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My Past, Present and Future Life: Journey of Self Discovery

Categories: My Future Past Personal Life

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Words: 629 |

Published: Aug 31, 2023

Words: 629 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Recounting my past and present life, battling my troubled past, a turning point, embracing future change.

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How to Write a Letter to Your Past Self (With Examples)

“I’m so proud of you.”

When was the last time you heard that? What’s more, when was the last time you said those words to yourself? The last few years have been difficult for everyone, particularly on our mental health. If you’re a high-achiever, you tend to be your own worst critic. Giving yourself credit where credit is due may not come second nature. If this sounds familiar, keep reading, because the exercise I’m about to share will help you be more compassionate with yourself.

We’ve already explored the benefits of journaling , but today I want to take writing for mental health a step further with a letter to your younger self. Whether you’re doing this assignment for school or for personal development (in that case, A plus!), you’ll be amazed at the perspective it provides.

Why Write to Your Past Self?

The old adage, “Hindsight is 20/20,” is cliche, but it’s also true. Writing letters to yourself is a powerful way to reflect on your life experiences and inform your future thinking. Remember that it’s unrealistic to expect that “past you” could have anticipated all that would happen in your life. Letter writing like this should come from a place of love and compassion. The benefits of writing a letter to yourself in the past include…

Increasing self-awareness
Cultivating gratitude
Gaining a new perspective
Processing past trauma
Practicing mindfulness and being in-the-moment

Writing to your past self, even in the form of a short note , allows you to tell a new story about things you’ve experienced. Maybe you went through a difficult life transition, suffered a loss, or moved across the globe. Letter writing can be a therapeutic tool in viewing your past self through a more compassionate lens.

essay about past present and future self

How to Write a Letter to Your Past Self

Get in the zone.

Sit in a quiet spot with a journal or piece of paper and your favorite pen . This should be a space where you can hear your thoughts clearly and remain undisturbed for a while. Something as simple as lighting a candle or playing soft music can get you into the writing zone.

Choose a Date in the Past

t’s recommended to use five years as the point in the past to look back to. This allows enough distance for you to have experienced life changes but it's still close enough to remain active in your memory. Consider a date immediately before a life transition , like going to college, moving, or getting married.

Or, think back to yourself at a specific age . What were you like as a pre-teen, teen, or young adult? How have you changed and grown since then? Any moment in the past that had a significant impact is the best way to start a letter to yourself .

Start Letter Writing

Begin by taking a few deep breaths in and out. By simply writing “ Dear past self, ” you’ll probably find that your subsequent words flow easily. Write down what you have learned since your chosen date and what has strengthened you in difficult times. Write down your hopes and dreams and give yourself credit for not giving up. The more you write, the more new insights and perspectives you’ll discover.

If you’re like me, you’ll benefit from some writing prompts to get you started. I’ll list some of my favorites from The University of Edinburgh and Allina Health below.

Letter Writing Prompts

What is the memory I have from this time? Why is it significant?
How did I feel during this time? How did I process those feelings?
What do I wish I could have said or done differently then?
What are the main things that I’ve learned since then?
What wisdom or knowledge do I wish someone could have given me at that moment?
What types of people have helped me along the way?
What is the best advice I could give my past self?
What would I tell myself to get through the challenges I faced?
What do I wish my younger self had known to feel better now?

After you’ve finished your letter to yourself, put it out of sight and out of mind . Only reread it after a few days have passed. Then, ask yourself these questions…

Do I want to make any additions or changes?
How could I follow the advice I’ve given myself better?
What can I take from this letter to apply to my future?
What am I able to see now with gratitude?

Letter to Past Self Examples

Dear Past Self,

I know you’re struggling right now, and I want you to know I’m here for you. You might feel like you’re never going to get past this, but I promise you will. You might feel small, helpless and incapable, but believe me, that’s not true. You deserve more credit than you give yourself. Stop doubting your skills and downplaying your potential. Your moment will come.

You are shaped by your past, but your past doesn’t dictate your future. You’ve been through challenge after challenge and come out the other side. You’re starting to understand that every experience you have, good or bad, can teach you a valuable lesson.

Remember that this too shall pass. Keep learning, growing, and persevering.

I’m so proud of you. With Love,

Your Future Self

This is just one of many ways you can format your letter. Here are some other letter to past self examples to take inspiration from:

Concordia University letter to yourself example

NYU letter to yourself example

A Lesson in Compassion

We often look back on the past and think, “If only I knew then what I know now.” Writing a letter to your past self is like a mini memoir. You’re writing about the past with knowledge of the present. This allows you to bridge your past, present and future selves with wisdom that can only come from hindsight.

