The Past DOES Equal the Future (Blog)

[Angela]

Originally Posted by spirit4711

In a sense it raised my awareness around this belief of 'everything is possible'. I'm happy to say that belief I still hold firmly. Steve's trigger was like a test of that belief.

Gotcha. (the whole post, I mean.) Me, too.

Originally Posted by impaul99

The best way I have found to change the future is not to change ACTIONS in the NOW, but rather to change people's perceptions of the past to be more accurate.

Really well said, Paul. (the whole post, I mean.) I was delightfully reminded of this during my recent move, when I went through some old photos and letters, and had to laugh at some of the things I believed at a deeply unconscious level, despite bold evidence to the contrary. It wasn't seeing the physical evidence that changed my thinking (that doesn't work very well with limiting beliefs, does it! ), it was deliberately shifting my perspective, with the help of an excellent coach in some cases and on my own in others.

Originally Posted by ssandra

It reminds us that for change to happen, we have to make it happen.

ssandra, well, change happens even if you don't deliberately make it happen. But I think i get what you mean: making the results we consciously want happen is up to us, it's not going to just happen *to* us.

I'm a little surprised to hear you say this (in my mind-reading ear!), because it's among the most basic concepts of personal development -- it might even be the most intrinsic concept of personal development. I would have considered that just about everyone who participates on a personal development forum, at least, would have that one tattooed on the insides of their eyelids (metaphorically speaking, of course. )

But you may be right -- it's good to be reminded of even the most basic concepts every once in awhile. But the concept that we must change things if we want them to change is not equivalent to "the past equals the future." Even the concept that "the results you've gotten in the past are a likely indicator of the results you'll get going forward" is not equivalent to "the past equals the future."

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by Angela

ssandra, well, change happens even if you don't deliberately make it happen. But I think i get what you mean: making the results we consciously want happen is up to us, it's not going to just happen *to* us.

Yes, that is what I mean of course

I'm a little surprised to hear you say this (in my mind-reading ear!), because it's among the most basic concepts of personal development -- it might even be the most intrinsic concept of personal development. I would have considered that just about everyone who participates on a personal development forum, at least, would have that one tattooed on the insides of their eyelids (metaphorically speaking, of course. )

That is what i call delusional optimism:

Reading a self help book, being all enthousiastic about all the change, yet not doing the exercises (or not doing them for more then a day).

Reading about going raw, starting a trial and giving up after 3 weeks.

If you do enough stuff, you might get the feeling that you are "working on yourself". You are "trying".
When in fact, you are actually doing nothing.
Yet you keep being optimistic about the future, thinking things will change, in a year I will be thin, happy, productive, what have you.
Without taking the actions and following through on the actions that will take you there.

It doesn't matter much of those actions are changing believe or making habits... I guess different things work for different people.

One thing about delusional optimism is that it seems that you have no limiting believes, or negative unconscious believes about yourself (SEEMS, not reality of course )
So, that makes it very difficult to actually change them...

But you may be right -- it's good to be reminded of even the most basic concepts every once in awhile. But the concept that we must change things if we want them to change is not equivalent to "the past equals the future." Even the concept that "the results you've gotten in the past are a likely indicator of the results you'll get going forward" is not equivalent to "the past equals the future."

I liked it, because of the kick in the ass value Sometimes you have overstate things to get through my thick skull...

If he would have worded it like you said...? I would have gotten into my delusional optimism mode and said: oh, yes they are a likely indicator maybe, but my future is going to be different. I'm going to be great. I'm going to be fantastic. etc.

So, although technically it might not be true (agree with all of you here) for some people, who are like me, the shock value is worth more then accurate wording

[Angela]

Originally Posted by ssandra

That is what i call delusional optimism:

Seeing this makes me wonder if you've ever read anything I've written (not that you *should*.)

Of course if you only believe you have the power to make changes in your life, and you don't ever bother to use that power, you probably won't get the results you want. (the power, by the way, doesn't always require action, in the way we normally think about action. Often extraordinary change results from a simple shift in perspective -- the world literally transforms before your eyes, and your life unfolds from that point forward in an entirely different way, effortlessly).

