The Past DOES Equal the Future (Blog)

[Savage]

Use this thread to discuss the following entry from Steve Pavlina's blog:

The Past DOES Equal the Future

[JeremyNoelJohnson]

Interesting take on this. Paraphrasing you, "Tony Robbins is dead wrong." You certainly don't hold any punches, that's for sure, I admire that.

I can definitely see patterns in my life. The most glaring pattern is the frivolous use of time cycling back and forth between email, stat tracking, and social networking websites. My most productive times are where I've been predictable in my schedule and what I'm working on. It's how I finished a book. It's how I got in the best shape of my life with P90X.

My frustrations come when I don't have a set order to what I am trying to accomplish. When I wake up and bounce around like a pinball thinking and wondering. It isn't until I sit my butt down (or get up and workout) and focus on a specific thing that I see any progress. Thanks for sharing this perspective.

And the guy who spent 2 hours every morning writing, my money is on him for completion of the book.

[James81]

Interesting take on this.

I was actually just thinking about this (kind of) after coming out of the movie Hot Tub Time Machine (which was entertaining btw).

I've noticed a very clear idea that most people tend to gravitate to is that they wish they could just change one thing in their past and everything would've been better for them. If they only had a time machine, they would go back and change something important...some mistake they made they would correct...etc.

And yet, everyday, they (we I should say, I'm guilty of this too) continue in the same patterns that created in the mistakes in the first place. Everyday we neglect to realize that, while we don't have the power to change the past, we DO have the power to change our futures. What if instead of being so gung-ho about changing a mistake in the past, we pretended that we arrived HERE, in our present, from some point in the future to change the mistakes and patterns we are currently making.

Your post very much resonates with that line of thought, methinks.

[Norm]

Hi Steve,
This is my first post on this forum. In fact I've not really posted much anywhere but I'll jump in start something new by stating my point of view here. I am open to your guidance as I proceed.

I agree that this is a very interesting way of looking at things. I have often thought of that exact thing. I mean I notice, even in this moment as I am writing this response to your blog, I am already in the past. By the time I think of something I am operating in the past.
The future is always right upon us and by the time we respond it is indeed the past.

So really the only change that can happen is in the 'action' I take in this moment. It is already in the past and sets the direction for my next past action which will align me to where I intend to go. All change is incremental moment by moment formation and consistent support of chosen beliefs, attitudes and values.

I agree that the formation of habits in the past creates the future we desire.
Norm

[Angela]

"....for all intents and purposes, the past DOES equal the future."

That's just dead wrong.

For many intents and purposes, the past is certainly an excellent predictor of a likely future, but that's only a strong tendency.

You don't have to break off your your relationships, move to a new town, totally revamp all your habits, to break out of that tendency. You can simply change your relationship to the past. Of course, changing your relationship to the past may end up with your breaking off your relationships, moving to a new town, and totally revamping your habits, but it's upside-down thinking to change your behavior first, thinking your behavior is going to powerfully change your habits, beliefs, attitudes, values, and purpose.

It works better to start at the top, and let the behavior shake out.

[seanner689]

Originally Posted by James81

Interesting take on this.

What if instead of being so gung-ho about changing a mistake in the past, we pretended that we arrived HERE, in our present, from some point in the future to change the mistakes and patterns we are currently making.

Your post very much resonates with that line of thought, methinks.

That's awesome. Kinda reminds me of those TV shows where they forecast what you'll look like in 10 years or how much debt you'll have in 5 years as a baseline for change.

[MasterD]

Originally Posted by Angela

"....for all intents and purposes, the past DOES equal the future."

That's just dead wrong.

For many intents and purposes, the past is certainly an excellent predictor of a likely future, but that's only a strong tendency.

You don't have to break off your your relationships, move to a new town, totally revamp all your habits, to break out of that tendency. You can simply change your relationship to the past. Of course, changing your relationship to the past may end up with your breaking off your relationships, moving to a new town, and totally revamping your habits, but it's upside-down thinking to change your behavior first, thinking your behavior is going to powerfully change your habits, beliefs, attitudes, values, and purpose.

