Do you want to shape your future? Set goals…but keep today top of mind

Many people will insist that our future is predetermined. They believe that our lives have been planned well in advance and there are certain things we are destined to experience. Consequently, they will suggest that it doesn’t much matter what decisions we make or what we do, because we are not in control of what happens in our life.

The alternaview:
The alternaview is that while it is most definitely true that we all have a specific purpose and there are certain things we are meant to experience, we have not only the ability, but also the responsibility to shape our future. We can by all means impact how our future plays out by understanding our desires, creating intentions, setting goals and making good decisions.

Tomorrow is not as out of our control as some may suggest and as a result, we need to understand the most effective approach and be cognizant of the decisions we are making that are having an impact. One of the most important things for us to understand is that setting goals and working toward them plays a large role in shaping our future.

People speak about the importance of setting goals all the time and that is because it really does play an instrumental role in determining what we will do today and where we will be tomorrow. Setting and working toward goals provide us with the ability to direct our days according to where we want to ultimately be. By knowing in the back of our minds where we want to go, we are able to focus our energy and effort on our plans daily and this provides structure and clarity as we move through life.

However…

That does not mean you should become obsessed about the future and where you are trying to go. You can’t be so obsessed with tomorrow that you reduce your focus and appreciation for today.

While we should always set goals and know what we are working toward, what is equally as important, is understanding the role that today plays in our future. What you do today, how you feel today, what you think today will determine how things play out in the future and therein lies the importance of focusing and appreciating the day that is right in front of you.

You should never sacrifice your focus on today and your appreciation for being exactly where you are because you are hoping for something better and always looking forward to the future. We can never allow one day to go by where we don’t have an underlying appreciation and understanding of our current experience. It is not that we aren’t driven and working toward accomplishing more and more, but rather that we know we are in our current position for a reason and we have a sense of gratitude for being exactly where we are.

This realization is important because it allows us to appreciate today and the present moment and that provides us with the necessary positive energy that will shape our future in the way we desire. Although it may not be transparent, there is a strong correlation between the emotions and feelings you experience today and your ability to accomplish what you are desiring in the future. It can be easy to overlook the connection between the two because it is not always apparent, but once we realize that there is by all means a strong correlation, we can ensure we are creating the necessary conditions, thoughts and feelings today so that we can have the tomorrow we desire. And, the only way that can effectively happen is by focusing on and appreciating today.

How to use this alternaview:
1. Set goals. By all means set goals and work toward them. In order to shape where you are going, you have to intend to be going somewhere and so it is important to figure out what you want and where you want to go. Knowing that you can shape your future by having intentions and setting goals should provide you with the motivation you need to seriously devote required time, focus and attention to setting goals. Don’t take this lightly because the ability to shape your future is an amazing opportunity that you should by all means take advantage of. As long as you approach things in the appropriate manner, you can play a very active role in determining how things play out.

2. Live and appreciate today. Although you have intentions for your future, you need to live in the moment and appreciate the day that is in front of you. There is so much to be learned everyday that will provide you with the insights and information you need to accomplish your goals and this reality should never be overlooked or taken for granted. Appreciate your current job, your current lessons and even your current challenges because you realize they are all there for a reason and will play an instrumental role tomorrow.

3. Realize the connection between your feelings today and shaping your tomorrow. You should consistently remind yourself of the connection between today and tomorrow because it can easily be overlooked. However, once you realize the connection, it will be much easier to ensure you are doing what you should be doing today and focusing on the right things. It is absolutely the case that your ability to focus on today and feel energized by today will impact how your tomorrow turns out. This should always be kept top of mind.

While it is most definitely important to set goals and dream about tomorrow, we need to be able to recognize the importance of not getting too caught up in where we are going. It is a fine line that we need to walk and there is a perfect balanced approach that we need to learn. However, once we are able to strike that perfect balance between focusing on today and working toward tomorrow, everything unfolds in the way we desire…this is the alternaview.