“The greatest gift you were ever given was the gift of your imagination. Within your magical inner realm is the capacity to have all of your wishes fulfilled. Here in your imagination lies the greatest power you will ever know.”
—Wayne Dyer, Wishes Fulfilled
I recently found a companion who helped me through the toughest times of writing: my Future Self.
Instead of thinking that my ideas will never get published, I started imagining an older, wiser version of myself a few years from now, celebrating my book launch or gifting my book to friends and clients.
With each of these visions, I felt more hopeful and excited about writing. I could see and feel in my body that it was possible. I started envisioning my future self every morning, right when I woke up.
Suddenly, I started getting into writing flow more easily. I saw opportunities that I wouldn’t have noticed otherwise. I found writing mentors and co-writing partners who I might never have approached before.
I joined Mike Dooley’s Infinite Possibilities membership and learned that my imagination is more powerful than I thought, and that it wasn’t circumstances, but my own negative beliefs that held me back in the past.
When you connect with your future self — who has gone through the writing, the challenges, the publication process — you can get advice and encouragement to write with joy today. The more you practice a deep connection with your future self, the more you will feel and believe that your deepest desires will materialise.
Here are the two best envisioning tools that I use myself and with my coaching clients. For the purpose of simplicity, I assume you want to write a book. Adjust this vision as you like— whatever your goal is.
Tool 1: Envision Your Future Self’s Success
Find five minutes to yourself and take a few deep breaths. Then allow yourself to go deep into this vision:
Think a few years ahead and imagine your future self as a published, bestselling author. You walk into a bookstore and pick up your book from the table right at the entrance. Imagine what the cover will look like.
Look, over there — you see someone buying your book at the till! There’s a poster on the wall announcing your book launch later today. You can’t wait.
Jump ahead and imagine yourself at that launch. You talk about how you came up with the story and how you managed to write it all down. You share your message with the audience, and you can see how they lean forward, taking in every word you say.
Your friends, family, and mentors are sitting in the audience, smiling proudly. Everything you want is already yours.
Notice how that vision feels in your body. Where can you feel tingling, hope, joy, or excitement?
You can adjust this future-self vision in whichever way is meaningful to you. You might see your future self opening a big box with your first copies, inhaling the scent of your newly printed books.
Or you might get an email that your book made the Amazon bestseller list. Author and manifestation expert Mike Dooley envisions his manifestation scenarios colored in golden light. When I do that, it adds intensity and joy to my vision.
Why is this such a calming, beautiful experience? During those moments where you envisioned and felt your book success, you and your future self melded. You were one. For a few moments, you believe that your book is already written.
Remember that feeling throughout the day, and then take baby steps to get there. Your future self will be with you every step of the way.
Tool 2: Envision Writing in Flow
Your future self didn’t just snap your fingers and the book magically appeared. They envisioned, believed, and then received it in baby steps.
One of the most powerful tools that I use is to imagine my future self in the writing flow. This is your chance to meld with your future self once again and not just enjoy your published book but also the writing process:
Imagine your future self sitting at your desk, ready to write. There’s a notebook, pen and paper, water, and books by authors that you love on a shelf nearby. You take three deep breaths into the belly and create a moment of stillness.
An idea flashes through your mind. You note it on a piece of paper — that’s what you’ll write about today. You start writing. You trust that whatever you receive and put on the page is right. Your story and message want to come out. It’s almost as if you’re writing automatically.
You don’t even care if this is “good,” you’re just letting it flow and see what happens next. While you’re creating these words, you can feel a hint of a smile.
You’re present, you’re writing, you’re enjoying every second of it. Time flies by.
Take a few deep breaths and notice how your body responds to this image. How do you feel right now? Indulge in this feeling a moment longer. Enjoy having seen this beautiful vision. Let the emotional connection to your future self linger.
You can adjust this writing flow vision as you like. Maybe your future self writes in a cabin by the sea, or on the couch in your garage. You might write by hand, or on a laptop, phone, tablet, or on a vintage typewriter. You might take a walk through a park and record stories on the phone. Stay open to how and when your future self writes and see what comes up.
Don’t worry about doing it right; just see what comes up. You also don’t need to worry about logistics or the perfect path to get there. Just experience the positive energy you’re putting out into the universe with this vision.
Why does this work?
Envisioning your future self is a wonderful start to writing your book, articles, or other content. When you envision these scenarios, your body and mind experience being your future self. Before you’ve even started writing, your future-self vision is a source of inner joy, strength, and confidence.
You’re also setting a clear intention for your life. Opportunities will come your way that you wouldn’t have noticed otherwise.
I invite you to operate from the future-self mindset from now on, by envisioning your published content and writing flow as often as you can.
Are you in?
Here’s an affirmation to celebrate your new commitment. You can stick it on post-its around your writing area, or use it in your journaling.
Affirmation:
I know that I can connect with my future self every day. My work is already written. I can already feel the writing flow. My future self will guide me there.