It works better to start at the top, and let the behavior shake out.

Personal examples? It certainly doesn't work that way in my life.

Great article Steve. This is really how it works in my experience too. One of the things that makes it particularly challenging is that you also have to manage circumstances in order to be able to establish the right habits that will get you to your goal (which is also an important aspect of 'changing the past').

[James81]

Originally Posted by Angela

You can simply change your relationship to the past.

Could you go into a little more detail about this?

[DonnaBiz]

Will they put candles around their bathtub and label it spirituality?

I had to laugh on this one...it does create a great mental picture!

I also love the fact that you mentioned using the Journal a few times. My website focuses on journal writing - mainly the old fashioned way of using a pen and paper. I'd like to put up a page with a link offering the computer journal as an alternative.

And I guess this fits in with my 2 favorite habits of writing SOMETHING everyday and acting on "leads". I think the Universe puts choices in front of me all the time that will benefit me. It's my option to act on the choices I've been given. So this is a habit of mine, too. When it seems like a great choice, I go for it!

I've noticed this hardly ever results in a poor choice.

[ssandra]

Harsh words. Depressing words. Makes me want to scream NOOOOOOOOOO....

So, you're probably right, as far as my life is concerned.

I've known this for a while.. that now my mental state has changed and I actually have the energy for making new habits.. I do have to do them...

Oh well.. I'll be scared for a little bit longer and then I'll make the change. It will happen at some point.

Baby steps. Baby steps...

[Savage]

Originally Posted by ssandra

Harsh words. Depressing words. Makes me want to scream NOOOOOOOOOO....

So, you're probably right, as far as my life is concerned.

I've known this for a while.. that now my mental state has changed and I actually have the energy for making new habits.. I do have to do them...

Oh well.. I'll be scared for a little bit longer and then I'll make the change. It will happen at some point.

Baby steps. Baby steps...

This is the sort of info that has caused a few people to leave the room in tears when I talk about it professionally, so you're not alone. It can be really tough to accept that our lives are not shaping up the way we'd like -- and to let the reality of that sink in.

But it makes a huge positive difference in the long run. Denial might feel better in the short term, but it's more likely to produce long-term regret.

[bluelighth]

Thanks for reminding this. I remember this from idea from the CGW, but I forgot about it :S

Frankly, I don't like the "most likely" prediction I can make, and due to the my situation I don't know if there's a point in even trying to ingrain new habits now... at least until I'm free (no - not jail, military, which to me feels at least as bad...). What I do know is that I'll need to find new ways to do quite a few things about my habits...

So - thanks again for the article... It'll be interesting...

[KazeCraven]

Hmm... just when I started trying to figure out how to get from point A to point B.

I think I hit a major breakthrough, but I won't know until I've looked back at my past a month from now.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by bluelighth

Thanks for reminding this. I remember this from idea from the CGW, but I forgot about it :S

Frankly, I don't like the "most likely" prediction I can make, and due to the my situation I don't know if there's a point in even trying to ingrain new habits now... at least until I'm free (no - not jail, military, which to me feels at least as bad...). What I do know is that I'll need to find new ways to do quite a few things about my habits...

well... you could try making new "thought" habits?

instead of thinking bad thoughts, you could try and think positive thoughts.

Or make it a habit to smile at at least 3 persons a day (that is allowed in the military right? I have no idea...)

Or say something kind to a person at least once a day. You can make those type of new habits...? Maybe? Just a thought...?

I've always been so much better at thinking what other people should or could do, instead of doing stuff myself

[Magicinthenight]

This was JUST the article I needed. For a while, there have been plenty of parts in my life that I consider very satisfactory, parts that I wouldn't want to change within a years time. But, there have also been parts where'd I'd like to see a change.

The key, for me, is looking back at what I've actually DONE to change these patterns that have lead to the unsatisfactory parts. And whatto, nothing much. So if I keep going they way I have been going, more of the same is likely to come my way. If not anything else, this post has made me consciously come up with one change I can make from today onwards. I will make myself a deadline of 30 days and review how I've done after that. It feels kinda scary, which is the first sign that it's something I need to do. But I also feel excited, at least now I know I'm doing something about it.

