Episode Details

We are constantly faced with choices that can steer our lives in different directions. For instance, after my early morning workout at home in Florida, I find myself contemplating various options: jumping into the pool, taking an ice bath, walking my dog or recording a podcast. These decisions confront me and prompt me to consider which path I should take.

This brings up an intriguing notion I've been mulling over - the need for psychology to shift its focus from past to future. While resolving past issues is important, it seems less effective than looking ahead. We often get stuck ruminating about the past rather than envisioning what we could become in five years' time.

Project yourself into July 8th of 2028 and imagine numerous potential versions of yourself shaped by your present decisions. As Albert Einstein said, "Imagination is more powerful than knowledge." It's challenging because recalling the past is simpler than visualizing our future selves.

I encourage you to visualize your optimal state five years from now; when you finish this podcast imagine meeting this version of yourself and ask them how they got there. Begin a dialogue with this person through journaling – remember who you truly are and uncover your capabilities within.

As a therapist one challenge has been helping those feeling stuck or frozen move forward using concepts like these ones; like guiding a young man who felt despondent about himself towards imagining his life five years hence.

 Imagine the best version of yourself five years from now - productive, content, possibly married with a child. This is what you truly desire. Despite your current depression, do you believe such a future self exists? Even in his despair, one man said yes; he believed there was an amazing version of himself that overcame his despondency and self-loathing.

Visualize meeting this future self. Start a dialogue through journaling and ask questions. He will guide you on what needs to be done because I believe we all have our answers within us already. We need to shift our mindset towards letting our desired futures pull us forward instead of being held back by past experiences.

This requires mindfulness and attention - it requires faith. Faith can be defined as an intelligent force causing things to happen or visualizing something before its physical manifestation occurs.

So wherever you are right now or whatever struggle you're facing, I encourage you to try this experiment: visualize yourself five years into the future because it's coming regardless. Ask yourself who do want to become?

This aligns with George Bernard Shaw's quote that life isn't about finding ourselves but creating ourselves: create your future by exercising faith and envisioning what you desire for your life in order for it to manifest.

 Imagine the best version of yourself five years from now - a productive, healthy individual with a home, marriage and maybe even a child. These are your true desires. Despite your current depression, do you believe this future self could exist? Even in his despondency, one man I spoke to said yes. He visualized an amazing version of himself who had overcome depression and self-loathing.

I advised him to start dialoguing with this future self through journaling. Ask questions; he will guide you towards what needs to be done. This ties into my belief that we already hold our own answers within us. We should let our envisioned futures pull us forward instead of letting our pasts weigh us down.

This process requires mindfulness, awareness and faith - defined as the intelligent force causing things to happen before they physically manifest. Regardless of your current struggles, look ahead five years because it's coming regardless; decide who you want to become then.

Remember George Bernard Shaw’s quote: life isn't about finding yourself but creating yourself