{"id":2559,"date":"2016-08-02T16:41:41","date_gmt":"2016-08-02T15:41:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/?p=2559"},"modified":"2016-10-27T10:17:55","modified_gmt":"2016-10-27T09:17:55","slug":"write-letter-future-self","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thepencompany.live\/blog\/writing\/letter-writing\/write-letter-future-self\/","title":{"rendered":"Why & how to write a letter to your future self"},"content":{"rendered":"

Photo credit: Mr. Alliance<\/p><\/div>\n

A letter to yourself, that you write now and read at some point in the future, is essentially a time capsule; a fascinating written snapshot of your life, your\u00a0true self and your emotions right there and then<\/em>. But what is the point of writing (and reading) a letter to your future self? What is there to gain? And how do you go about writing it? Read on and you\u2019ll soon be ready to pick up your pen and get writing.<\/p>\n

Why should I write a letter to my future self?<\/h2>\n

Think back to five years ago. What job were you doing? Who were you spending time with? Where were you living? What was occupying your mind at the time?<\/em> Even if you can answer the first few questions \u2013 and I\u2019ll be impressed if you can, just like that \u2013 I bet you\u2019ll find that last question harder to answer, yet it is essentially the most important one. This is where a letter to your future self comes in, and really shines. Not only does a letter from the past remind you of how you felt at a specific time in your life, but it also brings with it useful comparisons, which can show you how the changes you’ve made in your life have changed the way you feel and act over time.<\/p>\n

Writing a letter to your future self is a great way to remind yourself of the passage of time – time does indeed fly, yet there is a lot that can be achieved in five years, and these letters can be an excellent reminder of that. Have you made progress on your goals? Writing these letters is also a perfect exercise for building self-awareness, and you will no doubt see how you have changed and evolved as a person – not just in what you have done and achieved, but in how you interact and react to the world around you. In case you need any more reason to give this a go, it is a wonderful exercise in gratitude too; it makes you take stock of all the good things that have happened in your life – however big or small – and be grateful for them. Think about what you are grateful for whilst writing your letters, and you’ll be reminded of them in the future.<\/p>\n

I could talk\u00a0about reasons for writing a letter to your future self for hours, however the experience will be unique for each and every person. Overall though, I’d say it is good for the soul.<\/p>\n

How do I write a letter to my future self?<\/h2>\n

The content of your letter is a personal choice, however I would recommend the inclusion of some of the below subjects, for comparison\u2019s sake:<\/p>\n