Participate, Don't Anticipate!

A natural function of the human brain is to consider how any particular situation is going to play out.  Being able to predict the outcome of an action or event is crucial not only for survival but for happiness.  The earliest humans undoubtedly regularly anticipated the future to insure successful hunting of prey: which way will dinner go? 

Predictive ability is therefore an evolutionary skill.  And yet this ability can turn into a liability when taken to extremes.  As an example, one characteristic of people who are prone to excessive anxiety is to spend an inordinate amount of time focusing on what might happen.  This is the wellspring of what can grow to become an unhealthy obsession.  Planning to achieve or avoid a certain outcome can become so consuming that it prevents actively being “in the moment”.  This is a case where “if”prevents “is”.  Before long fantasy (imagining something that will only exist in the future, if at all) takes time and energy away from reality (obviously, what actually exists in the present). 

Fantasy is often unconsciously used as a way to deal with anxiety.  This is why I recommend becoming skilled at:

1.  noticing periods of intensified fantasy (as measured by how often it occurs, how intense it is and/or how long it lasts, i.e. frequency, severity, duration) and then to take two more  related steps:
2.  coming back to the “here and now”, and
3.  reflecting on what thoughts, feelings or events were just occurring immediately prior to the flight into fantasy, in order to deal with them in a healthier, more direct manner.

Staying engaged in the present moment is helpful in reducing anxiety and letting go of preconceived notions of how something should work out.  Rather than attempting to anticipate how a course of action will unfold, endeavor to simply participate in the moment without “future tripping”.  This creates a haven for happiness that does not depend on the future.

This strategy is consistent with what I consider to be two important principles: (a) we often don’t really know what kind of future is best for us, and (b) basing the worth of an action on a specific outcome takes us away from basic principle or serenity, i.e. being ok in the moment. Focusing on an outcome rather than a process turns us once again from human beings into human doings. 

Of course this does not mean that we should not prepare for our future by thinking ahead.  Fantasy is not the same as planning or vision.  Obviously it’s important to chart a course through life based upon certain realities, i.e. we will get older and our needs will change.  Also, a vision or quest for our higher self allows us to find the best opportunities for growth.  We may not reach it, but as Goethe wrote "A man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's heaven for?"

Future tripping is only one of a number of ways we can overuse fantasy like it's cognitive junk food.  I hope to eventually to eventually write a series of articles on what I consider to be the inherent danger of “fantasy addiction”, such as re-imagining our past based on what we wish we had done, projecting our insecurities onto other people by “comparing our inside with their outside”, and so forth.  

So remember, rather than overly anticipating where your life will head, fully occupy this moment by participating where you are.

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