PDF Summary:Be Your Future Self Now, by Benjamin Hardy

In Be Your Future Self Now, Benjamin Hardy argues that true success requires living up to your full potential—that is, becoming the highest version of yourself. Anything short of this is a form of failure. However, becoming the person you want to be is one of life’s most difficult challenges. Hardy explains that it requires knowing exactly who your higher self is, identifying the big, life-changing goals that will get you there, and dedicating yourself to those goals above everything else.

In this guide, we’ll present Hardy’s argument for why you should commit to becoming your higher self now. Then, we’ll explain how to identify your higher self and Hardy’s recommendations for adopting the mindset and dedication needed to become this person. We’ll supplement Hardy’s ideas with those of other success experts including Daniel Walter (The Power of Discipline), Gary Keller (The One Thing), and Darren Hardy (The Compound Effect).

(continued)...

Create morning and evening routines. This will help you wake up refreshed and make it easier to resist temptations like sleeping in, eating poorly, or staying up late—behaviors that will impede progress toward your goals.

Control your impulses. When you feel like giving up, push yourself 40% harder. And when you feel like giving in to instant gratification, resist the urge for 10 minutes to overcome it. Developing these habits will help you work more productively.

Create positive associations. People often want to avoid doing hard work that moves them toward their goals because it's not enjoyable. However, you can counter this urge by incorporating enjoyable aspects into your work routine so it becomes something you like. For example, make yourself a cup of tea before starting work, take a break midway through to have your favorite snack, and reward yourself afterward by making a nice dinner.

Principle #1: Disregard Non-Crucial Activities

The first way to prioritize your higher self is to disregard non-crucial activities that don’t help you become your higher self. For example, painting your home won’t help you progress toward a higher self who’s a renowned graphic designer and will only detract from the time needed for your 12-month goals.

(Shortform note: In Someday Is Today, Matthew Dicks recommends identifying which activities are crucial and non-crucial by considering how important they’d be to you in 100 years—if your 100-year-old (higher) self would want you to do it, then it’s probably important; if it wouldn’t matter to them, then it’s probably not. For example, it probably won’t matter to your 100-year-old self whether you painted your house, so this is a non-crucial activity you can disregard. However, if you plan on painting the house as a family activity, your 100-year-old self would probably encourage you to do it—your family won’t be around forever, so you should take advantage of family time while you have it.)

Principle #2: Schedule 12-Month Goals Before Other Urgent and Important Tasks

Next, Hardy recommends scheduling time each day to work toward your goals. Although your higher self is your top priority, you’ll likely have other urgent and important tasks to complete each day, such as doing your job. To balance your higher self and your present life effectively, schedule time each day to work toward your 12-month goals before you complete any other urgent and important tasks.

For example, your higher self might be a graphic designer, but your present self still needs to carry out their sales job to make money. So, schedule an hour each morning to work on your graphic design portfolio before work to ensure that you’re progressing toward becoming your higher self every day despite other responsibilities.

(Shortform note: In The One Thing, Keller reiterates the importance of scheduling time to work toward your goals on a daily basis, and he agrees that you should get this work done as early in the day as possible—preferably before other urgent and important tasks like your job. Keller adds to Hardy’s advice by recommending that you dedicate at least four hours a day to work on your goals. This will ensure you make significant progress.)

Principle #3: Replace Instant Gratification With Beneficial Habits

Finally, replace bad habits that provide instant gratification with good habits that will move you toward your goals. For example, rather than engaging in instant gratification by playing video games, make it a habit to open your Goodreads app to check out different book cover designs. Swapping this for video games will give you insight into trends around book cover design, which will help you excel in your graphic design career later.

Make New Habits Stick

While Hardy recommends replacing bad habits with good ones, this can be difficult because habits are so automatic that you might not notice them. In The Success Principles, Jack Canfield adds a few recommendations that will make it easier to develop and stick to good habits:

• Once you’ve identified your bad habits and the good habits to replace them with (as Hardy recommends), make a plan to implement the good habits. For example, make sure you have everything you need before starting work to avoid your bad habit of leaving your office to retrieve something and getting distracted.

• To stay committed to your good habits, write them down on sticky notes and place them around your house as visual reminders.

• Hold yourself accountable for practicing good habits by working with a friend. Tell each other your bad habits and how you’re trying to replace them, then share your progress at least once a week.

Recommendation #3: Seek Out Beneficial Environments

Next, Hardy recommends putting yourself in environments that will help you become your higher self. This is because we’re products of our environments—the situations we put ourselves in and the people we surround ourselves with impact who we are and what we achieve.

As a result, Hardy says you should step out of your comfort zone and associate with people who are better than you are so you learn to overcome challenges and acquire the skills and habits necessary to progress toward becoming your higher self. The following sections will explain why these two recommendations are important and how to follow them.

(Shortform note: In The Compound Effect, Darren Hardy reiterates that we’re products of our environments—the people and situations we surround ourselves with shape how we think, feel, and act. He adds that the content we consume also has a major impact on us, including the news we watch, books and magazines we read, music we listen to, and so on. So in addition to spending time with people who are better than you and pushing yourself outside your comfort zone, ensure that you’re consuming content that’s educational and inspirational rather than negative and unenlightening. For example, watch BBC News rather than E! News.)