It has nothing to do with optimism; and I think you're right -- if you believe you have no more limiting beliefs, you're probably fooling yourself. (I mean "one", not you personally.) Being alert to the installation or running of limiting beliefs is a useful tool in noticing and releasing them. That's why I remark upon the notion that "the past equals the future."

By the way:

One thing about delusional optimism is that it seems that you have no limiting believes, or negative unconscious believes about yourself (SEEMS, not reality of course )

I hope you didn't mean that as snidely as I read it -- it sounds like you are implying that, being delusionally optimistic ("that is what I call delusional optimism" about something you quoted me saying), I believe I have no limiting beliefs?

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by Angela

Seeing this makes me wonder if you've ever read anything I've written (not that you *should*.)

Of course if you only believe you have the power to make changes in your life, and you don't ever bother to use that power, you probably won't get the results you want. (the power, by the way, doesn't always require action, in the way we normally think about action. Often extraordinary change results from a simple shift in perspective -- the world literally transforms before your eyes, and your life unfolds from that point forward in an entirely different way, effortlessly).

It has nothing to do with optimism; and I think you're right -- if you believe you have no more limiting beliefs, you're probably fooling yourself. (I mean "one", not you personally.) Being alert to the installation or running of limiting beliefs is a useful tool in noticing and releasing them. That's why I remark upon the notion that "the past equals the future."

I'm wondering if we are misunderstanding each other again What I meant was not that what you said was Delusional Optimism. Absolutely not.

What I mean was that what my problem is, is Delusional Optimism. Which is a mind set that I tried to explain...

Sorry if I came across wrong there Wrong use of quoting I guess...

I believe that what you are teaching here on the forums is extremely valuable. I know that you have played a great part in shifting my perspective about being responsible 100% for my own feelings, which has made my life A LOT better

Its just... shifting of perspective is a great help, I truly believe that that is what makes the most deep and profound changes happen. But if you feel that you are daily already in the right mind set?
That you already feel that you can do whatever you want to do?
That there is nothing stopping you from doing what you want to do? If in your conscious you believe that you truly believe that?

How do you shift your perspective from that? When you cannot see what is stopping you? When it isn't that clear?

In order not to derail this thread too much, I've started another one, where hopefully I explain a bit better what I mean: Delusional Optimism

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by Angela

By the way:

I hope you didn't mean that as snidely as I read it -- it sounds like you are implying that, being delusionally optimistic ("that is what I call delusional optimism" about something you quoted me saying), I believe I have no limiting beliefs?

No, like I said, miss use of quoting on my part. Sorry!!

I meant that I believe, I don't have any limiting believes stopping me from what I want.. which is not true, because otherwise I would be doing stuff, and I am not. That is where the delusional comes in. Talking about me, not you

[Angela]

Originally Posted by ssandra

I'm wondering if we are misunderstanding each other again What I meant was not that what you said was Delusional Optimism. Absolutely not.

Okay, got it. Thanks!

But if you feel that you are daily already in the right mind set?
That you already feel that you can do whatever you want to do?
That there is nothing stopping you from doing what you want to do? If in your conscious you believe that you truly believe that?

How do you shift your perspective from that? When you cannot see what is stopping you? When it isn't that clear?

I think that's two different things: believing you can get the results you want, and recognizing that if you are not getting the results you want, there is something stopping you (and then examining what that something may be).

It's not delusional to believe you can get the results you want: we do have limitless power to change. But it may be delusional to believe that we are using that power effectively.

[Savage]

Personally I'm delighted to see that this post is doing exactly what I intended from it -- to stimulate deeper thought on the topic of how much conscious control we really wield over our lives... as opposed to being pawns of the past. I love writing articles where I know that some people will love it and some will hate it because they tend to do a good job of nudging people to re-evaluate their beliefs.

I agree that delusional optimism is a real problem in this field.

