The Version of You That’s Waiting: Who Do You Want to Become?
I think we all have a picture in our heads of the person we want to be.
Maybe she's healthier. Maybe she's more confident. Maybe she's more disciplined. Maybe she's finally doing the thing she's been talking about doing for years.
Maybe she spends more time with God, is more patient with her kids, takes better care of herself, or finally believes she's capable of more.
We can picture her so clearly, can't we?
But sometimes that version of ourselves feels so far away from who we are today.
What if she's not actually that far away?
What if the woman you want to become isn't waiting for the perfect time, the perfect plan, or a magical burst of motivation? What if she's waiting for you to start making choices that move you in her direction?
You Don't Have to Become Someone Else
Before we go any further, I want to be clear about something: I'm not writing this because I've figured everything out.
I don't have a perfect morning routine. I don't check off every goal on my list. And I certainly haven't mastered the art of having my life together all the time!
I'm asking these questions because I'm working on them, too.
What am I capable of? Where am I holding myself back? And what would happen if I actually started showing up for the life I say I want?
I'm not talking to you from the finish line. I'm running beside you.
Because becoming the best version of yourself isn't about turning into a completely different person. It's about becoming more fully the person you know you're capable of being.
Who Is the Woman You're Working Toward?
Let's get specific for a minute.
It's easy to say, "I want to be better," but what does that actually mean?
Maybe you want to be someone who follows through on her commitments. Maybe you want to take better care of your body, invest more intentionally in your relationships, or stop putting off something you feel called to do.
Maybe you want to grow in your faith. Maybe you want to stop being so afraid of what other people think. Or maybe you simply want to feel proud of how you're spending your time.
Can you describe her?
It's hard to move toward a destination we haven't identified.
And here's something worth considering: sometimes we spend so much time thinking about who we want to become that we forget to look at what's standing between us and that person.
Is it fear? Comfort? Perfectionism? A lack of confidence? Are you waiting until you have the entire plan figured out?
Sometimes life really does get complicated, and there are legitimate obstacles in our way. But sometimes moving forward would require us to be uncomfortable, and we'd rather stay where we are.
Sometimes we're not stuck. We're just scared of what it will require to move.
Grace and Growth Can Coexist
Here's what I want you to remember as you work toward your future self: you don't have to choose between giving yourself grace and expecting more from yourself.
You can be proud of who you are and still want to grow.
You can be grateful for your life and still want to change parts of it.
You can accept yourself and still hold yourself accountable.
Grace says, "I'm not a failure because I'm not there yet."
Growth says, "But I don't want to stay exactly where I am."
Both matter.
Your worth isn't something you have to earn by accomplishing your goals. And you don't have to prove anything to anyone else to justify wanting to grow.
But you have been given one life, and I don't know about you, but I want to see what I'm capable of.
I also believe God is continually working in us, inviting us to grow, use our gifts, and become more fully who He created us to be. We don't have to have every detail figured out to take a faithful step forward.
Meet Her Halfway
You don't need to overhaul your entire life this week. Let's keep this simple.
Grab a notebook or open the notes app on your phone and answer these three questions:
Who do I want to become? Be specific about the kind of woman you're working toward.
What is one thing that version of me does differently? Think about a habit, a decision, or a way of approaching life.
What's one thing I can do this week to move in her direction? Choose one small, realistic action.
Not ten things. Not a complete life transformation. One thing.
Maybe it's going for a walk, setting aside ten minutes for prayer, making that phone call, or finally opening the document for a project you've been putting off.
Then do it!
Don't wait until you feel like her. Start making choices that move you toward her.
Maybe this season doesn't need to be the one where you completely reinvent yourself. Maybe it can simply be the season where you stop underestimating yourself.
You don't have to become her overnight.
You just have to start.
And as you take those small steps, remember to give yourself grace, keep growing, and find the joy in the process.
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