“The future influences the present just as much as the past.” – Friedrich Nietzsche
Imagine standing along an imaginary ruler. To your right, divided into minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years, is the future. To your left, divided just the same, is your past. You are standing at that zero point in the present. It is today; it is this moment. The left leads you into yesterday, and the right into tomorrow. What most of us pay little attention to is the fact that how we view the present moment is highly dependent on whether we are facing right, comparing it to our future, or turned 180 degrees, facing the past. Walking along the line of this ruler—forward and back, backward and front—will bring into focus how we view ourselves. Walking to the left and looking ahead allows one perspective, while walking forward and looking into the rearview offers a completely different reality.
AN EXERCISE TO REMEMBER
Life moves quickly, and it often feels like there’s no room to pause. But for just a moment, I ask you to set aside the mental clutter, to-do lists, and the constant pull of demands. This next part of this writing requires more than a passing glance; it calls for your full attention. What we’re about to explore isn’t easy to frame in familiar terms, and it might challenge the way you think. But that’s exactly why it’s worth the effort. Take a deep breath, plant yourself firmly in this space, and give yourself the chance to engage fully. You never know—the shift in perspective waiting here just might redefine everything. The awakening of that perspective might be exactly what you need.
The mental gymnastics I am about to walk you through are not my own. They are based on the theory of positive psychology.1 They are further defined in the principles behind The Future Self,2 a concept explored by Derek Parfit, Hal Hershfield, and Daniel Gilbert. Author Benjamin Hardy3 has made the concept more mainstream in his recent publications.
WHAT DOES THE PAST SAY?
Let’s stand on that present line of the ruler and look to the left—the past. How does the past come to define your present moment? What burdens, what baggage are you still holding onto that seep into your current self? What heavy anchors have you grown strong from, and might they still be weighing you down? Or can you give yourself enough grace for the distance you’ve traveled along this ruler from the past to the present?
When I think of my present self living from my past moments, I think of my unresolved anchors being transcribed into the tapestry of my current situations. Let me give you an example. I grew up as an unseen, super-introverted child. I fought feelings of being unloved. I wasn’t necessarily unloved; I felt unloved. And when I live from my past as my present almost 50-year-old self, I look for evidence that I am unloved in many of my relationships.
You could have grown up as the captain of a hockey team or the president of the student body, which may now lead to very specific expectations of your present. You might excitedly expect to lead, and if you don’t, you might question your abilities or your worth. The happenings of your past lay very real expectations on your present. And whatever those expectations, they can often feel like heavy weights or anchors. They can prevent you from living your days freely.
This is one example of how we allow our past to define the present.
Disclosure: I am treading lightly here. Those of us who are children of trauma or suffer from PTSD (and yes, PTSD affects people other than soldiers who have bravely risked their lives on the front lines) are going to have to undergo a fair amount of healing before they can disassociate parts of their past from the present. PTSD is a sort of hostage situation, and I am not attempting to oversimplify or ignore it here.
TO LIVE IN AWE AND TRUE GRATITUDE
Let’s stand once again on the ruler at the present, at zero, and look to the right—the future. This is where it gets good. Not just good, not even great. This is where everything changes. Take about 60–90 seconds and imagine yourself in the future; go out 5–7 years to your ideal future. Be brave. Be audacious. You’ve succeeded and have come back.
Now, imagine living in your present life with no doubt—zero doubt—that you will become successful. A little hard to conceptualize? It was for me, too. Let’s try this another way. Come back; be yourself today, again, at the zero point of the ruler. Think of all the amazing battles you’ve fought. Think of the challenges you’ve overcome. If you are a parent, think about raising your children.
Now, go back 5 to 7 years. I imagine being with my daughter, who, 7 years ago, would have been in second grade. I’d be eternally grateful for that time if given an opportunity to revisit. I’d run to her so fast I might break my legs. I’d hold her and spin her around me. I’d be teary-eyed—no, let’s be honest—I’d flat-out ugly cry. I’d be in awe. I would not stop smiling.
When I did this exercise, it changed everything for me. The wonder and light I felt during this imagination is all I ever wanted to feel moving forward. I was convinced that feeling like that could and would be possible every day. With a shift in perspective, I would carry less baggage and feel less anchored to the past. With a shift in perspective, my life would change drastically.
Could it really be that simple? All of the psychologists agree: yes, it can. If I tried—if I practiced—if I held myself accountable and consistent in my practice. Living from the future-self is nothing new. It’s essentially living out carpe diem4 or memento mori,5 terms coined in 23 BCE and the late 13th century, respectively.
