Give me a list of 3 people that you look up to. People that you dream of becoming, people you take inspiration from, people whose lives you want to live. No, give me 10. No, give me 100.
Out of all of those names, did you name yourself?
Let's be real, there's no one perfect enough to have all of the values you believe in, all the principles you stand by, all skills you want to master, all the things you want to be. The one and only one who fits all the boxes is you of the future.
Realistically speaking, your future self is the only person that'll be relatable to you. They experienced the same emotions you're experiencing now. They've navigated through the unknown exactly as what you're doing now. That presentation you're worried about tomorrow? Done and dusted. The exam you think that you've failed? Well it seems like they're doing fine. That job interview? They've just been promoted and named the best employee of the year. So why worry? They're already there.
They've been where you'll be, done what you'll do, completed what you'll complete, and achieved what you'll achieve. You might have an idea on what they've done to achieve those things, heck, you might not know at all, but all you know is that they're already there. And to do the same, all you need is execution. As what Shia Labeouf has said, "just do it". Write that essay, learn that topic, do that job. All you need to do is just keep moving forward.
Every decision you make today is either a gift or a burden for the person you are becoming. Your decision to be disciplined, your decision to be kind, your decision to never give up; you are honoring the person you want to be. You look up to your future self because they represent your highest potential, but they only exist if you do the work today. You owe it to that person to keep going, because they are the living proof that your current struggles were worth it.
In the end, if there's anyone you should look up to, it's yourself. The one that'll have a load of money, the one who'll be stoic in the face of uncertainty, the one who'll have the best habits, the one who'll make your parents proud.
The one who has everything you imagine to be.