THINKING FORWARD OR BACKWARD?
What have you been thinking about lately? Perhaps, the future?
Have you been worried about what the future holds and can’t seem to figure out your next moves?
Do you assume the future is just a space you can’t see? There is absolutely nothing you need to be scared of. Recently, I added some toppings to my second decade, and I thought to share my reflection on the future with you. Firstly, it is worth noting that everyone is anxious about the future, even those who seem to have their life together and all figured out. I guess what I am trying to say is that the present we have was once an imagined future by some.
Take a pause here;
Let us explore some thoughts on the future and possible outcomes together. When you do not have a vision, you live the vision of others. While there might be an element of truth to that, we also need to ask if the vision conceived by others is bad in itself? Well, we will see as we progress. Shall we delve a little into your role as a person of now with imaginations that should transition into thinking futures? Have you heard about futures thinking before now? Did you know it is a whole field of study people major in? You can read more about futures here.
Let us dive into your imagination briefly. Sometimes, you limit your imagination and put aside your dreams simply because you consider them impossible to achieve. Think back to your past, dwell on dreams you thought were too great for you to pursue? Or ideas you didn’t pay attention to and, later on, found others doing? Sights were probably things you had in your imaginations previously. When you explore your imagination and align them with your goals, you empower yourself with the knowledge and tools you need to take deliberate actions in the present. When faced with non-fanciful imaginations, you are more prepared for or against what you are aware of.
Moving on;
Not all imaginations are great. Some ideas cause more harm than good, which could be because of the channeling of those ideas to arrive at a (un)checked end. As a result, they negatively impact the quality of life you lead. When you delve into your imaginations, you have empowered yourself more to take deliberate actions in the present. Many jeopardize the future because of what they can see as present benefits — survival mentality. A lot of people make their decisions based on the “survival mentality” they are used to. Doing so yields the least amount of return. When people make decisions based on short-term benefits without paying attention to the long-term costs, they are bound to make huge mistakes. This is a concept referred to as; “short-termism” in the futures field. You get trapped in the present due to fear, missing out on the hope of what could be, thus depriving yourself of the opportunity to think creatively. We are more concerned about what we can do now, thinking tomorrow would sort itself out. Sometimes, we face the question of, Is delayed gratification worth it?. Thoughts like these have negatively impacted our lives and how we make decisions as a community. Political apathy, climate change, poor public policies are examples of how short-term thinking can negatively impact a community. Just maybe if we were thinking about the future, we could have done things differently, and perhaps, we would be better off today.
Olumayowa Okediran explored the four plausible futures of Nigeria in 2030 with four scenarios in his book Navigate: A prospection of Nigeria’s future to 2030 by Olumayowa Okediran. What his book shows is that a lot of people are constantly thinking about their futures across different contexts. When you are afraid of exploring all your options, you limit your potential, cutting down on your ability to learn and grow. My wish for you is that you dare to take conscious steps towards futures thinking and that you empower yourself with the tools you need to make informed decisions in the present without jeopardizing the future.
What do you think is the best way to think? Based on the present or with the future in mind?
Here is an intriguing question to jump on, which way; thinking backward or forward?