Principle #1: Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

Hardy recommends stepping out of your comfort zone by doing things that your higher self would succeed at but your present self might not. This is crucial because, although you might fail, people make the most progress by learning from their failures. Failure forces you to confront your insufficiencies and identify how you can become stronger in those areas.

For example, imagine that your higher self is a professional graphic designer who designs images for major companies; however, your present self is regularly designing logos only for small, local businesses. Continuing to design logos for these small businesses won’t help you become your higher self because you’re simply practicing something you're already good at—designing the types of logos that small, local businesses like. But applying to design graphics for larger businesses, even though you’re likely to be turned down at first, will teach you what they’re looking for and what you need to improve on.

(Shortform note: Experts agree that stepping outside your comfort zone is crucial for personal growth and success; however, it's difficult to reap the benefits if you’re too intimidated. A few steps can make the process less daunting and more useful. For example, rather than comparing yourself to others, which can make you feel vulnerable, focus on your personal growth. Also, remind yourself that other people are outside of their comfort zone as well—you’re not the only one exposing your weaknesses.)

Principle #2: Surround Yourself With People Who Are Better Than You

To surround yourself with people who are better than you, as Hardy recommends, look for people like your higher self; they’ll have achieved goals similar to yours, or at least be closer to achieving them than you are. Their habits and behaviors will compel you to emulate them and be more like your higher self. Further, they can give you advice and strategies to overcome obstacles you might face because they’ve already overcome similar obstacles.

(Shortform note: In The Compound Effect, Darren Hardy argues that the first step in surrounding yourself with better people is to sort your current associations into three categories. The first is dissociations—people who exhibit the behaviors you’re actively avoiding. Cut ties with them immediately. The next category is limited associations—people who possess some negative traits, but won’t immediately impact your behavior. It’s OK to spend some time with them, but limit your contact. The final category is expanded associations—people whom you aspire to emulate. Go out of your way to spend more time with them.)

Recommendation #4: Have an Empowering View of Life and Fate

Finally, Hardy argues that many people fail to become their higher selves because they have a disempowering view of life and fate. Specifically, they believe they lack autonomy over who they are and who they can become because of three factors:

• Their past
• Their current circumstances
• An inability to control their fate

(Shortform note: Hardy argues that having a negative view of life and fate will prevent you from achieving success in life. Similarly, Rhonda Byrne argues in The Secret that your mindset directly impacts your reality and what you’re able to accomplish. This is because, according to The Law of Attraction, your thoughts have a certain energy frequency that attracts similar energy frequencies. A negative mindset attracts negativity back to you while a positive mindset attracts positivity. So if you truly believe that you can and will accomplish your desires (hallmarks of a positive mindset), the universe will make this your reality.)

Let’s explore the roots of these three disempowering beliefs and the empowering beliefs to adopt instead.

Principle #1: Don’t Let Your Past Dictate Your Future

Hardy explains that many people falsely believe their traumas and past shape who they are and what their future holds. For example, if you got poor grades in art class as a child, you may believe that you lack the potential to become a graphic designer. However, Hardy argues that regardless of what happens in your life, you always have the power to choose what happens next.

If you look at negative past experiences and believe they’ve limited your future, this will become your reality. However, if you tell yourself that your negative past experiences have helped you grow—for example, by teaching you an important lesson, reminding you what’s important in life, or redirecting you down a better path—this will become your reality. Adopting this perspective will empower you to overcome your doubts and keep striving for your goals.

So rather than letting your past control you, control your past by reframing the meaning and impact it has on your present life. Use it to propel you forward rather than hold you back.

The Impacts of Trauma on the Mind and Body

While Hardy argues that allowing past trauma to control your future is a choice, and one you can take control of by reframing your narrative, some medical experts suggest that things aren’t so clear-cut. Traumatic events affect more than just your mindset—they can permanently alter your body and brain.

People who suffer from PTSD experience shrinkage of the hippocampus (which decreases emotional control and memory), increased amygdala function (making you more likely to develop anxiety), and decreased prefrontal/anterior cingulate function (like planning and self-development). Further, the emotional and physical reactions to trauma can make you more prone to serious health conditions such as diabetes, heart attack, stroke, cancer, and more.

In The Body Keeps the Score, Bessel van der Kolk elaborates that there are three primary treatment strategies to overcome the effects of trauma. Hardy’s recommendation to reframe the meaning of your trauma and the impact it has on your current life exemplifies one of the treatment strategies van der Kolk details: a top-down trauma treatment called autobiographical self-awareness.

However, van der Kolk warns that for this strategy to be effective, you must also practice moment-to-moment self-awareness—confronting the deep and often painful physical sensations (like bodily tension, fear, or anxiety) that your trauma causes. Reframing your narrative without also engaging in moment-to-moment self-awareness may cause you to suppress the negative effects of your trauma rather than confront and overcome them, worsening the impacts of trauma in the long run.

