I used to think "future self" was a motivational concept, but now I mostly think of them as a person I'm actively in relationship with. I spent so long trying to 'optimize' my future self, turn them into some hyper-productive machine. Now I just try to leave them the metaphorical equivalent of a clean kitchen – fewer messes to deal with, a little space to breathe when they arrive. I used to imagine my future self as someone "better," like a leveled-up video game character. Now I see them as someone who will have lived through things I haven't yet – and therefore, someone whose wisdom I might actually need.