Dear Future Me, I Already Forgive You

Offer Future You Compassion, Grace, and Understanding through Emotional Acceptance & Exploration

Activity type: writing Time: 10 minutes Materials: pen/pencil and 2 sheets of paper

On a sheet of paper, write down a list of 3-7 emotions that you struggle with the most. These can either be the emotions that you most often experience or the ones that even though they don't crop up often, when they do, you really struggle to manage them. Once you've completed your list, circle the one that sticks out to you as the most troublesome... the one where, if you were magically able to handle this emotion better instantly, it would have the greatest effect on your overall well-being.

Take the second sheet of paper and write a letter to your future self who is going to be experiencing that emotion. Do this while you are in a calm and positive mental/emotional state. Do not provide ANY advice whatsoever in your letter. Don't tell future you what they should/should not do. Instead, write from a place of compassion and understanding. Validate future you's experience with this emotion and instead of offering them advice, offer them grace. Pre-forgive future you for not handling this emotion perfectly and for still struggling with this emotion. Forgive them, love them, and simply understand them. How did it feel to offer only understanding and no advice on how to be/do better? Take note of any resistance that came up for you. If you especially struggled with this, allow yourself to explore why at a later date. Remember, there's no right/wrong way to learn more about yourself. Everything you feel is trying to convey a message. It's not your job to judge it as either good or bad, but merely to understand it... to translate it and, eventually, respond to it.