Bake Off on April 7, 2011

The April 4th Phillip Chard article was discussed:

Don't let future rob you of the present     April 4, 2011
Are you into predicting the future?

Most of us are. I'm not referring to those pundit soothsayer types who try to forecast economic trends, the next big thing or the arrival of the "end times."

Nonetheless, our tendency to listen to these self-proclaimed oracles reflects an innate human need to see around the next temporal corner. Of course, occasionally one of them gets it right, which reinforces the idea that humans really can see what lies ahead. But, as we say, even a blind squirrel digs up a chestnut now and then.

Ever since our ancestors acquired the ability to think ahead, we've been making prophecies about the future. And, undoubtedly, accurate forecasting can provide an edge in the struggle for survival.

When humans were nomadic hunter-gatherers, some learned to read the sky, affording better guesses about coming weather. Others watched the habits and growth patterns of animals and plants, allowing them to exercise more influence over their surroundings and food sources.

But today in the personal realm, the need to predict often becomes dysfunctional rather than helpful. It can prevent us from enjoying the present moment and can morph into chronic worry and life-consuming obsessions.

"What will happen next?" can take over one's mental and interpersonal life. We stop observing the here-and-now and fantasize forward, conjuring all sorts of dangers and dire consequences.

Again, occasionally, one of these ominous predictions comes to pass, reinforcing the theory that we can see into our personal futures and, therefore, act to steer clear of what we fear and toward what we desire. Shrinks call this "intermittent reinforcement," and it's what keeps people gambling (another predictive activity) despite their losses.

For whatever reason, if we get it right every so often, this encourages us to keep engaging in that same behavior over and over, even though it fails the vast majority of the time. This same effect occurs when we witness other people occasionally making accurate predictions. We tend to dismiss their many failures in this regard and instead focus on that one time they got it right.

On a more positive note, the desire to predict can sometimes work in one's favor. When we pursue a personal ambition, in whatever form, we often forecast that doing so will bring us a better future. A positive prediction, then, can become a source of motivation and focus.

But, most of the time, predictions are lies we tell ourselves. They can be useful lies that encourage us to pursue our dreams or avoid too risky a course of action, or they can be harmful ones that freeze us with fear or consume our mental space with obsessive worry.

So if your version of "What will happen next?" takes you to a negative place, you may want to learn mindfulness meditation or undergo a course of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Both can help us stay in the present and exercise greater control over our thoughts.

Because not only is tomorrow promised to no one, it is also impossible to foresee.

Philip Chard is a psychotherapist, author and trainer. Names used in this column are changed to honor client confidentiality. E-mail him at pschard@earthlink.net or visit http://www.philipchard.com/.

     Discussion centered around the certainty of trying to determine what our future is. But these concerns and worries can be very negative and obsessive, then one might try Cognitive Behavior Therapy or meditation to concentrate on the here and now and avoid the fear and negativity. But if some positive predicting does occur, it may on occasion be right and then it might be a source of motivation and intentional behavior. In other words it might help us reach positive goals. Some discussion then followed about therapy and its costs. Todd said that if dollars are spent for 50 minute sessions of talk therapy, studies have shown that sum dollars spent for all medical care go down.
    There was also some discussion of PTSD which is an example of very negative thinking causing harm. In Iraq 23% of PTSD was in women, 3% in men.
     Todd recommended some further reading: Mary Ann Williamson has written many books about elements of the Course in Miracles. Gerald Jampolsky has written and spoken about attitudinal healing where bad things happen to us because of our attitudes. It is possible to develop a habit of positive attitudes and such attitudes help us in our daily living and increase the predictability of a positive life.