Most of us believe that we need to make changes and certain choices which are better for us such as save more money, reduce gas consumption, eat healthier, or exercise more but we do not carry out these choices. This is a common psychological stressor which causes a “want-should” conflict. It is easier for us to consider all necessary changes and improvements in the context of tomorrow or in the future. The concept of implementing it in the present and making the change now is terrifying and debilitating. When making decisions we often think that we can make certain choices but do not want to make them right now.

Psychological experiments have shown that people are more likely to choose what they believe they should choose when the choice will be implemented in the future rather than implemented immediately; a tendency which is referred in the literature as “future lock-in.” Future implemented choices are construed at a higher level than immediately implemented choices, and this difference mediates the increased support for the should choice resulting in future implementation. All of us feel that in our future we will behave more virtuously and be better. Even though we are doing nothing actively to reach that level we all tend to think that we all are going to feel and do better in our future.

This type of thinking is consistent with our form of government in which we are living now at the expense of our future. Everyone realizes that we are spending and doing things that we do not have money for. However, the belief is that in our future we will be much more prosperous and, therefore, will be able to pay for our current needs. This type of mentality is interpreted on the personal level as well. People end up over charging and spending because their opinion is that they need it now and want the gratification now with the belief that in the future there will be some kind of prosperity or answers to help them meet their needs.

This type of future-lock can only temporarily sooth us and help us because there is no doubt that the burden which we create for ourselves either financially or personally will always be noted and be constant, and as such trying to be happy is an impossibility. You must learn to live for the moment. All we can effectively do is deal with the present. The past can no longer be changed and the future is not under our control. What is under our control is our daily actions and our daily living. It is better for us to shorten our future to an 8 hour span, or possibly 12, and no further. On a daily basis it is best for us to set goals that we can accomplish within that day versus setting goals that will be accomplished years in the future. This is not to say that a person should not have dreams or aspirations. However, it is clear that in order to meet those dreams and aspirations there must be some active pursuance and diligence on a daily basis. If one does not act in that manner there is no future gratification as well.

Being responsible and attentive to our daily needs and those of our loved ones is the primary focus of how to achieve future success. Making the difficult choices and the difficult changes on a daily basis is the only way that there will be a healthy and happy future.

 

This entry was posted on Friday, April 23rd, 2010 at 6:26 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.