Above all, writing letters to yourself is a lesson in self-awareness , personal growth, and self- compassion . Allow this activity to help you reflect, make space for healing, and get your pen moving. And remember: stay inky, my friends.

About the Author

Madeleine is a copywriter and video script whiz for creative and inventive brands. As an empathy-based marketer, every website, landing page, blog, email, and video she writes showcases her clients at their best. Some say she's a mind-reader, but she's really just an expert listener with one goal in mind: to inspire readers (and viewers) to take action. A true logophile, she's the one who (unabashedly) keeps a hard copy thesaurus on her desk. When she's not on set or crafting copy, you can find her nose in a book sipping a matcha latte.

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Take Ownership of Your Future Self

Benjamin Hardy

Change is inevitable — but it’s not out of your control.

Your personality, skills, likes, and dislikes change over time — but that change isn’t out of your control. What can you do to become the version of yourself that you most want to be? Start by acknowledging the differences between your past, current, and future selves. Next, imagine your desired future self: Set goals that are as clear and specific as possible to maximize your chances of achieving them. Finally, develop (and re-develop) an identity narrative consistent with the person you want to become — and share that story with others! Your identity drives your behavior, which over time creates your personality. So start acting like the best version of yourself, and you will become that person.

In his TED Talk “ The Psychology of Your Future Self ,” Harvard psychologist Dr. Daniel Gilbert explains a bias that almost all of us have: We tend to think that the person we are today is the person we will always be.

BH Benjamin Hardy is an organizational psychologist and the author of Willpower Doesn’t Work and Personality Isn’t Permanent . His blogs have been read by over 100 million people and he is a regular contributor to Inc. and Psychology Today . From 2015-2018, he was the #1 writer in the world on Medium.com. He and his wife Lauren adopted three children through the foster system in February 2018 and, one month later, Lauren became pregnant with twins, who were born in December of 2018. They live in Orlando.

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Personality Psychology

The Past, Present, and Future of Your Identity

The Blog of Author Tim Ferriss

Tim Ferriss's 4-Hour Workweek and Lifestyle Design Blog. Tim is an author of 5 #1 NYT/WSJ bestsellers, investor (FB, Uber, Twitter, 50+ more), and host of The Tim Ferriss Show podcast (400M+ downloads)

A Dialogue with Yourself: Past, Present, and Future

Share this:, join 1.5m+ subscribers and receive exclusive tools, tips, and resources sent directly by tim:.

When the world—inner or outer—seems upside-down, journaling is often what saves me ( here’s a real example ).

My girlfriend recently found a gem in “ The Isolation Journals ,” a project by Suleika Jaouad ( @suleikajaouad ) intended to be “a 30-day creativity project to help make sense of challenging times.” Each day for 30 days, you receive a journaling prompt from some of Suleika’s favorite writers, artists, and musicians.

Below is a sample from Rachel Cargle ( @rachel.cargle ) that I simply loved. You can sign up here , and you can find past prompts here . Full disclaimer: I don’t know Suleika at all, nor her future plans, but I think this 30-day project is a wonderful way to stay and feel connected… both with others and yourself.

Both Suleika and Rachel have given me permission to share the below.

Enter Rachel Cargle

Lately, I’ve found comfort in appreciating the various versions of myself thus far. That younger me who was brave enough to make the big move to the city. Child me who opened her heart to curiosity and found hobbies that I still indulge in today. Teenage me who was scared often and instead of pushing myself into discomfort I cared for myself with a confident “no” to things I preferred not to be a part of. That version of me just a few years ago who found little morsels of joy even in the midst of what felt like the biggest storm.

I smile and look at her (those younger versions of me) with my mind’s eye. I hug her, I dance with her, I tell her I am proud of her, I forgive her for the things she was pitting against herself, I let her in on secrets about her future that she can only imagine.

I also have been indulging in the practice of praying to future versions of myself. The version of myself next year who will be fresh off of surviving a global pandemic. The version of myself who is 40 and will be benefiting from the choices I’m making now. The version of myself who is 50 and taking stock of how I’ve been existing in this world. The version of myself who is 70 who may be celebrating deeply in the friendships I am investing in now.

I pray to those versions of me. I ask her to be gentle with me, I coax her for hints on what’s to come, I list for her all the ways I am caring for her, right now—with that expensive face cream, through weekly therapy, by taking a few risks in business. I make promises to her, I speak my desires for her. I get energized and inspired knowing that she—that sage and grounded version of me—is waiting to meet me finally.