For all your efforts at conscious growth, what do you have to show for it? It's wise to do a reality check to make sure you aren't just spinning your wheels.

Getting good at prediction is a big part of personal growth -- and too often overlooked. If we can increase the accuracy of our predictions for others, it helps us align with Truth in ourselves too.

Yesterday I posted a public prediction on Twitter and Facebook that singer Kelly Clarkson would soon drop her tobacco sponsorship for her upcoming concert in Indonesia, despite the fact that she claimed her hands were tied and wasn't going to budge. Sure enough... today it was announced that the sponsorship has been dropped.

This reality is a lot more predictable than most people realize.

[spirit4711]

LOL Ssandra and Angela misunderstanding eachother while I understand their posts perfectly well. So much for 'Women from Venus, men from Mars' language problems. Another belief down the drain.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by spirit4711

LOL Ssandra and Angela misunderstanding eachother while I understand their posts perfectly well. So much for 'Women from Venus, men from Mars' language problems. Another belief down the drain.

I don't think it has anything to do with gender; it's often just easier to see stuff like that from the outside! But maybe you could be our mediator if it ever happens again.

[spirit4711]

Originally Posted by Angela

But maybe you could be our mediator if it ever happens again.

I´d love to! Just let me know when the next cat fight is. I´ll bring the bucket with cold water.

[ssandra]

I take full and complete responsibilty for this miss communication issue..

Lately I tend to forget again that other people do not live inside my head and do not make the same jumps in reasoning as I do.

Nor should I expect them to.

I knew this already but it has been slipping into the background in the last few days...

So this thread is a wake up call in more then one way for me

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by spirit4711

I´d love to! Just let me know when the next cat fight is. I´ll bring the bucket with cold water.

Angela and I don't fight. We are LADIES!

We disagree, tell each other how the other view point is completely valid, point out the flaws in each others arguments politely, say how there might be a better one to try on for the other person...

And then we agree with each other again

Isn't that a lot better then making war, calling names and cat-fighting?

Ok, I guess if you are an innocent bystander and a guy... maybe not

[Angela]

Originally Posted by ssandra

Lately I tend to forget again that other people do not live inside my head and do not make the same jumps in reasoning as I do.

I just did this the other day, dashing off something that, when I read it later, sounded really crappola and mean, and not at all what I had intended to convey. Owch!

Originally Posted by ssandra

Angela and I don't fight. We are LADIES!

Indeed. We are even planning to have tea together soon! (or maybe some lady-like cocktails.)

the next cat fight

Understanding one moment, misunderstanding the next!

I really enjoy talking with ssandra a LOT ... I love that we disagree a lot and help each other see blind spots, and that she's humorous and generous and loving, even when she's dead wrong about something. (er, I mean, when we don't see things the same way.)

How long have you been a moderator, by the way? Congratulations on that!

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by Angela

I really enjoy talking with ssandra a LOT ... I love that we disagree a lot and help each other see blind spots, and that she's humorous and generous and loving, even when she's dead wrong about something. (er, I mean, when we don't see things the same way.)

How long have you been a moderator, by the way? Congratulations on that!

For 2 whole days thank you

I like disagreeing as well it makes me actually think about what I believe and why I believe it.

Just for the record; I am NEVER wrong If I change my mind it is just because I forgot that that was what I was saying and thinking all along

I like that Angela can point out flaws in logic or present other points of view without the "I am right and you are wrong" mentality. While basically making the point "I am right and you are wrong"

[Angela]

Originally Posted by ssandra

i like that angela can point out flaws in logic or present other points of view without the "i am right and you are wrong" mentality. While basically making the point "i am right and you are wrong"

lol!

I've had my perspective and beliefs shifted here in the forums by other people doggedly expressing their point of view -- in very useful ways.

[rgmwilliams]

Originally Posted by spirit4711

LOL Ssandra and Angela misunderstanding each other while I understand their posts perfectly well. So much for 'Women from Venus, men from Mars' language problems. Another belief down the drain.

I wholeheartedly agree with you!!!! We're INDIVIDUALS first and foremost; our gender (and other rolls) come after that.

