Anyone who’s ever interviewed for a job has probably found themselves pondering or having to answer the question “Where do you see yourself in five years?” I don’t know about you, but this question generally sends me into a panic. How should I know? Do I look like the Amazing Kreskin? Right now I’m not even sure where my next paycheck is coming from, so can we deal with these next few weeks or, perhaps more manageably, apply Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’s philosophy of taking life ten seconds at a time? That’s more my speed.
The truth is, however, that teachers, motivational speakers, employers, and career coaches ask this question for a legitimate reason: the “imagine yourself in five years” visualization helps us to remain mindful of the fact that we’re always moving forward, and we’re more likely to get where we want to go if we keep our eyes on the road ahead. If you, like me, sometimes find this a daunting task when you have trouble deciding which latte you’re going to get before your turn in the Starbucks queue comes, FiveYearLetter.com is for you!
The concept is simple: write yourself a letter and receive it in five years. Developed by Scott Hughes, “FiveYearLetter is a personal development tool for people who want to achieve their ideal vision for themselves and who want to bring greater awareness and reflection into their lives.” Hughes developed the project from a class exercise that his high school English teacher required his class to perform. Reflecting on the experience, Hughes says, “I didn’t appreciate it at the time, but I will never forget reading my letter when it came back five years later…It was incredible to read it and to see how much I’d grown, but also how much I was still struggling with many of the same issues.”
Here’s how it works: visit FiveYearLetter.com and sign up by providing your address information. You’ll receive a blank sheet of paper in the mail and a pre-addressed envelope. You can place anything in the envelope along with your letter—photos, recorded videos on DVDs, anything that will fit in the envelope. When you send it back, your unopened letter will be placed in a secured storage facility and you can go on with your life. In five years, you’ll get a blast from your past self when you open the mailbox!
Whether you’re looking for creative inspiration or just want to have a bit of fun with yourself, FiveYearLetter is the perfect way to take a look at your life, envision where you want to be, and see for yourself where you wind up!
Featured photo credit: Founder Headshot Scott Hughes via fiveyearletter.com
