Chapter 1: Understanding Our Future Selves

On a seemingly ordinary Saturday, I found myself wandering the suburbs, avoiding chores, when a TED talk unexpectedly shifted my perspective.

How do we perceive our future selves? This question intrigued psychologist Hal Hershfield, who sought to understand the challenges of future planning.

Psychologist Hal Hershfield investigates the mental processes involved when we contemplate actions that will shape our futures. His research shows a recurring theme: in a contest between Future You and Present You, Present You typically prevails.

This explains why sticking to resolutions, diets, exercise routines, and plans for financial stability often proves difficult. It’s a struggle to resist immediate gratifications in favor of long-term benefits.

When faced with the choice of acting for our future selves, we often treat those future consequences as if they pertain to someone else. “It’s as if these consequences are going to befall some other person,” Hershfield remarks.

Fortunately, there is hope. Some individuals have discovered techniques to overcome this disconnect. In a study, participants were given the option of receiving smaller sums of money immediately or larger amounts later. Those with a more coherent sense of self across time tended to make better choices.

The central inquiry for Hershfield is, “How can we bridge the gap to feel more connected to our future selves and prioritize their well-being?”

The Illusion of Continuity

During the discussion, Shankar Vedantam, host of the insightful Hidden Brain podcast, examined how psychology influences our commitment to actions we know will benefit us. He posed a critical question: Can we truly anticipate what our Future Self will desire?

When we envision our futures, we often mistakenly believe we will remain unchanged. Vedantam asserts that our future is “not just unknown, but unknowable.” However, we can reflect on our past to understand how much we’ve transformed, which should prompt us to reconsider our assumptions about the future.

In my youth, I had grand aspirations of becoming a successful actor—an incredibly challenging career. Spoiler alert: I did not achieve that dream. I envisioned myself as a bestselling author, and while I published a novel, fame and fortune have eluded me. Since then, I’ve experienced love, loss, and career shifts that have altered my path. The mundane reality of my life would likely shock my younger self.

Vedantam encourages us to recognize that we hold the pen to our future stories. “The engine of this is curiosity,” he emphasizes.

Chapter 2: Avoiding the Trap of Victim Blaming

This conversation often risks veering into individualism and victim-blaming, as Rocco Pendola points out. While the research highlights personal responsibility, it’s essential to recognize that systemic issues contribute to collective struggles.

One significant barrier to connecting with our future selves is fear. As we age, contemplating the future can become daunting, especially as we approach milestones that remind us of loss. The idea of envisioning a future self becomes clouded by anxiety.

This weekend, I plan to engage in a self-exploration exercise, inviting various potential Future Selves into my thoughts. Through meditation, journaling, and reflecting on old photographs, I intend to assess my health and consider the paths available to me.

What if we dedicated time to thoughtfully constructing our future selves—the feared, the desired, and the probable? How might this influence our financial planning?

I invite you to share your thoughts and aspirations for your future self. What age do you envision caring for, and what goals do you hope to achieve?

Let’s continue this journey together, embracing our futures without losing hope.