How to Step Into Your Future Self: A Guide to Embracing Age and Wisdom
Honor Your Future Self. In a world that prizes instant gratification and external beauty, we chase after the image of our younger selves and believe we’ll finally receive validation if we embody youth. But what if, instead, we recognized the value of aging—the wisdom we've earned and the privilege of forging a future grounded in who we truly are? Nancy Leach, an extraordinary woman, taught me the importance of shifting our focus from reversing time to celebrating our experiences. There is profound beauty in aging, and learning how to step into your future self begins with embracing the grace and honor that comes with it. So, let’s acknowledge who we are today and step confidently into the future. We deserve it.
“What is coming is better than what is gone” - Arabic proverb
What is the idea of the future self?
I think it’s better to discuss what the idea of the future self is NOT to understand how to welcome this concept:
It’s not conforming to societal expectations
It’s not about believing you must follow the traditional path of graduating high school, going to college, landing a job, getting married, and having children, only to find yourself wondering what to do next. Your future self isn’t confined to a preset script; it’s about defining your own journey.
It’s not sacrificing well-being for success
It’s not about pushing yourself to the brink of burnout in pursuit of the ultimate dream of financial success. Your future self values balance, where ambition coexists with appreciating life’s simple moments.
It’s not neglecting your future
It’s not about living only for the present and squandering money on fleeting pleasures. Your future self values discipline and recognizes that wise investments today are crucial for long-term fulfillment and security.
It’s not chasing external validation
It’s not about striving for recognition or approval from others at the cost of your well-being. Your future self is rooted in self-acceptance and the understanding that true fulfillment comes from within.
It’s not fearing change or growth
It’s not about clinging to comfort zones or resisting the unknown out of fear. Your future self embraces change, seeing it as an opportunity for growth and evolution rather than a threat to your current identity. FEAR = Face Everything And Rise.
It’s not living according to the expectations of others
It’s not about molding yourself to fit the expectations or dreams others have for you. Your future self is guided by your own values, passions, and desires.
It’s not ignoring your passions
It’s not about sidelining your passions because they don’t fit into the conventional definition of success. Your future self recognizes the importance of nurturing what you love and knowing that true success is often found in what sets your soul on fire.
It’s not avoiding reflection
It’s not about moving through life on autopilot, ignoring the need to reflect on your choices and their alignment with your deeper purpose. Your future self understands the importance of regular introspection to ensure that your life’s path remains true to who you are becoming.
It’s not postponing happiness
It’s not about delaying your joy for some distant future when you’ve checked off every box. Your future self knows that happiness isn’t a destination but a daily practice cultivated through gratitude and the here and now.
How to Step Into Your Future Self
1. Welcome change and adaptability
Your journey won’t be linear, and challenges are inevitable. According to future self psychology, it’s important to recognize that you, too, are constantly evolving. Who you are today—what you value, believe, and aspire to—may not be the same as it was ten years ago, ten days ago, or even ten minutes ago.
When I asked Nancy, “What does success mean to you?” her response underscored the need to redefine society’s conventional measures of success after reflecting on her evolution. She emphasized valuing intangible successes like health, joy, and meaningful connections over material accumulation.
“As long as I am healthy enough to care for myself, have the financial resources to do so, and my heart is full of JOY,
I will have achieved success.” - Nancy Leach
By asking ourselves, “What have I enjoyed?” instead of “What have I achieved?” we shift our focus to a more fulfilling perspective on personal growth.
“Success in my 20’s was acknowledgment of my talent and abilities, in my 30’s it was compensation for said talent and abilities, in my 40’s it was achieving balance between work and family and in my 50’s it has been finding my joy. My 60’s should hold financial freedom, assuming I planned well in my 20’s, 30’s, 40’s and 50’s!
Think about it, do you know any individual who is consumed by joy that you would not call successful? Psalms 37:4 Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. John 15:11. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
2. Write a future self letter
Ask yourself, who do I truly want to become? What brings me genuine happiness? Where do I envision myself in five, ten, or fifteen years? Writing a future self letter is a powerful tool for clarifying these questions. It allows us to focus intently on our goals, desires, and overall well-being.
By defining our core values and mapping out what we aspire to achieve, we can begin taking purposeful daily steps that foster a deeper, more fulfilling relationship with our present and future selves.
3. Celebrate Milestones
Each stage of life is a chance to strengthen our journey and embrace our evolving path with renewed purpose and commitment. For example, Nancy's response to the question “What is life teaching you in this season?” urges us to reject the notion that our lives are over simply because we’ve reached a certain age.
