Good things can happen when you put your ideas out there. The best thing is when your ideas help someone. But it’s also fantastic when someone takes your ideas to a place even better than the one you imagined.

Last summer, I had the privilege of being a Wisdomcast guest at Jennifer Louden’s Comfort Café. The topic was Completion. And one notion I brought up in the course of our conversation was this:

When you procrastinate you make a deal with your Future Self. So you need be sure your Future Self is okay with revisiting the work you’ve left for her to complete.

What I didn’t know at the time was the brilliant Lisa Baldwin was listening. And getting inspired. Here’s what happened…

A couple of days ago, I listened to the most magnificent Cairene talk about completion.

Cairene said that when you leave things undone, you’re making a deal with your Future Self and that you need to check that she (or he) is going to be cool with that.

Thinking ahead has never been my strong point, so I’ve been having all kinds of fun with this idea.

I have a to-do list system, wherein I keep one big list that I think of as a collection of possibilities. If there are things in there that need my attention really soon, I highlight them so they don’t get lost and forgotten.

Since hearing Cairene’s take on making deals with my Future Self, I’ve made a subtle change that has been super-helpful. Each day, I’ve made a short list on a big yellow post-it. I call it: Special Requests From My Future Self.

These are the things that my Future Self would really appreciate, either because not doing them will create icky consequences for me, or because doing them will be a delicious act of self care.

Creating this list from my Future Self’s perspective sets up a wonderful filtering system.

Her lists are short and I can trust that each thing matters because my Future Self has requested it. I’ve found that she’s much better at knowing what’s important than I am.

The lists she creates feel loving, gentle and intuitive. Yesterday, my Future Self surprised me by requesting that I go buy some art supplies. I spent part of yesterday afternoon sitting out in the sun drawing what I saw. It was glorious.

She also asked me to finish getting the sales page ready for my course so that she’ll have enough monies and not be stressed out.

And could I please respond to the interview questions I’ve been sent because she’s looking forward to seeing it posted and it will make her feel icky if she keeps seeing the email in her inbox. She knows why I’ve put it off, but she can see beyond that and the things I’m tripping up on now don’t really matter to her. Bless her.

She’s smart. I like her a lot.

I can check in with her whenever I need to, and I find that I really do want to take care of her and do things that will make her happy.

Thanks, Future Self!

Whoa. Until Lisa shared her interpretation, I had always thought of the deal with one’s Future Self as being like buying on credit: short-term gratification now, pay later. But I’m so glad she described it the way she did because it made me realize my internal dialogue isn’t so much about denying myself what feels good. It’s a much more compassionate conversation. For example…

Me: I’m tired. I don’t really want to do the dishes tonight.
Future Self: Yes, but I’d really love to wake up to a clean kitchen. Wouldn’t that be a great way to start our day tomorrow?

or, alternatively…

Me: I’m tired. I don’t really want to do the dishes tonight.
Future Self: Honey, I know. You need to rest now. I’ll handle it in the morning.

See? No guilt, no shame, no blame – just thinking through what will be best for both of us in the somewhat longer run. Win-win.

We’re still in the midst of all that planning energy of the new year. As you scheme your schemes and dream your dreams for 2010, have you given your Future Self a say in how they come about?

What does your Future Self of tomorrow, next week, next month or next year want from you today? How can you bring her – as Lisa put it so beautifully – loving, gentle and intuitive wisdom into your vision of the future?

• • • • •

You can find Lisa at Zen At Play – which is about time, space and being awake. Mostly. Also, she’s @zenatplay on Twitter and you want to follow her because she’s that much fun.

Related posts:

1. Making Do
2. Making Every Click Count
3. On Losing Power & Making Space for Good New Things