It’s not enough to know the five-level-deep-why of what you’re doing. The more critical question after getting to the bottom of your why is to ask yourself: “Is this, what I’m trying to accomplish now, an essential part of the future I want for myself in, let’s say, three or five years?”

If it’s not, stop doing it. Even if it sounds like you have a sound justification for the action.

For example, you come up with a deeper reason for finishing a master’s degree program: “So you become a true expert as blah-blah-blah in the great blah-blah-blah industry to finally feel like you belong and accepted.”

But really, where you’d like to see yourself in five years is working on your own as an entrepreneur selling the most fabulous socks on the internet.

The reasoning makes sense for the current venture (master’s degree). But it doesn’t connect with what you want for yourself in a few years (socks). Have the maturity to see that and accept it. Then pivot.

Know first where you really want to be in five years. Dare to dream for a minute. Picture what your day looks like from morning to night. What are you doing? What are you able to do? How do you carry yourself? What or who occupies your focus? What problems are you solving?

Work backwards from there, and start working on your future now. Do the things that fit your aspirations, not those that are simply solid and sensible.

Your ‘future self’ is not a destination nor a thing to have. It is a way of life. Start living today as if you’re already your ‘future self.’