You realise that getting physically fit is good for you and decide to visit a gym.
At the gym you run, cycle, and row; lift weights, join a class. You get home, look in the mirror. And…nothing. Your body looks exactly the same as it did yesterday. All that effort for nothing. In fact, all that effort and you feel worse than yesterday. The next day is the same and the day after. No change. All this effort, for nothing.
When your future self looks in the mirror, they will say you look great. The reason why you look great is because of those decisions you made years before. You can remember going to the gym day after day and week after week, but you couldn’t see any change. But you kept going. You were curious enough about exercise and diet to know what worked for you. Even the days you didn’t want to make the effort, you just kept going.
Your future self sees your friends, acquaintances, and colleagues who are perhaps overweight, drink a little too much, their diet is undisciplined, some even still smoke. You know how it feels to be in shape.
In your peer group, you have double the wealth because of the actions you took all those years ago. You have more lifestyle choices. Better holidays. You can help your children and grandchildren.
The difference is massive.
It’s all about the choices you make today accepting deferred gratification.