Shaping your future

When did the future switch from being a promise to a threat? Chuck Palahniuk

The average person is always fearful of the future and unfortunately almost everyone who is reading this identifies with this. Part of our fear stems from a subconscious reality called death which we know will overtake us in the future and that is an extremely unsettling emotion. Part of the problem comes to fore because we tend to focus on the obstacles that we visualize will impede a smooth future. Some part of the threat we see in the future is due to our own lack of self belief, our inability to commit ourselves and the worst is an abject surrender to an uncontrollable variable labeled destiny. How ironic that in the process we fail to appreciate the glorious opportunity that the future places before us, we do not grasp the immense possibilities that are ours for the asking and miss out on the joy, delight and thrill of making new discoveries, harnessing our personal abilities and unleashing our full potential.

Now that you know that the future is really not so demonic or uncontrollable you need to reorient your mindset to embrace it with both arms. Here are three ways to create the future you want.

Vanquish the demons in the mind: The first step is to have a relook at all the negatives that stress you out when you attempt to peep into the future. This could begin with letting go the past ills / failures / hurt that touch a raw nerve and create that phantom pain when you have to traverse a similar path mentally into the future. Typically it could be things like changing jobs and landing in a bigger soup or experiencing failure in some ventures that you have attempted. The next is to snip of the negative thoughts that seep into the mind and rust away the iron will that you originally had. These could include self doubts about your own competence, worries about finances, fears about ill health and the tendency to surrender to fate or destiny.

Visualize the future you crave: Once you can vanquish the demons in the mind, your mind is at peace, your confidence is restored and there is a fresh energy that revitalizes you to think hard and deep about the future you want. Of prime importance is planning the future. This involves a great deal of effort in working out the blue prints, clarifying the goals, assembling the resources and then diving into the ocean called the future. Sometimes you may fantasize, occasionally you may think big, perhaps there are times when you can almost touch the future but the real test is when you cannot stop thinking about it. When the urge becomes irresistible that is when the future is within handshaking distance and we need to make the move to cajole the future into reality.

Venture into the future with confidence: For many of us identifying the moment when we can roll out our plans and get the momentum going is a tough challenge. This is because we try to connect all the dots and have the perfect future in place so that we do not experience failure. The reality though is that a large part of the future evolves only once we begin the journey. So the key to getting the future you want is in taking the plunge. There cannot be any half measures about it or else you would at the first signs of trouble turn tail and attempt to get back into your cozy nest. The future will then remain just a blueprint. On the other hand you must when ready be like the eaglet that makes its first flight from the lofty perch with no parachute to rely on except its natural instincts and the craving to be a real eagle. If you want to kiss the skies bring out the eagle in you and stop twittering like the sparrows. A film director is a living example of how a person carves out the future that he/she visualizes. The success or failure thereafter of the movie or play is incidental.

Remember: Each man should frame life so that at some future hour fact and his dreaming meet. Victor Hugo

Try this:

Jot down your most passionate social concern (corruption/ child labor/ environmental concerns/ clean energy/ etc .are some pointers for your ready reference). Now outline how you will get actively involved (candle light marches/ email forwarding/ plain discussions with friends etc. do not count as active involvement) in it and how much time you can spare for it each week. Can you begin to get involved by the first of next month?
Write down 3 goals each for the following facets of your life. Make sure they are not wish lists but practical and time bound goals. Also outline 5 steps that you would have to take for at least one goal in each list.