Me, Myself, and My Future Self

The Past, Present, and Future Me: A Team Effort

I’ve talked before about the advertising team that runs through my head whenever I publish a new post. That team has long since evolved, but what about my daily team? The one I wake up with every morning and go to sleep with every night—the past-present-future team.

There are moments when I procrastinate, and the first thought that pops into my head is:
"Future Me will do it later."
Or even worse:
"This seems like something Future Me would enjoy doing," as if I’m teasing myself.
As if she is a completely separate person who will always agree to carry the burden I don’t want to deal with right now.

But sometimes, when I stand in front of a sink full of dishes right before bed, I hear different voices inside me.

Voices that say:
"We’re a team! Don’t worry, Future Me—I got you."

And then, I happily wash the dishes, knowing how much she’ll thank me in the morning when she wants coffee and the cup is clean and dry (yes, I only have one here in Manila).

Other times, I find myself thinking about Yesterday Me, feeling grateful that she stuck to her gym routine—or forgiving her if she was truly tired and skipped it.

With my past self, I’ve learned to be softer—to understand that what’s done is done and there’s no point in dwelling on it.

I realize now that we’re a team.
And like any good team, we have to cooperate to function well.

If I constantly push everything onto the next version of me, she’ll always be the one carrying the load. And that’s not fair.
She is me, and I am her—so why would I make my own life harder?

I’ve found that I feel at peace with myself when I take on some of the tasks now and allow myself to postpone others. Not everything has to be perfect all the time.

It’s far more important for me to live in harmony with myself than to check off every item on a to-do list.

I know what it’s like to be demanding and strict. I know what it’s like to constantly expect yourself to do the right thing. It’s exhausting. It’s draining. It creates a tense relationship with yourself—like you’re your own harshest supervisor.

I’m learning self-compassion and acceptance, and those matter far more than any task.

Inner peace is worth a thousand times more than an empty sink or a perfectly completed checklist.

Like with most things in my life, finding balance takes time. And that’s okay—as long as I keep searching for it.

At the end of the day, my past, present, and future selves—we’re all the same woman, just at different points in time.

And like in all meaningful relationships, the key is good communication, gratitude, and knowing when to let go and forgive.

---

Your support helps me keep experiencing new worlds and sharing them with you through my words. Sometimes, a single cup of coffee can make a difference.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

---

Who Am I? | The Journey Through Time | The Daily Journey

---