a letter to your future self

pull out a piece of paper. not your phone, not a notes app -- paper. and write a letter to the person you'll be in five years.

why this works

there's something about putting pen to paper and addressing your future self that cuts through the noise. you can't bullshit a letter to yourself. you know when you're being vague, when you're hedging, when you're writing what sounds good instead of what's true.

the act of writing it forces you to get specific about who you want to become. and specificity is what separates dreams from plans.

what to write

be direct. answer these questions honestly:

• who do you want to be? not what do you want to have -- who do you want to be as a person? what character traits define the future you?
• what will you have accomplished? pick the 3-5 things that matter most. career, relationships, health, personal growth. be concrete
• what are you currently afraid of? name it. your future self needs to know what you were up against
• what are you still working on? what patterns, habits, or weaknesses are you actively trying to change?
• what do you hope you never forget? what lessons from right now do you want to carry forward?

the envelope method

seal the letter in an envelope. write a date on the outside -- the date you'll open it. put it somewhere you won't lose it. set a calendar reminder. then forget about it and go live.

when you open it years from now, one of two things will happen: you'll be proud of how far you've come, or you'll be confronted with how little has changed. both outcomes are valuable. pride reinforces the path. disappointment sparks a course correction.

do it today

this takes 20 minutes. that's it. 20 minutes to create a time capsule of your current ambitions, fears, and intentions. future you will thank present you for the honesty.

don't overthink it. just write.

if this resonated, share it with someone who needs to hear it.