A Letter from My Future Self

When You Write from Your Naʻau

In January 2021, I did an exercise from Marie Forleo’s book Everything is Figureoutable. The prompt? Write a letter from the perspective of your future self — without stopping, editing, or overthinking.

I set a timer for 15 minutes and wrote whatever came. I let it pour out from that quiet place within — my naʻau. Then I closed the notebook and didn’t look back.

Two weeks later, I read it again… and was genuinely surprised.

Growing up, my definition of success was pretty clear:
A career in leadership. Power suits. A nice car. Money.
Later, it expanded — owning a business, traveling, investment properties, financial freedom, control of my time.

But what I wrote that day revealed something different. Something deeper.

It reminded me that when we write from our soul — when we get honest and quiet — what we really want is often not what we think we want.

Below is the letter, just as it came through.

—

📅 January 6, 2021

My beloved Heather,

I want you to know that everything is figureoutable. Even the things that seem scary — you can overcome them. There is a God who loves you so immensely, and He is a gracious God. So be a gracious daughter.

Your needs will always be met. Truly, your breath and God are all you need to live this life. Everything else is a bonus. And because you don’t need people to complete you, you can love them more freely — with greater portion.

Your children will be okay.

Keep pointing them back to Me. They’ll experience pain, joy, mistakes, unwise and wise decisions. That’s their journey, not yours. Don’t try to keep them from it — even if you can see the outcome. Or scarier, even if you can’t.

You’ve dug and built a deep well as a family — a place where they know to return for refreshment. Remember: refreshment, not a dousing. Tend and maintain the well. That’s your relationship with them.

They don’t exist for you.

Everything surrounding that well — your home, your business, your things — will deteriorate if the well is neglected. You cannot survive without water. The nourishment from the well will fuel everything else.

Go for your dreams.

While the kids are young, try to keep your dreams close to the well. As they grow older and begin building their own, you can move a little farther. They may come back for advice… and if they don’t, fear not. If you spent time with them at the well, they’ll remember their favorite parts — and carry those into the wells they build.

And when they find their partners…
Pray for those wells too.
So that together, they can build something strong and steady for generations to come.

Amen.