Principle #2: Take Ownership of Your Circumstances and Ability to Change

While some people fixate on their past, others believe that their present circumstances are beyond their control and are limiting their ability to change. For example, if you don’t currently have the skills to be a professional graphic designer, you may feel like you’ll never be able to do so.

However, Hardy argues that, as with your past experiences, it’s your responsibility to determine how your current circumstances impact you and to acknowledge your potential and opportunities for growth despite them. To do so, find at least one way in which any given event can benefit you. For example, being turned down for a graphic design gig is a perfect way for you to identify which skills you need to improve on to become a better graphic designer. Further, if you don't like your present circumstances, identify actions you can take to change them.

(Shortform note: Hardy’s recommendation to interpret every event, good or bad, as an opportunity for growth is a core component of ancient Stoic philosophy. Experts recommend nine exercises based on Stoicism that can increase your ability to glean positives from seemingly negative situations and determine how to take action to alter your circumstances. For example, practice the dichotomy of control—differentiating between what you can change and what you can’t. This will help you take control of your situation to change it for the better when it's possible, and prevent you from dwelling on negative situations when there’s nothing you can do to change them.)

Hardy contends that adopting a growth mindset is crucial for taking ownership of your circumstances and ability to change. A growth mindset is the belief that you can improve your present state through hard work and determination. Hardy recommends adopting this mindset by identifying the differences between your past and present self and the anticipated differences between your present and higher self. This will help you recognize that, as your past self has learned and grown into your more knowledgeable present self, your present self can similarly learn and grow into your higher self.

Develop a Growth Mindset

Carol S. Dweck developed and popularized the concept of a growth mindset in her book Mindset. Her recommendations for how to develop a growth mindset are more detailed and may be more effective than Hardy’s because they focus on overcoming your fixed (negative) mindset first. A fixed mindset is the belief that your abilities are unchangeable, and it causes people to avoid challenges, get defensive, give up, see effort as pointless, reject feedback, and more. Without first overcoming your fixed mindset, Dweck says that you’ll struggle to develop a growth mindset. She recommends accomplishing both feats by doing the following:

• Accept that you have a fixed mindset so you can realize that your negative beliefs aren’t reflective of your true ability to change.

• Learn what triggers your fixed beliefs. For example, maybe your fixed mindset becomes active in situations where someone outperforms you. Understanding your triggers can help you resist your fixed beliefs.

• Name your fixed mindset persona to differentiate it from you. This way, when fixed beliefs try to take control of your mind, you can remind yourself that these thoughts don’t reflect reality and that this isn’t who you want to be.

• Talk down your fixed mindset persona. When your fixed beliefs arise, talk to the persona you developed in the previous step and explain why their beliefs aren’t rational. This will help you overcome your negative responses and adopt a more positive outlook.

Principle #3: Believe That You’re the Creator of Your Own Fate

Many people believe a higher power controls our fate; therefore, no matter what we do, our outcome will always be the same. Others believe that a higher power created us and that we’re inferior beings with no true purpose. Hardy explains that both of these perspectives take autonomy away from us and prevent us from reaching our full potential.

Instead, Hardy suggests we think of ourselves as children of a higher power—we’re just a less advanced version of our creator. As such, our purpose as humans is to learn and grow over time and across generations until we reach the level of this higher power. Hardy asserts that our purpose under this framework is to achieve fulfillment—to do what we most desire and become the highest version of ourselves. With this belief, we can feel empowered to take control of our lives and choose our fate.

Create Your Own God Concept

In Seeking Wisdom, Julia Cameron agrees that many people have a disempowering view of God or a higher power and that this reduces their ability to reach their full potential. However, rather than recommending that people take on a specific belief, as Hardy does, Cameron says that the most effective higher power to believe in is one that’s created by you, for you. Cameron calls this your “God concept.”

To create your God concept, Cameron recommends first envisioning what your ideal God looks like—for example, maybe it’s the face of your great-grandmother, or maybe it’s an amorphous blob. Choose an image of God that seems the most empowering and supportive to you.

Next, brainstorm the characteristics a caring, supportive, and benevolent God would have. For example, maybe this God loves to dance to disco music, has endless love and understanding, and is always listening.

Finally, envision your God as your best friend—someone who’s always there to listen to you, encourage you, and provide you with help and support when you need it.

Finally, Hardy says to adopt a firm belief that you will become your higher self—that this is your fate—and express gratitude for being this person. When you know that becoming your higher self is a definite outcome (your fate), your actions will match that perceived reality—you’ll be more confident and more likely to do what’s necessary to achieve your goals without fear of failure. Further, expressing gratitude for things you don’t yet have as if you already have them reinforces your belief in yourself.

(Shortform note: In The Secret, Rhonda Byrne agrees that expressing positive belief and gratitude are two of the best actions you can take to achieve your goals. This is because, in addition to altering your actions, expressing positive belief and gratitude also attracts positivity through The Law of Attraction. Byrne also adds to Hardy’s argument, explaining that avoiding negative feelings like ingratitude, lack, envy, resentment, and so on is just as important. If you express negative emotions alongside positive belief and gratitude, they’ll overpower your positive expression and attract negativity into your life.)