What Does Your Future Self Thank You for This Year?

We don’t often stop and ask the question that changes everything: What does my future self thank me for this year?

It’s easy to get caught in the grind of now. Tasks, deadlines, distractions. But when you zoom out and look from the perspective of your future self, clarity hits different. Some of the things that feel urgent today won’t even matter a year from now. Some of the things you’re putting off will matter a whole lot.

Your future self is watching. And whether you realize it or not, you’re already writing the story they get to live.

In more than 17,000 coaching conversations, I’ve seen clarity arrive the moment someone shifts from reacting to now to acting for their future.

The Power of a Thank-You Note From the Future

Here’s a simple but powerful exercise: imagine it’s the end of this year. You’ve lived aligned with your values, you’ve made some hard choices, and you’ve shown up consistently. Write a short thank-you note from that future self back to you today.

It might sound like this:

“Thank you for finally prioritizing your health instead of waiting for a scare. Thank you for having that hard conversation instead of hiding from it. Thank you for taking the risk, because it opened doors you couldn’t see from where you stood.”

When you frame your decisions this way, it forces you to zoom out. You stop obsessing over today’s noise and start acting on what truly counts.

Questions Your Future Self Wants You to Answer

Ask yourself:

• What choice will my future self be grateful I made this year?

• What habit will they thank me for starting—or stopping?

• Who will they thank me for spending more time with?

• What will they thank me for finally letting go of?

Even one clear answer to these questions can shift the way you spend the rest of this year.

Why This Matters

Gratitude is a force multiplier. It expands what’s already strong. When you combine gratitude with vision—when you imagine your future self looking back with thanks—you get both clarity and motivation.

And here’s the truth: regret comes from neglect, not from trying. Future you won’t regret the attempts. They’ll regret the times you stayed comfortable instead of courageous.

Your Move

So, what does your future self thank you for this year? Write the note. Live the note. And if you’re ready to design a future worth thanking yourself for, join the 10-Year Letter Workshop.

👉 Join the 10-Year Letter Workshop