Key points

Feeling connected to our future self consistently predicts decisions that favor long-term growth.

Internal mindset and identity often shape the outcome more than external preparation or credentials.

Cultivating self-honesty and self-compassion transforms internal barriers into pathways for real change.

A few years ago, my brother became a captain in the fire department.

Around the same time, he was turning 40, so I called to wish him a happy birthday. While we were catching up, he mentioned that he’d been eating healthier and working out consistently. Then he said something that surprised me: “I had a salad for lunch today.”

My brother has hunted since he was a teenager . Salad was never exactly his go-to meal.

When I asked if he was on a diet , he said, “Not really.

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