Interrogating the Future

"Let us be of good cheer, however, remembering that the misfortunes hardest to bear are those which never come." ~James Russell Lowell It is curious that we humans spend so much time pondering the future that we can miss the happiness and clues for fulfillment in the present moment. Recently, I caught myself feeling anxiety about what might happen in the next couple of days. It was not that anything planned was unpleasant; quite the contrary. Why then did I feel anxious? When I dug deeper, I realized that I wanted to be sure everything happened just as I had planned. My worry was about the unknown. What if “that” happened? What if “that” didn't happen? Oh my! I started thinking about how often I “interrogate the future.” That is, I question what might happen, fearful that what will happen might derail my well-dreamed-of expectations of the way it ought to be. However, what happens or doesn’t happen in the future isn’t always something to fear. How many times has life transformed mysteriously and wonderfully without the aid of any preconceived notions? Surprise events — like gifts from the Good Fairy, finding my comfortable home, encountering a fascinating new friend, and receiving invitations to speak — have appeared to enrich my life. I did not need to know about them ahead of time to benefit from and enjoy them. Even when the unexpected appeared at first to be dreadful, in time I usually grew to realize the underlying gift of evolutionary growth that came from it. Noticing my anxiety brings the awareness that I want to control my life or believe I know what is best for me. However, I don’t always consciously know what is best. My role is to imagine or intend what I would like, but then let it go and gratefully receive whatever enters my life as a gift of what is best for the next step in my life’s journey. This topic is quite appropriate right now because, in the next few years, the rate of breakdown of old ways brought about by innovations and change is likely to accelerate. We all will need to beware of “interrogating the future” when feeling fear and trepidation about the unknown. Rather than worry about the future, it is best to put your focus on being mindful of all that you have in this present moment. Are you healthy? Are you fed? Are you clothed and warm? Do you give and receive love? If the answers are yes, then you are better off than many others. I know of no better way to prime the pump of abundance and happiness than to appreciate what you already have in this moment. Open up to the mystery and miracle that is present in your life right here and now. Excerpted from my book, Conscious Footsteps: Finding Spirit in Everyday Matters