re wrestling with a tough choice, summon your future self and ask their advice. Will they applaud your restraint in skipping that impulse purchase to boost your retirement savings? Cheer your fortitude in hitting the gym instead of happy hour? Beam with pride over the passion project you poured yourself into?
Your future self is your wisest mentor, fiercest advocate, and most loyal friend. Start treating them accordingly. Have regular chats. Keep their photo on your phone. Make choices that would make them proud to be you.
Here’s the beautiful secret: By looking out for the future you, you’re really taking the best possible care of the present you. When your two selves come into alignment, your life falls into place. You start spending your days in ways that add up to the future of your dreams.
Get to know the older, wiser you. Then make the old you proud.
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