The exercise involving the present-me going into the past is no different than if it were the future-me coming back into the present. If my future-self came back into today, I would be equally grateful. I’d look at today’s challenges and know that they could be solved. I’d look at the things that keep me awake and know them to be trivial. I’d understand that I only have so much time left with the people I love. I’d solidify my understanding that work is less important than family. Living in the present as the person of my future is the secret to letting it all go.
THE FUTURE IS A SCARY THING
I didn’t mislead you by suggesting that we were going to use some Matrix-like, mind-bending exercises to explain this phenomenon. To be entirely forthcoming, I began writing this article 6 months ago, restarted thinking about it a few weeks ago, sat down to re-edit it, and realized it made no sense to me. I had to go back into Hardy’s books and dig back into research to recreate a basic understanding of it once more.
But again, when that seed was replanted, I remembered how incredibly powerful this concept is. I am now fully committed to the practice. I never want to forget it or be confused by it.
There is more. The future holds so much power. Yet, so many of us fear facing it. The anxiety of it—the horror of our potential failures—is what I think holds us back from marveling in it. We are looking at it all wrong, just as we allow the anchors of the past to hold us down.
But get this: we can’t solve tomorrow’s problems with yesterday’s thinking. We can’t even solve today’s problems with yesterday’s thinking. Every identity that we develop will eventually have to be something we let go of. It’s the only way for us to grow.
Our first attempt at whatever we are facing is never our best attempt. So, we have to keep looking into the future, bravely, for those better attempts. The future holds so much power. We must strip the anxiety away and look past it to find and use its power.
TRY THIS WITH ME
As we continue to navigate the ever-changing landscape of life, it’s easy to get caught up in the busyness and chaos of our daily routines. But taking a moment to step back and reflect on who we are to become can be a powerful tool for living a more intentional and fulfilling life.
I want to empower you to take the time and practice with me: living today as your future-self. As awkward and strange, as uncomfortable and time-consuming as it might seem, it is worth it. Think of the awe, think of the joy, think of the light that is possible as a result.
This journey of self-discovery is not easy. It requires vulnerability, self-awareness, and a willingness to let go of old patterns and beliefs. Yet, as we continue to live in alignment with our future-selves, we begin to see the beauty, light, and potential in every moment.
When we envision our future-selves, we tap into our deepest talents and passions. We begin to see beyond the limitations of our current circumstances and open ourselves up to new possibilities. By embodying the wisdom, hope, and resilience of our future-selves, we can make decisions and take actions that align with who we truly want to be.
TOMORROW’S WISDOM, TODAY’S CHOICES
And so, here we stand at the zero point of our lives, poised between what has been and what will be. Living in the present through the lens of our future-selves is not about denying our past or dismissing the challenges of today—it’s about transforming them.
It’s about shifting our perspective so that the present becomes rich with possibility, not shackled by fear or anxiety. Imagine carrying the understanding, faith, and grit of your future-self into every decision, every conversation, every moment.
Suddenly, the weight of uncertainty begins to lighten, and the beauty of the here and now becomes undeniable. The fears of failure dissolve into a quiet confidence that everything is unfolding exactly as it should.
The clock may keep ticking, but when we choose to anchor ourselves in the profound gratitude of what could be and the richness of what is, time feels less like a relentless surge and more like an endless wellspring of opportunity.
To live today as your future-self is to honor both your past and your potential, weaving them together into a life of purpose, peace, and boundless hope.
REFERENCES
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positive_psychology
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future_self
- https://www.benjaminhardy.com
- https://www.britannica.com/question/Who-first-used-the-phrase-carpe-diem#:~:text=The%20Roman%20poet%20Horace%20used,his%20Odes%20(23%20BCE)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memento_mori#:~:text=Memento%20mori%20(Latin%20for%20%22remember,and%20cadaver%20monuments%20in%20sculpture
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Maggie Augustyn, FAAIP, FICOI, is a Dawson-trained practicing general dentist, owner of Happy Tooth, author, and inspirational keynote speaker. Featured on 4 dental magazine covers and recognized by Dentistry Today as one of the top 250 leaders, she inspires others through her writing, helping them find healing and connection. Dr. Augustyn serves as the national spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry and as a faculty member for the Productive Dentist Academy. She contributes monthly to her “Mindful Moments” column for Dentistry Today and AGD Impact and writes for other publications as well. With unwavering compassion and a dedication to excellence, Dr. Augustyn addresses audiences ranging from a few dozen to thousands, guiding them toward fulfillment and meaningful impact. To contact her, email drmaggie@myhappytooth.com.
FEATURED IMAGE CREDIT: PHOTOCREO Michal Bednarek/Shutterstock.com.