[spirit4711]

Originally Posted by ssandra

Angela and I don't fight. We are LADIES!

Originally Posted by Angela

Indeed. We are even planning to have tea together soon! (or maybe some lady-like cocktails.)

Ganging up on me? No problem, I can use the ice water also when you're friendly with each other. But only if you least expect it.

[Federer]

Originally Posted by Federer

Steve,

When you said change your past, i got your message. We should change our visualization patterns. I am still thinking, you are trying to say if you change images of your mind, then your thinking will automatically change. Thinking changes then it becomes easy to change action patterns.

Right?

Is there anyone who can take care about my thinking?

I believe i am member of this group discussion.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by Federer

Is there anyone who can take care about my thinking?

I believe i am member of this group discussion.

It is one way of going about it.

Another way is to start thinking differently from this moment on.

Another way is to change your habits and let your thinking follow.

[spirit4711]

Originally Posted by Federer

Is there anyone who can take care about my thinking?

I believe i am member of this group discussion.

True but there are only 12 hours between your 2 posts. Feeling impatient?

BTW you don't react to others' replies either.

Lots of my replies don't get reactions. If I received a buck for each of them I'd take a long holiday.

[cacheborn]

I was a little surprised to see so many people having different opinions about this. I went through the post again to see if I had missed anything. The second time, it reminded of Steve's podcast on frustrating problems. Simply put, you have to accept the reality in your life as it is now. Unless you realise what your actions are broadcasting, perhaps unconsciously, it would be difficult for you to achieve your goals.

If your goal is to run a marathon in a year from now, you have to practice everyday. Only visualising that goal will not get you anywhere.

[Federer]

Originally Posted by spirit4711

True but there are only 12 hours between your 2 posts. Feeling impatient?

BTW you don't react to others' replies either.

Lots of my replies don't get reactions. If I received a buck for each of them I'd take a long holiday.

Thank you ssandra.

You are right spirit4711, I can't reply to others. When i feel the topic is in relation with my thoughts then sure i talk with them.

I have to admit, i have problem on online discussion. I need support and i am asking for it. Sorry if i look weird or self-centered. Even i want to understand LOA properly. I hope you are understanding to this. I needed answer because i tried to understand it. I love to see when people talk here, so YES, i have desire to talk with you all,too.

[impaul99]

Originally Posted by ssandra

I absolutely get what you are saying, and you have a good point.

Thanks!

However, it is also important to realize that not everybody thinks and reacts the same as you do. Your clients mostly do probably, because those who don't wouldn't be your clients for a long time. There wouldn't be a match.

It doesn't matter if they are my clients or not. The Future does NOT Equal the Past for anyone. The world around us is constantly changing and at a faster pace every day. Even if the world didn't change, our lives change throughout our life cycle.

For example, just a few years ago, YouTube didn't exist. Google, Yahoo and MSN dominated the top 3 spots for search engines. Today YouTube is the #2 search engine in the world. It is being used as a search engine on PC's, iPhones, iPads, Xbox360, PS3, Nintendo Wii and all the new TV's now come with YouTube built into them.

This is just a tiny example, related to the Internet, but my point is that this kind of change affects EVERYONE, not just those who focus on their habits. If you're sitting still, it doesn't mean the world is sitting still around you. Everything changes.

Secondly, even if you don't change certain habits, the results those habits produce change over time.

I fail to see how my clients are any different than anyone else. We're all human beings. The world around us changes and we change all the time. The future does not equal the past for any of us. My clients or not.

There are those of us around here who keep believing that the future is different and things will be different and everything will change... yet do nothing to change them.

Delusional Optimism.

You're misunderstanding what I'm saying. I'm not saying that deluding yourself that things will IMPROVE without doing anything about them is true. I'm saying that things will CHANGE, and that the Future will NOT equal the Past. I'm saying that for these type of people you describe as "delusional optimists", things will most likely get WORSE!

