You’re Always Creating Someone. Who Will You Be?

Whether you like it or not, every action you currently take ultimately aids in creating a future you, and it’s the quality and direction of those actions that determine who that’s going to be. 

Are you creating someone you want to be? 

“Self-improvement” can have a slightly bad reputation, often being categorised as cringeworthy. But all you’re doing by actively trying to improve yourself is casting a vote for who you're becoming.

But even if you don’t classify yourself as “self-improving”, you’re still self-creating in some way. You might unknowingly be creating a better person, you might be staying relatively the same (staying the same for a long period of time is impossible by definition), or you’re becoming a worse version. 

Worse is a vague term, but ultimately it comes down to the quality of your mind, your body, your relationships and your bank account.

None of these things can remain as they are; they are ever-evolving through time. Therefore, it’s everything you're currently doing within the realm of each that’s deciding their future.

The Compound Effect

We all know what the compound effect is, but what you may not be aware of is how involved it is in almost everything you do.

From the frequency with which you drink sugary drinks to how you greet your partner when they first walk through the door.

Every action, no matter how insignificant it may seem, adds up over time to create the foundation of something much larger. It all counts.

Do you take the elevator or the stairs at the office? Do you save the spare change in your wallet, or do you think it’s worthwhile spending?

What about lunch, do you buy meals and snacks throughout the week, or do you buy, make and prepare meals in advance?

It only seems insignificant in the moment, that is, until you adjust and expand the time scale.

The elevator saves effort in the moment, but in 5 years, you’re overweight.

Buying lunch for £3 isn’t exactly bankruptcy, but in 5 years, you’re £ 3,000 out of pocket.

This may seem dramatic, but unfortunately, the compound effect speaks for itself. And it’s always at play, working its magic in the background of every action you take. It’s up to you whether that works towards something positive or negative.

Nothing Changes If Nothing Changes

Time will pass regardless of what you do, so isn’t it worth guaranteeing a better, happier, healthier and more successful version of yourself later on?

All you have to do is ask yourself right now, what might have happened if I had stuck to the gym 3 years ago instead of quitting? What would I look like now? Would that have been worth it?

That time has passed, and you could be in shape right now, but instead, you look the same, or even worse than you did back then.

Apply this to anything, and it may be slightly uncomfortable to imagine how different things might be today.

So end this now, and ensure that in 3 years from now you don’t have the same regrets. But to do this, you’re going to have to flick the switch from autopilot into manual and become conscious of your actions, conscious and accountable.

Once you’ve identified the areas that need addressing, the only thing left for you to do is take action. Without action, nothing changes.

I don’t know what actions you need to take, because I don’t know what you’ll want to change. But one thing I’m certain of is that if you don't actively do something, nothing will change.

3, 5 and 10 years from now, you’re going to be someone, and who that person is almost completely depends on what actions you decide to take from this point onward.

Someone weaker or stronger. Smarter or duller. Wealthier or poorer. Happier or sadder.

Who you become won’t depend on any single major action, but tiny actions compounded over time.

So, if you’re constantly creating someone, who are you going to be?