In today’s fast-paced world, the idea of personal growth often feels overwhelming. We hear about improving ourselves bit by bit, doubling our efforts, or making incremental progress. But what if there was a different way—a way to 10X your growth that’s actually easier and more impactful than trying to 2X it? In this insightful exploration, Benjamin Hardy reveals cutting-edge science and timeless wisdom on how your future self can be the driving force behind profound transformation. Drawing on lessons from Viktor Frankl, modern neuroscience, psychology, and practical strategies, this article will guide you through the process of radically accelerating your growth by focusing on your future self.

The Power of Purpose: Lessons from Viktor Frankl

One of the most profound influences on understanding the human drive is Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist who wrote the seminal book Man’s Search for Meaning. Frankl’s observations in Nazi concentration camps revealed that prisoners who lost faith in their future were doomed to mental and physical decay. He famously wrote:

“The prisoner who lost faith in the future was doomed with his loss of belief in the future he also lost his spiritual hold. He let himself decline and become subject to mental and physical decay.”

Frankl’s core thesis was revolutionary for his time. Contrary to the dominant psychological views that the past determined our present mental state (think Freud’s focus on childhood), Frankl emphasized that what truly drives human psychology is a clear sense of purpose or goal for the future. In the harshest conditions, those who maintained a strong “why” — a future to believe in — were better able to endure and survive. He echoed Nietzsche’s famous line: “He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.”

Frankl’s own “why” was deeply personal. Before being taken to Auschwitz, he was working on a book called The Doctor and the Soul. He carried the manuscript with him, hiding it for over two years, and the desire to rewrite that work after surviving the camps was his driving force. This singular purpose helped him persevere through unimaginable suffering.

Modern Psychology: The Future Pulls Us Forward

Fast forward to today, and science is catching up with Frankl’s insights. Leading psychologists like Dr. Marty Seligman and Dr. Roy Baumeister have shown through extensive research that human beings are uniquely wired to think about the future. We spend roughly two-thirds of our time contemplating what lies ahead, weighing options, and making decisions based on anticipated outcomes. This concept, known as prospection, distinguishes humans from other living beings.

Our brains function as sophisticated prediction machines, constantly updating models about what will happen next. Learning is the process of refining these predictions. So rather than being prisoners of our past, we are propelled forward by the futures we envision and commit to.

Aristotle’s philosophy also supports this. He introduced the concept of final cause—the idea that everything exists for an end or purpose. Human behavior, Aristotle argued, is always driven by goals. Even seemingly trivial actions, like scrolling social media, fulfill some future-oriented objective, whether it’s entertainment, distraction, or connection.

The Challenge: Narrow Futures and Short-Term Thinking

While the future pulls us forward, many people’s vision of their future is limited and constricted. As described in the book The 50th Law by Robert Greene and 50 Cent, most individuals focus on immediate battles—tomorrow, the next week, or a few months ahead—due to fear or overwhelming circumstances. This narrow gaze restricts their capacity to shape their lives meaningfully.

“By our nature as rational conscious creatures, we cannot help but think of the future, but most people out of fear limit their view of the future to a narrow range.”

This short-term mindset traps people in a hamster wheel of urgent but minor tasks—buying groceries, meeting deadlines, handling crises—while losing sight of bigger, transformative goals. It also creates tension between the present self, which seeks immediate gratification, and the future self, who benefits from long-term investments.

Connecting with Your Future Self: The Key to Better Decisions

Research by psychologists like Hal Hershfield reveals that most people struggle to connect emotionally with their future selves, which often leads to poor decision-making. However, those who cultivate empathy and a friendship-like bond with their future self tend to make higher quality, future-oriented choices.

Hershfield suggests that viewing your future self as a friend creates motivation to invest in that person’s well-being. When you care about a friend, you don’t hesitate to sacrifice or put in effort; similarly, strengthening this connection can help you overcome present temptations and focus on what truly matters.

Aristotle also linked intelligence to intentionality—the ability to foresee where actions are leading. The more intentional and future-focused you are, the wiser your decisions become.

Step 1: Define Your Contextual Purpose

Inspired by Frankl’s example, the first step to 10X growth is defining a clear, specific goal that anchors your future. This isn’t about a vague life purpose but a contextual purpose relevant to your current situation and immediate future.