Take some time to reflect on all versions of yourself. This is a deeply intimate and revealing practice that can offer healing, insight, and hope.

Your prompt for the day: Write a letter to your younger self. Thank them, praise them, scold them, comfort them—engage in whatever way you feel led with one or many versions of your younger self. Whatever comes to mind.

Now, let’s shift to exploring your older self. What would you want to say? To ask? To request? Tell your older self what you are doing now in service of them. Tell them what the ideal situation might look like when you finally meet—where might you be living, what type of work might you be doing, who you might be spending time and space with.

Quick afterword from Tim: Here’s one more related prompt that I regularly use myself: “Imagine that you’re suddenly the older version of you — 5, 10, or 15 years in the future. If you sat down over wine or coffee with the current, younger you, what advice or observations might you offer?”

Related and Recommended

The Tim Ferriss Show is one of the most popular podcasts in the world with more than one billion downloads. It has been selected for "Best of Apple Podcasts" three times, it is often the #1 interview podcast across all of Apple Podcasts, and it's been ranked #1 out of 400,000+ podcasts on many occasions. To listen to any of the past episodes for free, check out this page .

Communicating between your past, present, and future selves

Today we have a guest blog post from Hal Hershfield, Professor of Marketing and Behavioural Science at UCLA Anderson School of Management.

Published Jun 7th, 2023

Years ago, when I was in junior high, I started keeping a journal. Although I thought I was documenting my incredibly rich inner emotional life, in hindsight, most of what I wrote seems kind of…trivial. (I focused a lot on who would go with me to various dances and whether I would ultimately make the varsity tennis team once I got to high school). And yet, silly as these issues seem now, I can still vividly recall how much I enjoyed the process of documenting things. I didn’t know it then, but I suspect that those positive feelings partly came from a sense that I was communicating with my older self; I remember that I would occasionally start my entries with “Dear me,” knowing on some level that I would eventually re-read some of what I wrote.

But what, if anything, is the benefit of having these sorts of conversations between our younger and older selves? Recent research suggests that there are two intriguing ways in which such letter-writing exercises may boost our well-being.

First, writing a letter to – or even from – your future self can help us feel better about our lives by turning the dial down on stressful events. Consider a clever research study led by Yuta Chishima. In the early, acutely stressful days of COVID (think: mid-April, 2020), he and his collaborators recruited hundreds of research participants and divided them into three groups. One group was asked to write a letter to their future selves in one year’s time, one group was asked to write a letter from their future selves in one year’s time, and a final, control group was simply asked to write about their current, daily life.

Compared to people in the control group, the people who wrote the future self letters experienced an immediate drop in negative emotions as well as a bump in positive ones. And that was the case regardless of whether people wrote a letter to or from their future selves. But why might writing letters help in this way? Psychologists point to a process known as “temporal distancing.”

Here’s the gist: when we face stressful events in our lives, it can be helpful to try to put things into context. What temporal distancing allows us to do is to step outside of the present moment and see how whatever is happening right now – whatever is stressing us out – will probably not be permanent. People who wrote letters to or from their future selves, for instance, were likely to focus on how their negative feelings about COVID would most likely not last forever. As the researchers put it, stepping outside of the present allowed people to see the bigger picture, recognizing that “this too shall pass.”

The other positive associated with this sort of letter writing is that it creates an opportunity to revisit our past lives. We’re not that great, however, at recognizing just how pleasurable this process of re-discovery might be. In a research project led by Ting Zhang, for instance, college students were asked at the beginning of the summer to document some relatively mundane aspects of their lives: things like a list of the last social event they attended, a recent conversation, an inside joke, a recent photo, and so on. They then predicted how much enjoyment, surprise, and curiosity they’d feel upon returning to this “time capsule” at the end of the summer. Across the board, students underestimated how interesting and meaningful the process of rediscovery would be.

Note that we’re quite good at anticipating how interesting it will be to revisit extraordinary experiences (say, what you did for Valentine’s Day last year). Our predictions fall short, however, when it comes to life’s ordinary experiences. The problem here is that we mistakenly believe we’ll be able to remember everyday events. Almost by definition, mundane events are the ones that are forgotten, but they’re also the ones that make up the lion’s share of our experiences: most of our time is spent doing the ordinary rather than the extraordinary. And, being able to revisit those everyday experiences can allow us to relive the moments and experiences that make us who we are. As Zhang and her colleagues eloquently put it, “By recording ordinary moments today, one can make the present “a present” for the future.”

