May Intention: Honor Future Self
My intention this May sounds simple but will require significant reflection: to consider my future self in at least one decision each day.
Growing up, I absorbed visions of success from the media and those around me—looking a certain way, maintaining a spotless home, entertaining guests every weekend. But over time I've been working on distinguishing socially constructed expectations from what genuinely resonates within me.
My current thought is that my mission is to spread the joy of learning. When I think "spread the joy of learning," it feels right, aligned with what I want, and easy. The other pieces feel forced, like obligations I can never live up to. Instead of the ideal home feeling inspiring, it feels draining and becomes a source of guilt. This means that on some level, I'm choosing not to enjoy what I have because I've convinced myself it's not enough.
This month, I'm committing to daily reflection on what my future self truly wants and needs—not what society, media, or even my childhood self imagined. I'm also going to experiment with accepting that this is who I am meant to be, my true self: humorous and joyous, while releasing the pressure to conform to something else.
Each day, I'll record one decision made with my future self in mind. Some might be small, such as choosing sleep over mindless scrolling. Others might be larger, such as setting boundaries around work that honors my wellbeing.
By month's end, I will have thirty-one deliberate choices that build toward a future aligned with my authentic values. I'm curious to discover patterns in these decisions and what they reveal about my true priorities. I'm equally curious about what it will feel like to embrace a more aligned version of success.
What would change if you considered your future self in one decision each day?
I'd love to hear your thoughts.
