Dear Future Most Developed Self,
You made it.
This time you dreamed about, this moment you prayed for, this feeling you longed to capture—it’s here. It’s now.
It wasn’t always a given. You had doubts. You failed a lot.
But along the way you did learn the most valuable lesson I could have ever taught you: that the meditation was the manifestation. That the practice was the thing.
***
I asked myself, if given the chance to talk to myself 20 years from now, what would I want to share? What do I want to see and know? How do I want to feel? What is the symbol of the joy and grace I want to experience?
As I meditated on these questions, a personal mythology awoke within my eyes, Brandi Carlisle. The song, Crowded Table, resonated inside my ears. Kids, grandkids, a long rectangular table filled with food, noise, and laughter. “A place by the fire for everyone.” A feeling of fulfillment, an acknowledgment of privilege, abundance, wealth, vitality, grace, and gratitude. “The greatest band together when the day is done.”
***
We are here because you committed the divine intention you set: to bow at the temple within, to serve your brothers and sisters, and to experience union with God.
It worked: the tuning, the alignment, feeling it to finding it, the vibration. You were wise to listen to your teachers, to practice what they had to preach: Abraham’s frequency, Dispenza’s space, Das’s center.
To go to sleep to wake up. To close your eyes to see. To listen in the silence and hear a world of sound. To use your body to heal your body. To listen to the voice within. The one that’s always been there. I’m proud of you for recognizing it was me, which is you, because you and I, Atman and Brahman, Self and Source, are one. I’m glad you didn’t give up.
And I’m happy you said you were sorry. If you could’ve said it as much as you felt it, this all would have gone faster, but that wasn’t the way. It had to be exactly what it was. And you get it, you knew all along that you weren’t going to come out of this unscathed, but you persevered. You survived. And on most days, you tried to do better than the one before.
Some day they’ll probably say that we loved to learn. That we were always swimming, running to stand still, growing, losing, loving, learning, renewing, evolving.
You’re not done. There’s more in this life left to live. Share what you have learned.
***
To create the script to your own personal Future Most Developed Self (FMDS), try to imagine, visualize, or envision a picture of yourself in the future (you get to decide how long) in your most perfect state. This is the version of yourself living your heartfelt mission with passion, purpose, and meaning. Take a mental snapshot of you in this state. Activate all your senses to bring this future most developed self into your life in the present.
Ring the bell. Set a timer. Prepare to practice.
Now, take out your pen and paper, place your fingers on a keyboard, speak into your voice recorder, or belt it into a mic, and follow your bliss to describe the following:
- Step inside your future most developed self. How does it feel to be in this body?
- Describe your facial expression, your posture and body language, your hairstyle, physical appearance, clothing, footwear, makeup, jewelry, etc.
- How does your FMDS sound when speaking?
- How does your FMDS feel? Where in your body are these feelings experienced?
- What do you notice about the way your future most developed self interacts with others?
- What does your future most developed self believe about that identified self?
- If your future most developed self was asked what has led you to become the person that you currently are, what would your FMDS say? What did you learn from your future most developed self?
- What do you want to say to your FMDS? What do you want your FMDS to say to you?
When you have all these sections completed, put them together and write them out in paragraph or narrative form. Then, record yourself reading your own Future Most Developed Self (FMDS) meditation and practice, practice, practice, and all will come.
It sounds awfully Darwinian, but there’s some wisdom in the notion that it’s not the strongest or most intelligent person that survives, but rather, the one most adaptable to change.
And you can only really change what you dutifully measure. We write, we speak, we pray, we bow to the earth, and give thanks to God for this love and this life. Your way must be your own.
Maybe it’s gentle reflections on—
- Daily Affirmations
- Today I’m Feeling…
- Best Thing About Today/Today I’m Grateful For…
- Biggest Challenge of the Day
- Biggest Achievement Today/Something I’m Proud Of…
- Goal/Intention for Tomorrow
- Something Learned Today
- Mood of the Day
Whatever it is, though, whatever your path, we invite you to reflect daily, to find gratitude, and to measure and bear witness to your evolution. Then you will know how powerful you are.
You will know because you will feel it. And when you do, spread it and share it. The best of you is all inside. Now’s the time to let it out.
By Ryan Allen & Meghan Nelson
