How to Trick Your Brain Into Becoming Your Future Self

We love to talk about becoming our “future self,” but most of us wait until we feel ready before we start acting like her. The truth is, change doesn’t begin with confidence. It begins with practice.

I love Halloween. 🎃

The creativity, the transformation, the excuse to be a little extra.

It’s basically an adult permission slip to play.

And I usually do play. I’ve dressed up almost every year.

But this year, I’ve got a full plate. Work, family, and about twelve different things are competing for brain space, so the costume is taking a backseat.

Still, one of my favorite costumes I ever wore was 12 years ago.

I went as Uma Thurman’s character, The Bride, from Kill Bill.

✅ A yellow jumpsuit that I customized by cutting off the hood, sewing on a Mandarin collar, and hot-gluing the black stripes.

✅ A fake katana (and yes, I actually had a martial-arts friend give me a mini lesson on how to use it 🤓).

✅ Onitsuka sneakers (that were a half-size too small because I couldn’t find them anywhere. Then, at the last minute, a friend happened to spot a pair being sold on the street in Chinatown.)

...the whole 9 yards.

Can we pause for a moment to reminisce on the 2010s era of overly filtered, low resolution photos?! 😂

The second I zipped up that suit, something in me shifted.

I didn’t have to act confident. I was confident.

I moved differently, carried myself differently, and felt like an absolute badass.

It’s wild how quickly a costume can change the way you show up.

And it made me think about how we can use that same energy in real life.

Since your brain can't actually tell the difference between imagination and reality,

Every time you “try on” a different way of being, you’re teaching your brain that this is who you are.

Which means pretending isn't about faking.

It's about practicing.

So, you don’t have to wait until you feel ready to become the more confident, successful, fulfilled future version of yourself.

You can practice being her until it feels natural.

👉 That’s how identity change works.

Now, maybe you don’t need a yellow jumpsuit or a fake sword...

Maybe your “costume” is something smaller that helps you embody the energy of your future self.

It could be an outfit that makes you feel powerful.

A scent that helps you feel grounded.

A pair of shoes that remind you you’re capable of standing tall.

A mug, notebook, or playlist that puts you in "follow-through" mode.

Even a piece of jewelry or shade of lipstick that helps you show up with intention.

I like to think of these as “power accessories.”

They aren’t just for looks.

They’re cues that tell your brain, this is who we’re becoming.

You aren’t waiting for confidence to show up.

You’re giving yourself a head start by dressing the part.

So even if you're skipping the costume party this Halloween,

You can still get dressed up...as your future self.

Here are some questions to ask yourself to help choose your “costume”:

👉 What does your 2.0 self wear, or how does she carry herself?

👉 What “power accessory” could you put on today that would make you feel like her?

👉 What small action could you take that would instantly shift you into her energy?

Because pretending isn’t pretending at all.

It’s practice.

And practice is how you become her.

P.S.

I'd love to hear how you're "dressing up" as your future self this Halloween.

Comment below and let me know what you come up with!