For example, if someone eats Big Macs and burgers of that type of fast-food every day and in the last 2 years they've gained 10lbs, but don't exhibit any other ailments besides weight gain, it DOES NOT meant that in the next 2 years they're going to gain another 10lbs and everything else will stay the same.

What could happen is that they could gain 20lbs and have a heart attack!

For those of us who are like that, this post was a good one. It reminds us that for change to happen, we have to make it happen. Otherwise, sure it happens, but who knows how and when... things usually get worse if you don't do anything...

That's exactly what I'm saying. Things always change, for the better or for the worse. The belief "Future Does NOT Equal The Past" speaks that truth much more than "Past = Future" does it not?

This post wasn't for everybody and that is ok. But to say that it was for nobody really limits you, because you think/feel that everybody is / has to be like you and the people you know....

Not true. The only place I have ever seen PAST = FUTURE is in that movie "Groundhog Day" where the guy was re-living the exact same day every single day. However, even in that movie things changed because HE changed every day.

[spirit4711]

Originally Posted by Federer

I have to admit, i have problem on online discussion. I need support and i am asking for it. Sorry if i look weird or self-centered.

No problem and no need to apologize.

Even i want to understand LOA properly. I hope you are understanding to this. I needed answer because i tried to understand it. I love to see when people talk here, so YES, i have desire to talk with you all,too.

Online discussions are a bit different than real life discussions. The fact that you don't get a reply doesn't mean your contribution isn't valuable.

What I do if I really want a response and I don't get one: re-phrase.

[impaul99]

Originally Posted by seeker5

Impaul,

Did you read the whole post from Steve or just the first few paragraph before deciding he was wrong? I've heard other authors also declare that the past equals the future a few years ago and that was inspiring as it lead me to want to change my recent past by changing my current action.

Yes, I read the post twice.

If Steve said "Your future won't improve unless you change your habits to improve your future." I would have no problem with the post.

However, there is a big jump from that to "The Past DOES Equal the Future". That belief is misaligned from Truth.

In response to Steve's two author's examples, I could offer this example from my life:

Jenny (not her real name) was a smoker since age 16. Now in her mid-twenties she would often talk about quitting smoking. She would say "Tomorrow I'm quitting smoking" and she would quit...for a day or two. Then she would go back to quitting. In a four year period of time she "quit" smoking at least a dozen times each time going back to it.

One day Jenny said "I'm quitting smoking tomorrow" and my mind automatically tried to think "Past = Future" and I thought "She's not going to stick to it." I didn't see any big difference in THIS TIME as there was in any of her previous attempts to quit smoking.

It's been over two years and she hasn't touched a cigarette since. Once again the belief that "Future does not equal Past" was verified.

Just like Steve, I too keep daily journals spanning back over 14 years ago. When I looked at them a few months back I saw some of the same of the same patterns from the past in the future when looking at a 6 month time-span. This kind of depressed me at first because I started thinking "Nothing's changed..." and it's really EASY to think that.

However, I then had a second look and THIS time I asked myself what has changed in that 6 month period of time and I saw a TONNE of stuff has changed. It's easy to overlook those changes, but they are there.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by impaul99

I fail to see how my clients are any different than anyone else. We're all human beings. The world around us changes and we change all the time. The future does not equal the past for any of us. My clients or not.

What I meant is that for some people (like your clients maybe) this article would not be helpful, because it would make them feel helpless.

For other people (like me) this article was helpful, because it made me realize that just being happy and learning stuff doesn't work. You actually have to apply what you learn in order to have positive change.

You're misunderstanding what I'm saying. I'm not saying that deluding yourself that things will IMPROVE without doing anything about them is true. I'm saying that things will CHANGE, and that the Future will NOT equal the Past. I'm saying that for these type of people you describe as "delusional optimists", things will most likely get WORSE!

Yes, and I agree with you. Like I said in a previous post; even if the words "The past DOES equal the future" are technically untrue, they had enough of a shock value for me to actually reexamine what I have been doing.

The future equals the past in a way like saying : I am unhealthy now, if I keep doing what I am doing, I am going to stay unhealthy. The degree might be worse, but in general it is the same thing. Unhealthy.

