Module 6: Living the Change
Session: Do
Your Best Possible Self
Maybe you’re feeling vulnerable and down on yourself. Maybe you’re feeling satisfied and good about yourself. Either way, this exercise has scientifically been shown to improve your mood and make you more optimistic.
Studies have found that thinking about “Your Best Possible Self” has positive effects on mood and expectations, while decreasing despondency, and that these effects can last for about a week. Sure, the benefits are temporary, but you can do this exercise again any time. Even weekly.
What to do: Follow these instructions to imagine your best possible self, and write about it in your change journal.
- Choose a time in the future – it could be a few months or a few years.
- Imagine that time in the future, and imagine that everything has gone right and everything you wanted has happened. Don’t imagine a fantasy (you probably won’t be an astronaut); instead, think about realistic hopes.
- Now, for 10 minutes, write a description of that future self, and about what it’s like. What would you be doing? How would you feel? Where would you be? Who would you be with?
You may want to write about all or some of these things; or, just focus on one of them (or choose one to do each week):
Relationships and romance
Family life and friends
Career and work
Health (physical and mental)
Hobbies and interests
The change you’ve been making (or other changes you want to make)
