Future Self Journaling: What Is It And Why It’s A Game Changer Your For Mental Health
Categories Life
In my many years of journaling, the format in which I write has changed quite a bit. From guided journals to stream of consciousness, I’m always curious to try new ways of thinking in my daily life. And the form that has most recently changed the game for me is future self journaling. So today, I’m going to walk you through what it is, why I’m obsessed and how to make it work for you! We love a daily self care moment for our mental health and journaling is one of my favorite ways to make it happen. Let’s get started!
What Is Future Self Journaling
Future self journaling is a healing tool crafted by Dr. Nicole LePera aka The Holistic Psychologist. The idea is that it’s a self-led tool to help you heal from trauma and understand deeper layers you might need to work through to become the version of yourself you really want to be.
How Does Future Self Journaling Work
Each day, you walk through a series of questions (see below). Think of it as a mini morning therapy session. Each question helps you focus on the changes that you need to become future you while also giving you the accountability of taking action today.
What Is The Goal Of Future Self Journaling
As Dr. LePera describes it, the goal of future self journaling is to become conscious. It’s to make you aware of your current state so you can do the work to change it (dig deeper on this in her book How To Do The Work). Rather than having you list things or label all of your feelings, future self journaling calls your actions, traits, and habits into play. It allows you to become aware of your choices so you can start to choose differently.
What Are The Future Self Journaling Questions
Daily Affirmation
I like to use this as a way to center my thoughts and speak directly into whatever fear I’m trying to release or mindset I’m trying to change.
Today I will focus on shifting my pattern of
In order to create new habits, we have to first become aware of the old ones. By making this is conscious thought in our day, we are more open to seeing the patterns that are preventing us from success.
I am grateful for
A gratitude practice is one of the best things I ever started is my daily gratitude practice. The habit of writing “I am grateful for” followed by a specific item helps ground my day while also helping me to focus on the little things that bring me joy daily.
3 traits my future self will have are
So much of who we are is built on the smallest things. It’s in the way we speak to ourselves. It’s in the way we treat others. It’s an accumulation of our traits. And when we can identify the ones we want to add into our lives, we can shape ourselves into the person we want to become.
The person I’m becoming will experience more
The first time I answered this I felt a bit stuck. Joy? Love? Peace? It helped me to acknowledge a conscious lack in my life so that I could see the spaces where I wasn’t happy or maybe I wasn’t enjoying things as much as I told myself I was.
I have the opportunity to be my future self today when I
It’s easy to fall into the tomorrow rabbit hole. I’ll start this habit tomorrow. Or I’m going to do this thing eventually. But this statement allows us to claim what we will do today that will help us take steps forward. Not tomorrow. It’s a powerful thing to actively change your life.
When I think about the person I’m becoming I feel
The one thing I’ve always found with journaling is that it’s a safe space to understand your emotions. You’re free to speak without judgment. And it allows you to take ownership of your mind and current state in whatever way works for you.
This question is one of my favorites because it’s a daily check-in for where am you’re at. Some days you might feel scared and overwhelmed. Some days I might be excited. But to truly heal, you have to be able, to be honest with yourself and sit in those emotions. No matter how painful they may be.
How Long Does It Take To See A Difference
You’ll see small differences very quickly like being aware of your behaviors and feeling more proactive with your choices. The gratitude practice is almost immediate. But the big changes take a bit more time as you’ll need to sit in the emotion of everything.
How Is Future Self Journaling Different From Regular Journaling
To me, future self journaling feels heavier than other journaling styles. It’s something I find that occasionally I need a break from because I need to just live for a minute. When you’re digging this deep, it’s like a mini therapy moment. And while I love therapy, I do understand that sometimes the best thing we can do for ourselves is to just live.
If you’re ready to do the work, this is a great tool. I love that it gives me the chance to work through my emotions daily and at my own pace.
All in all, I’m a big fan of future self journaling. It’s become one of my favorite tools for helping to create a safe space to heal my inner child in my own time. It’s a great way to check in with the person I’m becoming and the daily habits that create her while also allowing me to be aware of my own ability to create my best life.
Have you tried future self journaling yet? Let me know in the comments below! And if you want to stay up to date on all the latest tips for helping you to live your happiest and healthiest life, be sure to sign up for my weekly newsletter. Until next time friends. Xoxo, Savvy