That's exactly what I'm saying. Things always change, for the better or for the worse. The belief "Future Does NOT Equal The Past" speaks that truth much more than "Past = Future" does it not?

True, but the people who are similar like me (and I've seen plenty of them around these forums ) will not be served very much by the idea "Past Does NOT equal Future". Because we already know that. That is why we are reading so much and doing so little

In the article it also states that you can change your past within 1 second. If this very second I decide to get up and go to the gym, I've changed my past in the future. Or, I've changed my future past. If I continue doing that, I can easily say the Past Equals the Future. I have been going to the gym daily, and I will continue to go to the gym daily.

The past is not static. In order to change the future, you have to change your past, which is something you have to do in the present....

Basically: I didn't take it literally. of course things change. I could be hit by a bus tomorrow.. things changed. But, most likely, if I keep doing what I am doing, i will get similar results.

[James81]

Originally Posted by impaul99

Yes, I read the post twice.

If Steve said "Your future won't improve unless you change your habits to improve your future." I would have no problem with the post.

However, there is a big jump from that to "The Past DOES Equal the Future". That belief is misaligned from Truth.

In response to Steve's two author's examples, I could offer this example from my life:

Jenny (not her real name) was a smoker since age 16. Now in her mid-twenties she would often talk about quitting smoking. She would say "Tomorrow I'm quitting smoking" and she would quit...for a day or two. Then she would go back to quitting. In a four year period of time she "quit" smoking at least a dozen times each time going back to it.

One day Jenny said "I'm quitting smoking tomorrow" and my mind automatically tried to think "Past = Future" and I thought "She's not going to stick to it." I didn't see any big difference in THIS TIME as there was in any of her previous attempts to quit smoking.

It's been over two years and she hasn't touched a cigarette since. Once again the belief that "Future does not equal Past" was verified.

Just like Steve, I too keep daily journals spanning back over 14 years ago. When I looked at them a few months back I saw some of the same of the same patterns from the past in the future when looking at a 6 month time-span. This kind of depressed me at first because I started thinking "Nothing's changed..." and it's really EASY to think that.

However, I then had a second look and THIS time I asked myself what has changed in that 6 month period of time and I saw a TONNE of stuff has changed. It's easy to overlook those changes, but they are there.

I really think you're taking him too literally. And in that regard, his post about this is pretty confusing.

His point with this post from what I can gather is that the past will equal the future. So in order to CHANGE your future, you have to change your past. Which, in this case, means you have to start doing things in the PRESENT that will become your past, that will become your future.

Which is clear as frikin mud, I know.

Essentially the basis of his entire post is: take action today such that you create past reference points and habits that carry over into your future.

[Angela]

ssandra, Sasha was at it again, trying to get at your avatar, so this time I thought I'd capture a photo of her -- see if it's a love connection.

[ssandra]

Aaahhhh she is cute!

As soon as I get home I'll show her to Tortuga... See what happens

[impaul99]

Originally Posted by ssandra

What I meant is that for some people (like your clients maybe) this article would not be helpful, because it would make them feel helpless.

For other people (like me) this article was helpful, because it made me realize that just being happy and learning stuff doesn't work. You actually have to apply what you learn in order to have positive change.

Temporarily, the shock value of making a statement like "Past DOES Equal the Future" may light a fire under your butt, but because it is misaligned from Truth I believe it will not have a lasting impact.

Even if on the conscious level you use the limiting belief "Past = Future" to motivate short-term actions, having that belief installed in your subconscious is going to do more harm than good. Your subconscious is just going to take that belief at face value and think "What's the point?"

It's kind of like going to a doctor and him telling you "You have Cancer. You have to start eating healthy to have any chance of surviving." when that is not true. The doctor could justify it by saying "By lying to this person I'm going to light a fire under their butts to eat healthy so they don't end up having Cancer." Would you want that? Would you want to be motivated by a lie like that?

