The future is often portrayed in our collective imaginations as a looming force — a formidable wave, inexorable and unyielding, hurtling towards us with the full weight of inevitability. But what if the future wasn’t a destination, but rather a narrative we get to actively author for ourselves? What if we thought of the word future as a verb — an act of creation rather than a static endpoint? As renowned management consultant Peter Drucker is famously quoted as saying, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” This perspective empowers us with agency; our decisions and deeds today are the pen strokes defining tomorrow. They are the architects of enduring change, sculpting a future that reflects our deepest aspirations and values.
Behavioral Psychologist Hal Hershfield’s research at UCLA unveils a profound psychological distance between our present and future selves. When we contemplate our futures, we often perceive our future identities as strangers — distinct and detached from who we are today. This psychological separation can lead us to treat our future selves as entirely different individuals, disconnected from the immediate choices we make. It’s a dissociation that suggests the repercussions of our current decisions will impact someone else, not the person staring back at us in the mirror. This mindset can profoundly affect how we approach our long-term well-being, financial security, and life choices, underscoring the importance of forging a stronger bond with the person we will become.
For decades, the silver screen and television have painted a future brimming with promise and excitement—a utopian vision where technology liberates us, work is a choice rather than a necessity, and society flourishes in harmony. Yet, as we navigate the realities of the 21st century, this cinematic dream remains elusive. We find ourselves entrenched in longer work hours, grappling with the paradox of increased technological connectivity that has, paradoxically, carved deeper societal divisions. The once-ignored whispers of environmental degradation now roar with undeniable presence, manifesting in extreme weather events and ecological crises that shake the very ground beneath us. Our collective sentiment towards tomorrow has undergone a stark transformation—from eager anticipation to a pervasive sense of foreboding. The future, once a canvas of potential and progress, now looms as a specter to be evaded, a tide of challenges we are reluctant to face and shape.
UCLA Neuroscientist Dean Buonomano provides a compelling insight into our cognitive dissonance with the modern world. He observes that the world we have constructed is starkly different from the one in which our evolutionary roots were planted. Our brains, sculpted by the hands of ancient pressures and needs, now navigate a landscape saturated with information and complexity. This mismatch means that our innate cognitive tools, our brains, are “ill-adapted” for the intricate world we’ve built—a world where planning for the future is not just possible but critical. Yet, despite our remarkable capability to anticipate and shape our destinies, we often fall short of leveraging this potential to its fullest extent. It’s a paradox of progress; our brains are capable of extraordinary foresight, yet we’re not fully attuned to harnessing this power in the pursuit of long-term goals.
Leah Zaidi, a visionary in the field of futures studies, approaches the concept of the future with a storyteller’s imagination. To her, the future is really a set of ideas we all engage in. It’s a narrative woven from the collective aspirations and actions of humanity. It’s a canvas of possibilities, where each brushstroke of innovation or policy can alter the emerging picture. This perspective sees the future as inherently malleable, a realm shaped by our ideas and the stories we tell ourselves about what is to come. In this light, the future is less a concrete reality awaiting us and more an open field, ripe for the sowing of novel concepts and ways of existing. It’s an invitation to dream and, more importantly, to act on those dreams to craft new realities.
At our best, we humans transcend the confines of our individual lives. We lift our gaze beyond the immediacy of today, recognizing that we are threads woven into the vast tapestry of time. Our ancestors toiled, dreamed, and sacrificed, bequeathing to us the world we inhabit today. And we, in turn, are stewards for those yet unborn. This perspective invites us to think beyond our own lifetimes—to consider the legacy we leave behind.
Yet, why does short-term thinking persist in our daily lives? Why do we prioritize immediate gains over enduring impact? Perhaps it’s the urgency of deadlines, the cacophony of distractions, or the allure of instant gratification. But what if we embraced a systems thinking approach? What if we evaluated our actions not only by their present consequences but also by their ripple effects across time? By doing so, we become architects of a more intentional future—a future where our decisions resonate through the ages, where the cornerstones we lay today shape the soaring cathedrals of tomorrow.
Let’s honor the legacy of our ancestors by tending to the foundations of our shared existence. Because the future is not a distant shore—it is the very soil beneath our feet, waiting for our touch, our care, and our vision. As we wield our chisels of intention, let us remember that we are not merely observers of the future; we are its co-authors. And in this sacred act of creation, we find purpose, continuity, and the promise of a cathedral worthy of generations yet unborn.
Leah Zaidi’s insights into our societal systems reveal a stark truth: our struggle with long-term thinking has led us to create structures that inherently favor short-term outcomes. This isn’t a flaw of design but rather an intentional feature. The systems governing our lives—economic, political, social—are not malfunctioning; they are performing precisely as intended. This realization prompts a critical inquiry: for whom are these systems optimized? Zaidi challenges us to consider the beneficiaries of the status quo and to recognize that, often, these systems are not calibrated for the collective good but for select interests. This understanding is not a call to despair, but a rallying cry for reimagining and redesigning our societal frameworks with a focus on inclusivity and sustainability, ensuring they serve not just the few but the many, not just for now but for the future.
Bren Smith’s remarkable journey growing up as a young boy dreaming of a life at sea to a pioneering regenerative ocean-farmer encapsulates a profound transformation, both personal and ecological. Raised in Newfoundland, Canada, where fishing is not just an occupation but a cultural cornerstone, Smith witnessed the devastating collapse of cod stocks — a stark revelation of the consequences of unsustainable industrial fishing practices generating 30,000 lost jobs in the region. This pivotal moment reshaped his understanding of environmentalism, extending it beyond the conservation of wildlife to encompass the very sustenance of human communities. Today, Smith’s work off the coast of Connecticut represents a beacon of hope and innovation. His 10-acre ocean farm, a thriving ecosystem of kelp, stands as a testament to the potential of the sea as a source of sustainable livelihoods. Kelp, with its myriad uses from nutrient-rich food to bioplastics, symbolizes a shift in narrative — from exploitation of the oceans to stewardship, from depletion to regeneration. Smith’s vision is clear: the sea’s future story must be one of renewal and coexistence, where humanity’s role is redefined as caretakers rather than conquerors. It’s a call to millions to join in reimagining our relationship with the oceans, to collectively craft a future where the bounty of the sea is matched by our respect and responsibility towards it.
The notion of planting seeds for better futures transcends borders and circumstances. Whether we stand on bustling city streets or quiet rural landscapes, the invitation remains open: sow the seeds of intention now and watch them bloom into a more resilient and compassionate world. Short-term thinking often leads to expedient choices—quick fixes that address immediate needs but neglect the deeper currents of consequence. Yet, when we stretch our gaze across the horizon of time, passion ignites, and vision crystallizes. We become informed custodians of possibility, stewards of legacies yet unwritten. What do we wish to resurrect from the soil of memory? What lost harmonies, forgotten wisdom or communal bonds do we seek to nurture? The inexorable march of time spares no one, but within its cadence lies our agency—the power to shape the future by the actions we take today. So, let’s plant seeds of empathy, innovation, and resilience, knowing that the harvest belongs not just to us but to generations yet to be born. For time’s progress is unwavering, and our role is to dance with it, weaving threads of purpose into the grand tapestry of existence.
For a time Being, time means nothing, but timing is everything !!!!! Just saying