So, here are two practical suggestions we can take from these research findings: When writing letters to (or from) your future self, take the opportunity to step outside of the here and now and try to recognize that whatever is happening in the moment is, well, happening in the moment . But don’t just write letters to or from your future self, but make the effort to revisit them at a later point in time. That way, you can fully reap the benefits of communicating between your past, present, and future selves.

To learn more about your future self and the power of making tomorrow better, today, consider reading Professor Hal’s new book ‘Your Future Self’. You can find it at:

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Kim Ladd Coaching

Nov 24, 2023

What is Self-Reflection? How to Reflect on Your Past, Present, and Future

Updated: Apr 20

Table of contents

What is Self-Reflection?

Reflecting on your Past, Present, and Future. Why is it Important?

How to Practice

How well do you know yourself?

In the hustle and bustle of life, we’ve got a handle on the people around us, from our kids to our partners and even our furry friends. We’ve become experts at predicting their next move and knowing their preferences.

But what about you? What makes you, well, you?

What fuels your actions and decisions? Exploring self-reflection might not be the easiest path, especially when it’s simpler to stick with the familiar, whether it’s bringing joy or not. Yet, when life feels a bit overwhelming, embracing reflection is your guide to understanding yourself better. Taking that leap into self-reflection comes with instant benefits. Start by asking yourself some key questions like, “Why did that situation unfold the way it did?” Or “What drives my actions and emotions?”

If you are ready to spend some quality time getting to know the wonderful person you are then read on to find out simple ways you can start engaging in self-reflection today.

Self-reflection is like a friendly compass that guides you through the twists and turns of life. Taking a moment to pause and look inward allows you to create a space for understanding and growth. You can build a stronger relationship with yourself when you explore your behaviours, thoughts, attitudes, desires, and motivations. Helping you to revisit experiences, unwrap lessons, and rediscover forgotten dreams.

It’s almost like flipping through the pages of your own story.

When you reflect you can ask important questions, uncovering who you are and what matters to you. It’s a way to discover why you are the way you are and how you have evolved as a person. It can help you navigate your journey in life with more clarity by not just reflecting on WHAT happened but WHY it happened.

Self-reflection is like a good therapy session with yourself.

Reflecting on Your Past, Present, and Future. Why is it Important?

You spend more time with yourself than anyone else in the world. Embracing self-reflection enables you to build a strong connection and friendship with the most important person in your life - you. This practice becomes a cornerstone of personal development for several reasons:

Without reflection, you might find yourself grappling with the same issues and experiencing predictable outcomes. This may lead you to remain in jobs that you hate and relationships that fail to bring joy.

A significant portion of your current thoughts, emotions, and behaviours is deeply rooted in your past experiences. These experiences shape the lens through which you perceive the world, influencing the way you respond to situations and interact with others. By acknowledging and understanding the impact of your past, you gain insight into the patterns that govern your present actions.

Reflecting on your past is a crucial step in making informed decisions about your future. By understanding your journey and recognizing the patterns and choices that led you to where you are today, you gain valuable insights. This self-awareness empowers you to break free from repeating past mistakes or engaging in unhealthy patterns.

When you neglect self-reflection, there’s a tendency to sweep problems under the rug, avoiding the discomfort they may bring. This avoidance often leads to issues lingering in the background. Engaging in regular self-reflection allows you to confront challenges head-on. It’s a proactive approach that helps you address issues constructively and prevent them from accumulating into larger, more complex problems.

Engaging in self-reflection is like holding the reins of your own life. It empowers you to navigate through your behaviours, thoughts and experiences with a heightened sense of awareness and intention. By understanding the motivations behind your actions and the patterns in your thoughts, you gain greater control over your responses to various situations.

Reflecting on oneself can be a challenging process; acknowledging that our responses to situations might not have been ideal can be uncomfortable. The key is to approach self-analysis without judgment. By adopting a compassionate stance towards ourselves, we open the door to growth and foster a mindset that encourages improvement rather than dwelling on perceived shortcomings.

Past, Present, and Future Reflections

In order to grow and develop in the future, you need to reflect on where you’ve come from.

Reflecting on the PAST helps you apply meaning to the experiences you’ve had. It lets you see how far you have come in life and helps you recognize lessons learned from challenging experiences.

Reflecting on the PRESENT helps create awareness and understanding of your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. It helps you understand the ways in which you respond to your experiences. It helps you find ways to deal with them positively so they don’t consume you and helps you identify areas of improvement.