Instead, she encourages us to view each chapter as an opportunity to enhance our self-care, align more closely with our dreams and goals, and take proactive steps toward making those dreams a reality. Celebrate yours with a Portrait Photoshoot or a Boudoir Photoshoot and show the world beauty transcends age.
“Every season has its beauty and its strife, in varying relative percentages. I refer to my current season as “the last rodeo”, the time in life where I am looking forward to no longer working for a paycheck.
My marriage has unfortunately ended, the children are raised and both parents are on the other side – this is the time for me. And it's like being 17 all over again! What do I want to do? Who do I want to be? Where do I want to live? What does it all look like? Lessons accompany all of these questions.
I am more aware of the true meaning of the term “baggage” as I navigate all of these options. Retirement can look very different, has many different definitions, some that are in conflict over commitments outside of the home in quantity and investment of time, recreational activities and their expense, general financial restrictions, family demands and needs, demographics and lifestyle.
And compromise. Compromise becomes more difficult during the last rodeo because more is on the line, there is more to lose. I’ve been learning how to stand my ground while at the same time to compromise and lose gracefully, to make this last rodeo the most beautiful season.”
4. Live with intention
It’s not just about what you do, but how you do it. Consider the intention and energy behind your actions and thoughts.
Ask yourself:
How am I speaking to myself each day?
How do I spend my mornings, and what tone does that set for my day?
Who do I choose to share my energy with, and how do they impact my well-being?
How are the things I consume—whether reading, watching, or doing—affecting my energy and mindset?
Being mindful of these often overlooked habits is key to learning how to step into your future self. Cultivating a life that is both productive and true to who you are requires conscious choices that generate positive energy and clear intentions. This mindful approach creates a ripple effect that enhances every aspect of your life.
5. Find the light
Self-reflection is a powerful yet often underestimated practice. It involves revisiting your past experiences—both the successes and the challenges—to uncover meaningful lessons. Through this, you gain insights that can guide you in finding moments of light through the darkness - gratitude, love, and support hidden within adversity.
Nancy experienced two tragedies back-to-back that left her grappling with profound grief and pain. Despite the overwhelming weight of her circumstances, she found strength in the quality of those around her:
“Looking back, the saving grace was my circle of friends. Girlfriends that showed up for me bringing food and wine, listening, being available, loving me where I was. Never underestimate the power of your friendships and never take them for granted.”
When I asked her “What have you survived and what got you through it?”, Nancy stepped into the vulnerability and acknowledged that life brings both hardship and healing. Regardless of age, this journey is a privilege—one that offers profound opportunities for growth through life's challenges.
“I have survived being an entrepreneur and all the things that come with owning a business. I was encouraged to start a blog years ago called the Ewich that has since fallen by the wayside, but, Ewich represented the Entrepreneurial Sandwich – the space in time when you’re married, raising kids, running and trying to grow a business and dealing with aging parents including all that comes with end of life. I lost my last in vitro pregnancy and my mother to breast cancer within a 45 day period.
This was undoubtedly the most difficult period of my life, mourning the family that I would never have the opportunity to nurture and losing the one who had nurtured me to the successful woman I had become. I was devastated, void, emotionless and deeply sad. This was the period of my life when I learned to suppress my emotions so I could be strong for my father who was also devastated by the loss of his wife.
It was uncharted territory to me, every change was a conundrum, a new learning, the in vitro fertilization and my mother’s treatment, both ending in death. Finality”.
What would your future self tell you?
After all is said and done, the core theme of how to step into your future self is to begin living with the end in mind. Meaning what type of person do you want to be and how can you embody that individual?
Remember, growing old is a privilege because tomorrow is not guaranteed for anyone. We need to learn how to honor this gift through all phases of life instead of fighting against age. Beauty is ageless and it’s one of the missions I championed for during the Beyond 40 movement.
Each time I meet a woman like Nancy, I remember how lucky I am to photograph inspiring women who show me how to love and accept myself as I age.
It also provides opportunities to show how their lessons and wisdom can impact you and your life.
So, I invite you to join these remarkable women and spread the knowledge you’ve gained to uplift others. You'll also enjoy a day dedicated entirely to celebrating who you are—complete with pampering, makeup, styling, and a final product that serves as a lasting reminder of your beauty, wisdom, and strength at every age.
“Judith does not provide photographs, what she really gives her clients is a mirror into what they may not see for themselves, their true beauty. A session with Judith is an experience that gives you time to reflect, grow and gain self-acceptance that happens to be captured in stunning images (...) The final images perfectly capture what I now see for the first time, my beauty, my power, and my true self.” - Jessica Walker
If you feel inspired or desire to be seen, heard and honored, please schedule a free consultation to start the process.