Note to future self

Selfcare Emergency Meter: Preparatory Measures
Time Commitment: 15-30 minutes

Unfolding and unfolding and unfolding, with colored pencils, March 2013

Life transitions are hard.  That seems to be the main theme popping up in my life lately.  Endings and beginnings...  I will complete my master's degree in two months, bringing my formal student career to an end.  Twenty of my (nearly) 25 years of life have been spent as a student.  This transition is a big deal.  It's filled with excitement and sadness, and everything in between.  Creation of a note to my future self is something I have done to respect these conflicting emotions and help integrate the experience for myself.

Procedure:  For my "note," I actually created a card.  Who doesn't like to receive hand-made cards??  I used watercolor paper because I did not have cardstock on hand, and I created a pleasing collage on the front.  I already had pictures that I pre-cut from a variety of magazines, and I chose a combination of pictures that seemed to represent my step into the unknown when I graduate.

*Keep in mind, this note is for you to open in the future.  More on this later.

On the inside of the card, I thought about what I will have accomplished once I graduate (think about goals you plan to achieve, where you hope to be in your life when you open your card in the future).  I inscribed a note with the underlying meaning of: "you've made it, now you're on to other things that will be great" and "the past has been important, but now you will have the opportunity to reach a higher potential."  The note should be encouraging, supportive, and honest.  Really.  Don't try to B.S. yourself. :)  I also tried to avoid concrete predictions like, "I know you have the best job ever now," because that may set you up for disappointment.  However, including your hopes (such as: "I hope you have a job you enjoy now")  might be helpful because obviously hopes are not guaranteed, but your future self might find the information interesting.  On a whole, the importance of this message is that you're rooting for your self in the pursuit of your goals--and that, in itself, is incredibly powerful.

Last, but not least, put your note in an envelope and seal it.  For mine, I wrote on the outside of the envelope "Open at the end of May."  Put a future date on your envelope that is appropriate for you, but I would recommend doing at least 2 months and at most 6 months.  Don't lose your note, and don't open it early!  Attach it to your wall calendar under the month you will be opening it, and you won't forget.

Why this is wonderful:  The act of making the note ends up being a pretty good self-esteem boost, or at least an interesting way to  give yourself perspective.  It can help to get out of the rut of over-thinking the future by directly confronting what is worrying you.  This can put you at ease in the present moment.  Aaand, as a BONUS you get to open it down the road, after you've forgotten what you wrote, and feel like a very special person.