Sending a Message from the Future: Using Self-Awareness and the 2 Dimensional Postcard to Create the Life You Want
- Chris Lauzon, LICSW
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
What if your future self could send you a message today? Not a warning, not a regret—but a vision. A clear, inspiring glimpse into the life you could be living. What would it say? What would it show?
This is where the Tool of Self-Awareness becomes invaluable—not just for reflection, but for transformation. When you pair it with a powerful visualization known as The 2 Dimensional Postcard, you tap into your deepest truths to map out a future worth striving toward.
What Is the 2 Dimensional Postcard?
The 2 Dimensional Postcard is a self-awareness exercise where you imagine receiving a postcard from your future self. On the front side, there’s a visual—a snapshot of your ideal life. On the back side, there’s a message—a reflection on how you got there.
This practice isn’t about wishful thinking. It’s about using your imagination and insight to create a tangible vision of a life that feels deeply aligned, and then leveraging that vision to guide your decisions today.
Step One: Paint the Front of the Postcard
Start by visualizing the picture your future self would send. Ask yourself:
If life was exactly what I wanted… what would I see?
If I were in the relationship I truly desired… what would it feel like?
If I had a partner who was right for me… how would we show up for each other?
If my career was fulfilling… what would I be doing every day?
What am I doing regularly that brings me joy or purpose?
Where am I living? What does my environment look, sound, and feel like?
Do I have a partner or a family? What does connection look like in this version of my life?
Take your time. This is the front of your 2 Dimensional Postcard. It represents your ideal vision—not a fantasy, but a future shaped by your most honest desires.
Step Two: Write the Back of the Postcard
Now, flip the postcard over in your mind. Your future self has written you a message. What does it say?
What had to change in your mindset or lifestyle to create this version of your life?
What did you start doing differently, and what did you stop doing?
What truths did you finally acknowledge?
What support did you seek? What boundaries did you set?
What habits and values guided your transformation?
This side of the 2 Dimensional Postcard connects your vision to your growth. It bridges the gap between imagination and reality, between longing and action.
Why This Works
Many people go through life vaguely sensing that something’s missing—but never stopping long enough to ask what or why. That’s the power of self-awareness. It helps you tune out the noise and tune in to the truth of your own desires.
The 2 Dimensional Postcard allows you to give form and language to your ideal life. From there, it becomes easier to spot the misalignments in your current life, and to begin course-correcting.
Turning Vision Into Movement
After completing the exercise, take a moment to reflect:
What parts of your postcard life already exist in some form?
What feels missing, but within reach?
What small step could you take this week that aligns you with your vision?
You don’t need to transform your entire life overnight. But you do need to begin walking in the direction of your vision, intentionally, consistently, and with self-compassion.
Final Thought
The 2 Dimensional Postcard is more than a visualization. It’s a conversation between who you are now and who you have the potential to become. It’s a gentle but powerful tool to help you see your truth, and then live it.
So ask yourself:
If I could receive a message from the life I really want, what would it show me? What would it say?
And more importantly,
What am I willing to do with that clarity?
You already have the wisdom. You just need to give yourself space to hear it—and the courage to follow it.
Your future self will thank your present self.
Chris Lauzon, LICSW
Therapist
Boston, Massachusetts
