Best Possible Self Exercise
A research-backed positive psychology writing exercise: picture your life going as well as it realistically could, then put it into words to lift mood and clarify direction.
About this tool
The Best Possible Self exercise is one of the most studied tools in positive psychology. The instructions are simple: imagine your life at a point in the future where you have put in the effort and things have gone as well as they realistically could, then write about it in detail. It is not fantasy or wishful thinking. The key is a future that is genuinely possible, the result of your own work and choices, which makes it both inspiring and grounding.
Research by Laura King and others has found that writing about a best possible self can increase positive mood and optimism, and that doing it repeatedly over time strengthens the effect. Picturing a vivid, hopeful future seems to help in two ways: it lifts how you feel in the moment, and it clarifies what you actually want, which can make your goals and priorities easier to see. Optimism here is not naivety, it is a useful expectation that effort can pay off.
Writing matters more than just thinking. Putting the vision into concrete words forces detail and turns a vague hope into something specific you can move toward. Many people find that themes emerge as they write, the relationships, work, or qualities that keep coming up, which point to what matters most. The exercise ends by asking for one small step you could take this week toward that future, so the vision connects to action rather than staying on the page.
- King LA. The health benefits of writing about life goals. Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2001;27(7):798-807.
- Sheldon KM, Lyubomirsky S. How to increase and sustain positive emotion: the effects of expressing gratitude and visualizing best possible selves. J Posit Psychol. 2006;1(2):73-82.
Best Possible Self Exercise FAQ
What is the Best Possible Self exercise?
It is a positive psychology writing exercise where you imagine and describe a future in which you have worked hard and life has gone as well as it realistically could. Research links it to increased optimism and positive mood.
Is this just wishful thinking?
No. The point is a realistic best future, one that could happen as a result of your own effort, not an unlikely fantasy. That balance is what makes it both motivating and useful for clarifying goals.
Is my information saved?
No. Everything stays in your browser. Your writing is never uploaded or stored, and the PDF is generated on your own device.
How often should I do it?
Studies suggest the benefits grow with repetition. Many people write for a few minutes over several days, or revisit the exercise every few months to see how their vision evolves.