Creating Your Future Identity

“A dream is your creative vision for your life in the future. You must break out of your current comfort zone and become comfortable with the unfamiliar and the unknown.” ~ Denis Waitley

People often say they want a different life, but they can’t really picture themselves living it. Or they say they want to be a different person, but they can’t truly visualize themselves being that person. As a matter of fact, they can’t see themselves anywhere but where they are right now or where they’ve come from.

What about you? Can you picture your future identity and your future life? Can you see past where you are right now or what you know from your past, to truly envision and create the dreams of your future?

Not being able to visualize your future identity can be one of the biggest factors to why you might not be moving forward in your life and why you’ll struggle or fail to get to where you want to be or who you want to be. But don’t worry, there is a way to move past this roadblock to your future.

The simple answer to this dilemma is that you must have a clear future identity before you can start taking action towards creating that future. What does that really mean and how do you do it? 

Well, a future identity is simply the person you see yourself as being in the future. But if you can only visualize what you know and have experienced, it can be difficult to create that vision. Not only that but if there’s a belief from your past clouding the view of that future identity, then even if you say you want to become that, you will likely self-sabotage the process of getting there.

Let’s take Suzy Q as an example… As a girl growing up, she came from a family who lived just above the poverty level. She often heard her elders say that “rich people” were greedy, money hungry and a host of other negatives. So, you can imagine, that somewhere in her psyche, she thought, “Wow, I don’t want to be a bad person like that!” And an attachment was formed between being bad and money.

Now fast forward into Suzy Q’s adult life. She’s long since realized that money does not define a person, nor does it make them good or bad. She logically knows that money is simply an amplifier of who you are. If you’re good at the core, then you will still be a good person even if you have money. But no matter how much she wishes she had more money so she could someday get out of debt, or create financial freedom for herself, she finds that she’s always in a financial bind, struggling to make ends meet. She dreams that someday she’ll have a thriving business, a house of her own, drive a nice car, and on and on…

Yet, the dreams are vague, fleeting and even a distant longing because she can’t REALLY see herself having all those things. She might even be heard saying, “I can’t imagine having that kind of money.” And therefore, she doesn’t REALLY take action towards creating that life for herself. Why? Because not only does she struggle with seeing herself as anywhere but where she currently is or the life she knows, somewhere along the way of trying to envision her future identity, she hears that inner voice that still believes that having money will make her greedy or bad. So, she pushes aside her future identity and eventually settles back in, right where she’s at, with what she knows.

Now take a moment and think about your life again. Have you been able to create the future identity you desire or are you still playing small? Maybe you aren’t being more diligent about taking the actions necessary to make your dream a reality because you’re afraid of what you’ll become. Or is it perhaps that you can’t possibly even imagine yourself there?

Here’s the thing… just like Suzy Q, if you can’t quiet those old beliefs long enough to activate your subconscious to get creative and go beyond what you currently know, you’ll continue to battle with being able to see your future identity. And you will continue to self-sabotage your actions and your future. Sure, maybe eventually you’ll get your dream. But with a lot more struggle then if you’d let go of your limiting beliefs and start dreaming of what IS possible.

It’s time to trust yourself and take ownership of your future identity. Stop blocking your vision for your future by fearing what’s outside the comfort zone and instead start to trust that when you truly visualize your future, you can and will shape your future.   

Let’s begin today with a simple practice of visualization…

I like to think of visualization as daydreaming with a purpose. (Professional athletes and the world's highest performers do it all the time.) Sit quietly in a place where you’ll be uninterrupted. Begin to visualize what the life you truly want looks like. Be as descriptive as you can - every detail. Imagine what you will be like. From your physical appearance to your physical actions. Imagine your thoughts, your feelings, and your emotions. Don’t be afraid to create something you’ve never seen or experienced before. (If you're intentional all along the way, you won't have to worry about becoming someone you don’t what to be.) Do this visualization every morning and night. Journal about it. Create a vision board of images that represent your dream and your future identity. And most importantly, start to feel it. Imagine what it would feel like to be that person. If you can, even put yourself into places or situations where you might be able to have a true physical, mental and emotional experience of that future you.

Say for example, you want to own a beach front home and work remotely from the oceanside. Rent a place like that for the week and dive into that visualization deeply. Letting yourself feel every aspect of the experience, allows your vision to come to life with the physical sensation of being in that space and the emotional feeling it creates.  

When you let go of your attachment to the past you and create the emotional attachment to your future identity… you’ll be amazed at how quickly it can pull you into that future life you desire. You’ll stop playing small and start stepping into the role you were meant to live.

Ready to create your future identity? Let me help you gain the clarity you need, to start building your future today! Schedule your Strategy Session HERE!