Contents
- 1 While there are many ways to think about the future, the one I want to focus on in this post is how to cultivate the best possible future.
- 2 Out of all the possible futures that could happen, which ones do you want to bring about, and which ones would you rather avoid?
- 3 Most people would like to see a better world and a better future. But what does “better” mean, and how can we work toward it?
- 4 One way of thinking about what actions will lead to a good future is to try and look at the big picture of things.
- 5 It’s important to act now, because the future will be shaped by what we do today.
- 6 It’s never too late to make a better tomorrow for yourself and for others.
While there are many ways to think about the future, the one I want to focus on in this post is how to cultivate the best possible future.
The future is a place where we could be, but isn’t guaranteed to be—yet. There are many possible futures, and the one that actually happens depends on what we do today. Here’s the good news: you can help create the best possible future!
Here’s how:
Start by thinking about the future like a mapmaker. A mapmaker with 20 different ideas for a new map, to be specific. Of course, only one of those ideas is going to make it into production and become an actual map—but until a decision is made about which idea will be used as a destination, all 20 ideas exist in potentiality. Whether or not they come into being as real maps depends on whether or not someone decides to work toward turning them into physical maps (or in this example, whether or not someone decides to purchase the necessary materials and begin working on them). We can think of our own futures in much the same way: there are many possible futures that could happen in our lives ahead of us; only one will end up coming true.
The key question is: what kind of future would you like? What kind of world would you like it to be? Which possible futures do you want to bring about? Only by answering these questions for yourself can you start working toward your ideal version of tomorrow. Nobody else can answer those questions for you.
Out of all the possible futures that could happen, which ones do you want to bring about, and which ones would you rather avoid?
Out of all the possible futures that could happen, which ones do you want to bring about, and which ones would you rather avoid? This can be a difficult question to think about, especially when there are multiple scenarios available for each outcome. For example, let’s say your main goal is to end poverty in 1st world countries. There are plenty of ways to achieve this goal. You could become a politician, who lobbies for universal healthcare and more spending on social programs. You could become a teacher in an impoverished area and try to give kids the tools they need to break the cycle of poverty. You could start an organization that focuses on providing resources like food and shelter for families living in poverty or below the poverty line. Or you could do something else entirely!
Depending on how you plan on achieving your goals will determine what skills are most valuable, so it’s important to think carefully about what kind of future you want and how you can help bring it about (or prevent bad futures from happening).
Most people would like to see a better world and a better future. But what does “better” mean, and how can we work toward it?
When people talk about a better future, they often mean such things as a cleaner environment, less poverty, safer streets, and more rights for women. But many people also include the importance of spiritual values such as love, compassion and forgiveness.
If you ask people to describe the best possible future for their family, community or country, their answers will vary because each person has different priorities. If we look at the world from a global point of view and ask what could be done to make it better than it is now, there are some very obvious answers: end hunger in Africa; find peaceful solutions to ethnic conflicts in various parts of the world; stop certain countries from developing nuclear weapons; promote religious tolerance; stop human rights abuses; change our unsustainable economic development which is causing climate change and destroying our environment.
One way of thinking about what actions will lead to a good future is to try and look at the big picture of things.
One way of thinking about how your [daily] actions will lead to a good future for you and the people around you is to try and look at things from a larger perspective. Sometimes this means taking a step back from the situation, or seeing the forest for the trees.
When looking at the big picture, it’s important to remember not to lose sight of the ball (or keep your eye on it) and don’t lose sight of what your goal is.
It’s important to act now, because the future will be shaped by what we do today.
Whether it’s a minor change like helping out someone in need, or an ambitious change like ending global hunger, working toward a better future starts with what we do today.
As the great philosopher Mahatma Gandhi once said, “We must become the change we want to see in the world.” So if you’re looking to make a difference and shape our collective tomorrow for the better, start by changing yourself.
It’s never too late to make a better tomorrow for yourself and for others.
It’s never too late to make a better tomorrow for yourself and for others. But before we can focus on how to build a brighter future, it’s important to understand the nuances of what a future is.
The future is simply the time that comes next. In this sense, there are two types of futures: your personal one and the world’s collective one. The present moment serves as your bridge from what you’ve done in the past to what you plan to do in the future. We can think about our futures on multiple levels:
- On an individual level, building a better tomorrow might mean working toward a fulfilling career or strengthening relationships with loved ones.
- On a societal level, building better futures could look like protecting our environment through recycling programs or reducing crime and improving law enforcement in our local communities.
How we act during this specific moment will have an impact on what happens next—and that’s why it’s so important not to take any day for granted!