Visualise your best possible self and draw a bridge from your present into that future!
What you’ll need: Big piece of paper, coloured pens or pencils
What’s it for?
This activity will help you think about how you see yourself in the present, how you would like to be in the future, and how to get there. It uses the metaphor of a bridge joining your past and future selves. It helps you think about what you need to acquire on your life’s journey to realise your ambitions.
Check In:
Notice how you’re feeling right now. Close your eyes and notice what’s going on inside your mind and body.
How are you feeling?
What are you thinking?
How does your body feel?
Method:
Turn the page so that the long edge is facing you (landscape format).
Divide the page into three equal parts.
In the left hand part of the page draw a simple picture of yourself as you are now. Draw or write about things that are important to you, some of your achievements, things you enjoy doing, and things to reflect your qualities. Also include things you’d like to change about your life.
In the right hand part of the page (miss out the middle section for now) draw a simple picture of yourself as you would like to be in the future. Write about or draw what you’d like to achieve, your ambitions, wishes, and how you’d like to be in the future - your best possible future self.
In the middle part, draw a bridge connecting the two versions of yourself. Around your bridge, write about or draw, all the things you would need to learn, know, cultivate, and do, to allow your best possible future self to exist. For example, if you want to become a doctor, you will definitely need to study sciences and be keen to support others; if you want to have lots of friends, you will need to cultivate a warm and accepting attitude towards others; and, if you want to be a singer or musician, you will need to practise regularly and probably arrange music lessons.
Extra Activity: Show your Bridge to the Future to an interested adult. Reflect on, and write a plan for how you might achieve one aspect of your best possible future self, ask any adults in your household for advice.
When you’ve finished, spend a moment reflecting on the activity and ask yourself the following questions:
How does it feel to share your ambitions with others?
Are your present and future selves very different? What has remained the same?
What kind of bridge did you draw? Does this reflect something about how you feel the journey would be between your different selves?
Was it easy or challenging to think about the things you would need to learn, know, cultivate, and do, to allow your best possible future self to exist?
Can you take any small step even today to get yourself closer to your best possible future self?
Conclusion:
This activity helps you to identify your goals and dreams for the future, how you might start to achieve them by visualising your best possible future, and how you might get there.
Take a moment to notice how you are feeling at the end of this activity. Did you discover anything surprising? What can you take away to make you feel better about yourself from this activity?
If you would like to, share something about your experience with this activity with someone you live with! Ask the person who looks after you to send us an email if you have any questions or comments about the activity, or would like to send us any pictures (info@catcorner.co.uk). Don't forget to subscribe for more fun CAT activities!
Created by Ian Grundy © April 2020
Creative Arts Used: Art, Creative Writing
Psychological Areas Explored: Self-Exploration, Emotional Wellbeing, Resilience
These activities could be done by children of all ages, but some may need the support of their parent or carer to read the instructions or complete the activity safely.
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