Even if consciously it "wakes you up" to go start eating healthy short term, the subconscious programming of the words "You have Cancer" spoken by a doctor to your face with a serious face and certainty can have a devastating effect on your biology. Bruce Lipton's work clearly shows that our biology responds to our beliefs, and our subconscious minds have the ability to manifest things that we believe to be true.

On a totally different side-note, you said "just being happy and learning stuff doesn't work". Is that really true? It sounds like you're trying to inject someone else's beliefs into your life. If you were my client I would advise you that if you enjoy learning and it makes you happy, then continue to do so. Just because you don't apply everything you learn, doesn't mean that the learning was useless. Some people learn things to immediately apply them in their lives right now, while others learn for the joy of learning and may not apply things until some point in the future.

Scanners like me are notorious for this. I took two years of advanced nutrition courses with no intention to ever be a "Nutritionist". I just learned about it because I thought it was fascinating. I train in martial arts with no intention to ever fight in any kind of competition or with anyone else. I train because I enjoy training. Of course it may one day prove to be useful, but I'm not going to feel bad that I haven't "applied" what I learned in class in "real life".

Yes, and I agree with you. Like I said in a previous post; even if the words "The past DOES equal the future" are technically untrue, they had enough of a shock value for me to actually reexamine what I have been doing.

Yes, it seems that Steve likes to do that a lot. Use shock value to pull people into conversations. However, I fear that any positive shock value this post may bring, will pale in comparison to the amount of damage installing false words (as you admitted above) like "The Past DOES Equal the Future" into your subconscious belief set.

It's your life, you can do whatever you like, but I for one do not accept that false belief regardless how much temporary "shock value motivation" it may or may not create in my immediate future.

The future equals the past in a way like saying : I am unhealthy now, if I keep doing what I am doing, I am going to stay unhealthy. The degree might be worse, but in general it is the same thing. Unhealthy.

That's a gross over-generalization. Your state of health changes from day to day. Even your state of mind changes your health. Let's say that for the last year you've been learning all about nutrition but haven't implemented anything yet. I would argue that you are much further along in your quest for health than you were a year ago, even if the "change habits" phase of the process hasn't been put into place yet.

Otherwise, you could say that an honor roll law student that's been actively pursuing a Law Degree for 8 years but hasn't taken the bar exam yet is as likely to become a practicing lawyer in the next 2 years as a high-school student just thinking about being a lawyer. Using the same over-generalization I could argue that they are the same - neither of them are lawyers.

True, but the people who are similar like me (and I've seen plenty of them around these forums ) will not be served very much by the idea "Past Does NOT equal Future". Because we already know that. That is why we are reading so much and doing so little

Not everyone is meant to "do a lot". Some people are "designers", not "implementers".

As Barbara Sher says in this short video, "You wouldn't ask a Hummingbird to pull a plow."

YouTube - Barbara Sher: Design, Execute, Maintain (France, April 2009)

In the article it also states that you can change your past within 1 second. If this very second I decide to get up and go to the gym, I've changed my past in the future. Or, I've changed my future past. If I continue doing that, I can easily say the Past Equals the Future. I have been going to the gym daily, and I will continue to go to the gym daily.

The past is not static. In order to change the future, you have to change your past, which is something you have to do in the present....

Basically: I didn't take it literally. of course things change. I could be hit by a bus tomorrow.. things changed. But, most likely, if I keep doing what I am doing, i will get similar results.

The problem is that when it comes to beliefs, our subconscious DOES take things literally even if consciously you can discern "Oh I get it, Steve's just using a shock headline, but he doesn't really mean that the past equals the future."

You can't consciously believe "Past = Future" and expect your subconscious to discern "The future will be better than the past as long as I change my habits" from that. Your subconscious takes things at face value.

It's kind of like when a kid comes from school with a bad report card and their parents yell at them "You'll NEVER amount to ANYTHING!" over and over again. They are implying "Unless you get your act straight and change your grades" in that statement, but the subconscious mind doesn't hear that.

30 Years later the guy is an adult, unable to experience success, because that limiting belief is still playing in his subconscious.