Past self — Anchor or launchpad?

Have you ever taken a moment to look back at who you were 2 years ago, 5 years ago, or even 10 years ago? Have you noticed any shifts in the way you think about your health, your relationships, or your food habits? Many of us believe we're pretty much the same as we've always been. But the truth is, we're changing all the time — or at least, we should be.

Change is hard. Something from our past self stops us in our tracks. It's a sneaky little thing called the self-consistency bias, or as some call it, the continuation bias.

Self-consistency bias is the tendency to act in a way that is consistent with self-perceived personality, beliefs, or past behavior.

This pesky bias is like a stubborn friend who insists you stick with your original plan, even if that plan is clearly going south.

We see this "friend" pop up in all kinds of scenarios. You've been there, haven't you?

• Looking for a new job, but you're only looking in your old field because it's familiar, even if you're not passionate about it anymore.

• You've figured out that adding sugar to your coffee isn't great for your health, but you keep doing it because, “Hey, that's how I've always had my coffee!"

• You know you should probably hit the gym, but since you've always managed without it, why start now?

• And let's not even talk about those relationships that don't really make you happy anymore, but you stick with them because, well, that's what you've always done.

But let me tell you something. You don't have to let your past hold you back. In fact, you can use your past as a springboard to try new things.

So instead of thinking, "I'll keep doing this because it's what I've always done," why not try, "I'll give this a shot because I've never done it before"?

Let’s take those risks we’ve never taken before. Only then can we break the frame and build bigger ones for ourselves.

Dive into that job or project that scares you a little (or a lot) but excites you even more. Picture yourself presenting your new marketing strategy to the board, feeling a bit nervous, but thrilled about the innovative approach you're bringing.

Try those foods you've always been curious about. Yes, it's time to venture past the pasta section of the menu and try the savory Ratatouille from France or the spicy Indian Chole Bhature you've been wondering about.

Or take a shot at learning a new skill. If you've always admired the beautiful fluid movements of dancers, why not sign up for a dance class? Or maybe you've watched in awe as a pianist moves their fingers effortlessly over the keys? How about enrolling in a beginner's piano course?

Perhaps you've always dreamed of learning a new language? Imagine walking the streets of Paris, ordering a café au lait ☕️ in fluent French, or having an exciting conversation with locals in Tokyo in Japanese.

Or maybe you've always wanted to run a marathon but have been intimidated by the distance? Start with a walk around the street, then a jog, then a mile. Bit by bit, you can train your body and one day, cross that finish line.

Who says you can't start from scratch at any point in life?

Embrace the thrill of exploring the unexplored and evolving into a future self that your past self will be proud of.