Be kind to Future You

Life can be overwhelming. There are so many pieces to balance. Family, kids, work, social life, cleaning, exercising, chores, bills... and then you try to fit in some relaxing time, or genuine connection time with your partner. If you top it all off with wanting to do some growing and self-improvement, it can feel impossible to know where to start.

One thing I really like to do every day is try to do one thing for myself that will make tomorrow easier. I imagine Future Cass, going about her busy day, and I do something nice for her. It could be as simple as pre-setting the coffee so that I get to wake up to the delicious smell of it brewing. It could be going to bed early and making sure I have water at my bedside. It could be doing an extra chore to take it off my plate for the following day. It can be anything that you feel will make the following day easier for you.

When I do these things for my future self, I do them with intention. If I'm doing a favour for someone else, I do it with love. I do it on purpose. So if I'm doing a favour for myself, I should approach it with the same love and consideration.

The following day, when I wake up and get that freshly brewed cup of coffee, or I don't have to run that errand I did yesterday, I intentionally feel gratitude towards my past self. I also allow myself to feel proud of the accomplishment, no matter how small. I notice it, take stock of the difference it made in my day, and the end result is that it makes me feel happier and more in control.

This simple and empowering practice is both a great form of mindfulness, and appreciation/gratitude. It is also a really easy way to start making positive changes in your life, one small step at a time. Once they start piling up, you're going to feel more inspired and driven. It's going to become obvious that you are the one in control of your day, and that you are very capable of making a difference.