I have a somewhat interesting take on life and it is quite obvious to be honest with you. I have always considered life at any time, to be a sum total of every single past decision, no matter how small or how big.
I think I have mentioned this in some of my previous posts too. Anyways, you are in this moment right now because of your past decisions. And I don’t just mean you reading this post in this moment.
Your career, your friend circle, your health status, financial status and every other aspect of your life is defined by your past. That’s kind of obvious, if you think about it right?
So, basically what I am trying to say is that the present is defined by our past. But what about the future? Does the future have to be defined by our past too?
To Some Extent, Yes!
Technically, the future and the past are divided by a very blurry, fleeting moment we call the present. Think about it. One second from now will become one second ago, within a snap of the finger! The whole moment transitions from the future to the past and the present can be considered as just the transition period.
So, with that line of thought, of course, the past defines the future because we simply can’t change within a second. I hope I am explaining myself clearly here.
In simpler words, the past defines your short term future. For there to be a totally different future, you would have to change the old patterns. Patterns, being the most important term here.
It might be difficult to notice sometimes but we all have a pattern of living and that basically shapes our future. So, any drastic change in the future, would require a drastic change in this pattern.
The Past Doesn’t Have To Define The Future
Of course, even a single decision can lead to a big difference in the future. The butterfly effect states as much. We have all heard of stories where a single small decision saved some people’s lives.
But, I think I am talking here about a more conscious change or a more conscious set of pattern that we would like for ourself in the immediate or even a more distant future.
Let’s say you have been going through some really bad phase in regards to your health. All this, because of your bad habits. So, in the immediate future, of course, the effects of those habits will last.
But a conscious choice of doing away with all those bad habits and only applying the good ones, would ensure a healthy future, albeit in a more distant future. We all have the power of shaping our future. We just need conscious effort.