Consistency and Future Self

with a thank you to Past Carla

Photo by Efe Kurnaz on Unsplash

I am 34 year old Carla’s future self.

I’ve been saying that aloud to myself frequently as, for me, it cements the notion of Future Self (FS) and reminds me at one point in time the woman I am today was an unimaginable stranger to the woman I was back then.

Confused yet?

I totally was.

Future Self is not an imagination or hope of who we might be some day—it’s a deliberate creation and construction of that version of ourselves.

The concept of FS encourages us to envision our ideal future incarnation and take action in the present to align our behaviors, habits, decisions and community with the vision we’ve created.

When we prioritize Future Self work, our FS becomes simultaneously an aspiration and blueprint for personal growth.

Here’s the snag though, as much as I cringe 34 year old Carla had no *clue* who 54 year old Carla would be (goals, dreams, becoming a parent, where I’d live—all of it!) I’m not alone.

Research suggests the rest of ya’ll (yinz if you’re my people) perceive your Future Selves to be strangers, too.

Not only do we experience "end of history illusion” (the belief we have already become the person we will be forever), as a direct result of our FS disconnect, we tend toward short-term gratification over focusing on long-term benefits.

I mean really, how many of us wanna learn to Master the Mundane for a complete stranger or make time for our daily Duolingo session to benefit someone with whom we have Z E R O connection?

Consistency is the fundamental quality that shapes us becoming the humans we aspire to be.-Benjamin Hardy

Benjamin Hardy, self-proclaimed ‘leading expert on Future Self science’, isn’t wrong and if you’ve hung here for any length of time you already know what he’s saying.

Consistency shapes our FS because it establishes habits, carves a path to goal achievement, reinforces identity and facilitates discipline.

aging future self app: fun and terrifying

Consistency (and the 3x3x3© modality launching this fall in my book, coaching & course) is the secret sauce that transforms our aspirations into reality.

It’s the steady drumbeat that shapes us and moves us forward.

It’s as simple (and as 3x3x3© patterned) as aligning daily actions with the person we are actively choosing to become.

3x3x3© is an approach I’ve created to not only foster connection with our Future Selves, but to guide our present choices and actions so we become the humans we know we can be.

OK great, but how can I begin this transformative journey right *now*?

1. Define Your Ideal Future Self

As with everything we need to start with a vision.

Picture the version of you that embodies success, happiness, and fulfillment.

What do you do for work? For fun? How do you move your body? Stimulate your mind?

How do you carry yourself when you enter a room? What values have you defined as important? Who are your FRP? Your community?

Having a vivid mental image of our ideal Future Self serves as a compass guiding our daily choices and, more important than that, beginning the journey of creating a FS who is no longer a stranger.

2. Establish Keystone Habits

Consistency stems from cultivating keystone habits—small, impactful routines that set the tone for our day (*cough* 3x3x3© *cough*).

These habits provide pivotal support for other habits to fall into place creating a chain reaction leading to positive shifts in other aspects of life.

Whether it's waking early to meditate, choosing to exercise 20 minutes a day, or dedicating time to learning a new skill 3x3x3© habits create a domino effect in our lives.

Identify three keystone habits that align with your Future Self vision and commit to incorporating them into your daily routines.

3. Embrace Progress, Not Perfection

Consistency is about progress, not perfection.

Our paths to the Future Selves we desire *will* have detours, bumps, and unexpected turns.

Embrace the journey, celebrate small victories, learn from setbacks.

Consistency isn't about never making mistakes; it's about bouncing back and ‘staying the course’ no matter what happens.

Consistency is the architect and bridge to our Future Self.

Living with consistency may not be sexy, yet it is also not a rigid, robotic existence.

Consistency is a dynamic dance (types the world’s most awkward dancer) where the rhythm of our habits construct a pathway to Future Selves we desire to become.

We are becoming.

We all have the opportunity to 3x3x3© our way into becoming and here’s to the consistency and community that will get us there.

We’ve got this.

Now you.

• Were you already familiar with the concept of Future Self?

• Have you spent time visualizing or defining yours?