Why Writing to My Future Self Became My Best Tool for Navigating Change
Changing my career was one of the biggest, scariest, and most rewarding decisions I’ve ever made. If you’re here because you’re thinking about changing your career, you might be feeling stuck in the messy middle, that uncertain space where you’ve stepped away from what you don’t want anymore, but haven’t yet landed on what’s next.
That in-between phase can feel both exciting and overwhelming. Over the years I’ve tried journaling, meditation, and visualisation, and while all of them helped, there’s one practice that truly transformed how I navigated career transitions: writing letters to my future self.
Why Changing My Career Needed More Than a To-Do List
When you’re making a big life change, a polished vision board or step-by-step plan often isn’t enough. A career transition is rarely linear it comes with doubts, false starts, and moments of wondering if you’ve made the right choice.
That’s where rituals and checkpoints become essential. Small but meaningful practices keep you connected to why you chose this path in the first place. For me, that practice is FutureMe.org a simple site that lets you write letters to yourself and schedule them to arrive months or years later.
How Writing to My Future Self Helped Me Change Careers
For the past few years, I’ve written two letters to myself every year. One on January 1st and one on my birthday in July. Each letter arrives exactly a year later, landing in my inbox as a time capsule:
- A reminder of what I was dreaming of
- Encouragement to keep going
- A reality check on how far I’d come
The year I skipped by mistake, I was gutted when no letter arrived. That moment taught me how much this ritual mattered not just as a curiosity, but as an anchor.
Here’s what makes this practice so powerful when you’re changing careers:
- Perspective → It shows you how much progress you’ve made, even when you feel stuck.
- Motivation → Reading your own words of encouragement can be more powerful than outside advice.
- Accountability → It reminds you of the promises you made to yourself during a moment of clarity.
A Real-Life Example From My Career Change
When I left Australia full-time and emigrated (again!) to France, I wrote a Future Me letter about the experience:
“Renovating the barn has been harder than you ever anticipated… Showering outside and living in a real-life workshop and building site while keeping mentally positive is just about achievable in the summer, but certainly challenging in the winter… BUT your time is your own and you’re building something beautiful. Remember it will be worth it. I hope that by this time next year you’re…”
That letter wasn’t just about the practicalities it was about resilience, courage, and reminding myself why I chose this unconventional path.
Why You Should Try Writing to Your Future Self
If you’re considering changing your career, try this exercise:
- Go to FutureMe.org
- Write a letter to yourself six or twelve months from now
- Be honest about your hopes, fears, and intentions
- Revisit it when it arrives, you might be surprised at how far you’ve come
Final Thoughts on Changing My Career
Changing my career has taught me that the journey isn’t just about finding the right job it’s about designing a life that feels aligned with who you are. Tools like journaling, meditation, and vision boards help, but for me, writing letters to my future self has been the most consistent gift I’ve given myself.
If you’re standing at your own crossroads, wondering whether to take the leap, remember this: you don’t need all the answers right now. You just need to stay connected to your ‘why’ and take one step at a time.
If you’re sitting with that restless feeling and know it might be time to change your career, you don’t have to navigate it alone. I help professionals untangle the uncertainty, get clear on what they truly want, and map out a path forward that actually feels good. If that sounds like the kind of support you need, I’d love to chat, you can book a call with me here.