Frankl’s goal was survival to rewrite his book. Your goal might be different, but the principle is the same: identify what is so important right now that it fuels your motivation to overcome obstacles. Clarifying this goal strengthens your “why” and makes the “how” manageable.

It’s helpful to think in terms of three priorities. Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, famously said: “If you have more than three priorities, you have none.” Focusing on a small number of priorities helps concentrate your energy effectively.

For example, my current three priorities relate to family, writing, and personal growth. Five years ago, my priorities were different, reflecting the changing context of my life. Your future self will also evolve, so regularly revisiting and updating your contextual purpose is essential.

Step 2: Clarify Your Vision with 10X Thinking

After setting your contextual purpose, the next step is to clarify your vision—and here’s where 10X thinking comes in. Instead of aiming for a small, incremental improvement, imagine what it would take to grow tenfold. This approach might seem daunting, but it actually simplifies your focus.

At a Genius Network event, Joe Polish asked attendees: “If you wanted to raise your profits by 10%, what would you do?” The answers were endless. But when he reframed the question to “How do you grow 10 times?”, the options narrowed dramatically. Dr. Alan Bernard, a leading researcher on the Theory of Constraints, explained that very few actions can truly generate 10X growth, and most current activities would be irrelevant.

This clarity forces you to discard distractions and focus on the few strategies that can produce massive results. It aligns perfectly with psychological research on hope, which consists of three components:

• Will: A specific goal that fuels your motivation.
• Way: Multiple pathways or strategies to reach that goal.
• Agency: The belief that you can learn and adapt to achieve it.

Hope is more than optimism; it’s the engine of grit and perseverance. When your vision is big and clear, you naturally cultivate hope and resilience.

Step 3: Identify Your Singularity—Focus on Your Bottleneck

Once you have a 10X vision, your next task is to identify your singularity—the one thing that, if improved or resolved, will unlock exponential progress. This idea comes from the Theory of Constraints, which teaches that every system has a bottleneck limiting its output.

Most people spread their energy thin over many goals and distractions, diluting their impact. But focusing intensely on the singularity allows you to multiply your efforts and results dramatically.

For example, if your singularity is writing books, dedicating focused time and effort to improving your writing craft will yield far greater returns than juggling multiple unrelated projects.

Michelangelo’s approach to sculpting the David beautifully illustrates this principle. He described his work as removing everything that wasn’t the statue, stripping away distractions until the masterpiece emerged. Similarly, perfection in any system is achieved not by adding more but by removing what’s unnecessary.

“Perfection is not when there’s nothing left to add but when there’s nothing left to remove.”

Eliminate the Lesser Goals: Simplify to Multiply

Robert Brault’s quote captures a common pitfall:

“We’re kept from our goals not by obstacles but by a clear path to a lesser goal.”

Lesser goals drain your energy and focus. They might be distractions, backup plans, or low-impact activities. To achieve 10X growth, you must ruthlessly eliminate or delegate these lesser goals and concentrate on what truly matters.

This ties into the 80/20 principle: 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. But to 10X your growth, only about 20% of your current behaviors and relationships will scale. This means a significant overhaul of your habits and priorities is necessary.

Craftsmanship Over Passion: Deep Work for 10X Mastery

Cal Newport’s philosophy of becoming a craftsperson rather than chasing fleeting passion resonates deeply here. Mastery requires deliberate practice, deep work, and sustained focus on your singularity.

By committing to your craft and eliminating distractions, you can achieve mastery that makes you so good they can’t ignore you. This mastery is the foundation of 10X growth.

Final Thoughts: Investing in Your Future Self

Every action you take today is either a cost or an investment in your future self. The quality of your life tomorrow depends on how well you connect to, empathize with, and invest in that future self today.

By defining a clear contextual purpose, embracing audacious 10X goals, identifying your singularity, and simplifying your life to focus on what truly matters, you can unlock extraordinary growth with less effort than you might expect.

Remember Viktor Frankl’s insight: your future is your salvation. Hold fast to your why, cultivate hope, and take intentional steps toward your future self. The journey to 10X your life begins with a single, powerful commitment to the future you want to create.

Embrace this mindset, and watch as the impossible becomes possible.