Would your future self regret this decision?
Balance today’s choices with tomorrow’s well-being.
While the present holds the reins, the future lives with the outcomes. Before you decide, pause and ask:
🤔 Would my future self regret this decision?
Your present self and future self don’t always want the same things. Your present self craves immediate rewards, like comfort, ease, or excitement. Your future self cares about long-term outcomes like health, financial stability, and strong relationships. When their interests clash, the present self usually wins because it makes the decisions. Skipping exercise feels harmless now, but your future self may face less energy and weaker strength. Staying up late might seem like a small indulgence, though tomorrow’s you could wake up exhausted, facing a hard day ahead.
Your future self depends on long-term outcomes, but your present self needs care too. Life happens in the present moment. Ignoring the needs of the present self can lead to stress, frustration, and unhappiness. To stay well, both emotionally and physically, we need to make time for activities that bring enjoyment, relaxation, and a sense of fulfillment right now. A good approach balances the needs of both selves. Support your future self with small, steady actions, saving a little, moving more, nurturing relationships, while giving your present self space for immediate rewards.
Balancing your present and future self is like tending a garden. You enjoy the flowers blooming now but also plant seeds and care for the soil, letting the garden thrive later.
Your future self can feel like a stranger, which makes it harder to care about their needs today. But there are ways to close that gap. Try writing a letter from your future self, five or ten years ahead, back to your present self. Imagine living with the results of today’s choices. What advice would you give? What are you grateful your present self did? What do you wish they had done differently? You can also use a digitally aged photo to see what your future self might look like. Making the future feel more real can help your present self make more balanced choices.
Each choice shapes the person you’re becoming. Before deciding, pause and ask:
🤔 Would my future self regret this decision?