Reflecting on the FUTURE enables you to assess if your current thoughts and behaviours align with the future you desire. It helps you define your goals, ensuring they align with your values and aspirations. Helps you gain a deeper understanding of who you are and what you want out of life. Helps you see where your current actions will take you.

Embarking on the journey of self-reflection sets you on a path of self-discovery, offering learning, understanding, growth and progress toward becoming the best version of yourself. You create a foundation for continuous learning, paving the way for a more fulfilling and purpose-driven life. Let’s explore some benefits:

Improved decision-making : by examining past experiences and considering different perspectives, you enhance your ability to make informed and thoughtful decisions.

Enhanced emotional intelligence : regular self-reflection helps you recognize and manage your emotions, contributing to healthier relationships.

Personal growth : understanding your strengths and areas for improvement enables you to evolve and reach your full potential.

Stress reduction : identifying stress triggers provides valuable insights and empowers you to manage stress more effectively.

Goal alignment : regular reflection helps align your actions with your goals, ensuring your daily activities contribute to those aspirations.

Greater resilience : self-reflection helps you bounce back from setbacks and approach challenges with a positive mindset.

Improved communication : self-reflection enhances communication skills by promoting clarity in expressing thoughts and emotions, leading to more meaningful interactions.

Exploring self-reflection is a highly personal journey , and it’s crucial to discover practices that resonate with your comfort and preferences. Let’s delve into a few approaches:

Journaling : regularly writing your thoughts, feelings and experiences is helpful. It is extremely beneficial to revisit your entries often and add to them.

Goal review : periodically assess your goals, both short-term and long-term and consider whether your current actions align with your aspirations.

If you aren’t sure of what to reflect on, think back to big life events, happy and traumatic. If it is something that bothers you then it is worth reflecting on.

Visualization : Imagine your ideal future and reflect on the steps needed to achieve it.

Daily check-ins : set aside time each day to reflect on your accomplishments, challenges and emotional well-being.

Write a letter to yourself : write a letter to your past, present or future self, offering insights, encouragement, or reflections on growth and change.

Questioning techniques : ask yourself reflective questions, such as “What did I learn today?” Or “How can I improve in this area?” to prompt introspection and insight.

Journaling prompts are incredibly useful when you can’t think of what to write, here are some examples of past, present, and future reflection prompts:

Past - So far this year, what changes have you experienced?

Present - What changes are you currently going through?

Future - What changes are you looking forward to next year?

Past - Reflect on what you have learned about yourself from past relationships.

Present - How has that influenced your current relationships?

Future - What boundaries would you like to establish in future relationships?

Past - What has been the biggest fear you have overcome?

Present - What is a fear you have currently and what steps are you taking to overcome it?

Future - What are some fears you have now that you don’t want to take into the new year?

Past - What are some things you used to do that you would like to do again?

Present - What are some things you currently enjoy but don’t do enough of?

Future - What are some things you want to make sure you do in the future?

Past - Looking back at last year, what parts of daily life caused you stress?

Present - What currently causes you stress on a daily basis?

Future - What do you want to work on now so that it doesn’t cause you stress in the future?

Engaging in self-reflection should not be a source of added stress or contribute to a diminished self-opinion. Instead, it serves as a constructive tool for understanding yourself better and promoting personal growth. It’s about self-compassion and fostering a positive relationship with your own thoughts and experiences.

Gentle Reminders

Reflecting on the past helps you to understand that your current actions, thoughts and behaviours are often shaped by past experiences.

Reflecting on the present helps you recognize behavioural patterns, acknowledge strengths and weaknesses, and make better-informed decisions.

Reflecting on the future helps you assess if your current thoughts and behaviours are directing you towards the future you desire.

If you are interested in self-reflection and like the idea of prompts, you can check out my " Self-Care Coloring Book: Understand Yourself and Explore Your Thoughts using Self-Reflection Prompts ”. This adult coloring book combines the mindfulness of coloring with self-reflection journaling. When practicing mindfulness it can be difficult to keep your mind from wandering, reading a prompt before you color gives your mind something constructive to wander to.

Also, you can visit my Etsy shop to get my digital download of “ 117 Journaling Prompts to Reflect on Your Past, Present, and Future ”.

I wish you well on your journey of self-reflection, I hope you revisit wonderful experiences, unwrap important lessons and rediscover forgotten dreams.

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Home / Essay Samples / Social Issues / Moving to America / My Past, My Future, And My Present Life Story

My Past, My Future, And My Present Life Story

Category: Life , Social Issues
Topic: Father , Immigration in America , Moving to America

Pages: 2 (1135 words)

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My Past, My Future, And My Present Life Story

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