What Would Your Future Self Say?

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.”
–Peter Drucker 

When I was in middle school, I was tasked with researching a career. I found a book in the school library that detailed the path to becoming a doctor. College. Medical School. Internship. Residency. Fellowship. I had no idea what those words meant, but I knew I wanted to be a doctor and that I would eventually figure it out. And then, the planning began.

As physicians, we spend much of our lives planning—patient care, career trajectories, research projects, afterschool activities, family dinners, vacations, retirement, and even the smallest details of our daily schedules. But how often do we step back and consciously plan for the person we want to become? Not just in terms of careers but in our relationships, health, and personal fulfillment? How often do you remember your future?

When I first heard of this concept in my coach certification program, it was a bit unsettling. How am I supposed to plan my life 20 years from now? I don’t even know what I want to eat for dinner! But the more I sat with the idea, the more it made sense. I had spent my entire life mapping out my career—why wouldn’t I do the same for the kind of person I wanted to be? Just like medical school once felt like a distant, overwhelming goal, my future self felt like a vague, far-off version of me. But if I could plan my way through becoming a doctor, surely I could be intentional about becoming the person I want to be in 20 years. The question wasn’t if I would get there, but how—and more importantly, who I wanted to be when I did.

Some physicians experience some hesitation with future-self work because it pulls us away from the present moment. But visualizing your future self doesn’t mean escaping reality. It’s a tool to make the present more intentional. When you imagine your future self, you aren’t living in the future. You are using that perspective to make better choices today. If you could have your 20-years-older self whisper advice in your ear, what would they say? Would they tell you to prioritize your well-being, nurture relationships, or invest in passions outside of medicine?

This exercise becomes even more powerful when paired with the stark reality that time is finite. We all know, perhaps too intimately, how unpredictable life can be. We have witnessed patients whose lives changed in an instant—one diagnosis, one accident, one unexpected event. And yet, despite this knowledge, how often do we delay joy, push off self-care, or postpone important conversations because we assume there will be more time? If your future self could remind you of anything, it might be this: Time is not guaranteed, but what you do with the time you have is within your control.

For many physicians, the physical toll of this career becomes undeniable over time. Long hours, chronic stress, and neglecting personal health take a cumulative toll. Imagine your 70-year-old self reflecting on the choices you made in your 40s or 50s. Would they thank you for prioritizing exercise, healthy eating, and stress management? Or would they wish you had done more to protect your body and mind from burnout? This perspective shift is not about fearing aging, but about being proactive. 

So, what would your future self say to you today? Would they tell you to spend more time with your loved ones? To take that long-awaited trip? To finally start writing that book or playing that instrument? Instead of waiting for the "perfect time," consider that the perfect time might be now. Reflect on what matters most, and take at least one small step today that your future self will thank you for. After all, the future isn’t just something that happens—it’s something we create, one decision at a time.

What advice do you think your future self would give you? How can you start living in alignment with that wisdom today?

Are you interested in a FREE WORKSHEET to help navigate goal-setting while creating the life you've always wanted?  I invite you to check out Design Your Life: A Goal-Setting Guide For Physicians.  This worksheet will help you design the step-by-step path to your ultimate physician life.  Get started today!

PS.  I get a lot of inspiration from music lyrics.  Many people use inspiring quotes (and I do, too), but music really speaks to me.  I hope you find inspiration in the songs, too.

Billy Eilish - my future