Netflix and Future Chill: How Watching Your Life Like a Movie Boosts Motivation

Imagine if you could sit down with a bucket of popcorn, press play, and watch a movie of your future self living their best life.

Would you be inspired? Motivated? Maybe even a little emotional?

Well, science suggests that mentally ‘watching’ our future selves succeed can be a game-changer for motivation, decision-making, and achieving long-term goals.

I have just started some training in ‘future self coaching’ and I’m loving it! I can see that it will become a very powerful tool both for my own use but in coaching and teaching. So what is it all about? In this post, I’m going to explore the act of watching imagined movies of our future and the evidence-based benefits of this work. Read on….

Why Your Brain Loves a Good Story

Our brains are wired for storytelling. We connect deeply with narratives because they help us make sense of the world, and more importantly, our place in it.

Studies in psychology have found that when we vividly imagine ourselves in the future, our brains respond as if we are actually experiencing those moments. This process—called mental simulation—can create a powerful emotional connection between your present and future self.

Harvard psychologist Daniel Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness, explains that when we think about the future, we often assume our future self is a completely different person. That’s why we make short-term decisions that sabotage long-term goals. But by ‘watching’ our future unfold like a movie in our minds, we start to bridge the gap between who we are now and who we want to become.

Creating Your Own ‘Future You Montage’

If you’ve ever watched a motivational movie montage—Rocky running up the steps, Elle Woods acing her Harvard Law exams, or any superhero rising from defeat—you know how powerful these sequences can be. Now, imagine applying that same technique to your own life. Here’s how:

1. Script Your Future Success – Close your eyes and picture your ideal future self. Where are you? What are you doing? How do you feel? Get specific. If your goal is to become a successful entrepreneur, imagine yourself giving a TED Talk or seeing your product on store shelves. If you want to be healthier, visualize finishing a marathon or feeling strong and energetic.
2. Make It Cinematic – Engage all your senses. What does your future self see, hear, and feel? Picture the colors, the environment, even the background music that would be playing if this were a movie. The more vivid your mental imagery, the stronger the emotional connection.
3. Watch It on Repeat – The more often you mentally rehearse your ‘future you’ montage, the more real it becomes. Studies show that repeatedly visualizing a positive future makes it easier to take actions aligned with that vision.

The Science Behind Mental Time Travel

Neuroscientists have discovered that imagining the future activates the same brain regions as remembering the past. This is why mental time travel is such an effective tool—it feels real! Dr. Hal Hershfield’s research at UCLA found that people who feel a strong connection to their future selves make better financial, health, and career decisions.

The key takeaway? When we view our future selves not as strangers but as an extension of who we are now, we’re more likely to make choices that serve us in the long run.

Ready to Press Play on Your Future?

So, what does your future movie look like?

More importantly, what are you doing today to make it a reality?

Whether it’s taking that first step toward a big goal, making a healthier choice, or committing to a long-term project, your future self is waiting for you.

Take time each day (at the start of the day and end of the day are good times) to connect with your future self and ensure you are making choices throughout the day that align with your future self.