[Ingenius]

Well... even when I try to look at this article from a constructive point of view, I can't stop thinking that the whole thing is way over-complicated.

Yeah, you're right about habits, I have taken good note as self-criticism, and I do agree with looking for patterns that doesn't empower you. However, some of your sentences are very surprising coming from someone that has experienced "subjective reality" as you have done.

More and more I think that things are as they are because you believe it that way. Change your belief, you change reality. In order to predict something you usually review your own beliefs about how reality works and you apply it in sort of a holistic way. What if your beliefs are different? Does the prediction gets shaped the same way or you predict now different situations?

Do predictions match reality or reality match your predictions?

Cheers,

Daniel.

[Zach M]

Your story of Bill and Ted was most bodacious, Steve. The one who would be more triumphant totally paralleled the actors' careers. Party on, dude!

[Happiness]

It does make A LOT of sense!!!! I only understood that 2 years ago when I lost my job/business and used up all of my savings!!! I told my husband that we are experiencing the decisions made in the past (he totally got it!! and now, he is like the "let's take-action" drill-sergent in the house! lol)...and now, we are working accordingly to get better results ...working consciously on a daily basis (present) to achieve much better results in the future....and oh! I really liked what you said about shutting off our ego! it's a very important aspect in this process. If I have not done that, I would have never changed my "old" ways....

Thanks again Steve!

I just love this forum!!!

cheers,

[bluelighth]

Originally Posted by ssandra

well... you could try making new "thought" habits?

instead of thinking bad thoughts, you could try and think positive thoughts.

Or make it a habit to smile at at least 3 persons a day (that is allowed in the military right? I have no idea...)

Or say something kind to a person at least once a day. You can make those type of new habits...? Maybe? Just a thought...?

I've always been so much better at thinking what other people should or could do, instead of doing stuff myself

First - thanks! Yes, I could work on such habits... And people are allowed to smile in the military(at least in the free time they are given - which depends on the role). Though if all goes well(not a likely prediction objectively), I'll be relesed a day or two after enlisting(hopefully before that), and be able to work more directly on habits I think I need.
Thanks Again!

One more thing on topic - I think whats being said isn't that the past equals the future, but that the past points at the most likely future. It's like quantum physics - anything can happen, but the majority of the chances are for a very small amount of possibilities(relative to the total amount).

[ChrisG]

A very lucid post. Our habits are like the foundation and structure around which the rest of our lives happen. Get the base structure right and the rest follows.

I've experienced this myself recently- three weeks ago I started the habit of jogging 30 minutes, 3 days a week (it's now become 5 days a week) and I feel like it's having a positive influence on the way I think.

I can also see a lot of other areas where installing new habits would help.

Will they put candles around their bathtub and label it spirituality?

I love that. That's what happens when you introduce a fashion victim to New Age spirituality.

[nhaasch]

"Drop the most health-destroying foods from your life, and offer $100 cash to anyone who catches you eating them within the next year."
Brilliant! Now I can overcome my terrible terrible dieting habit of eating people. =D

[Angela]

Originally Posted by James81

Could you go into a little more detail about this?

So many times I have done this, and often written about it here in the forums!

It basically boils down to whether you are being run by your old gunk (negative emotions and limiting beliefs) or you are noticing the gunk (bringing the unconscious to consciousness) and choosing freely something that works better. It's true that very few people bother to do this -- most people go their entire lives being run by their old programming, and those unconscious commitments are far more influential that some measly conscious desire! (or offering cash to people to support you in it)

[yogi]

Originally Posted by nhaasch

"Drop the most health-destroying foods from your life, and offer $100 cash to anyone who catches you eating them within the next year."
Brilliant! Now I can overcome my terrible terrible dieting habit of eating people. =D

That dieting habit may be something that could actually save the earth --- seriously.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by Angela

So many times I have done this, and often written about it here in the forums!

It basically boils down to whether you are being run by your old gunk (negative emotions and limiting beliefs) or you are noticing the gunk (bringing the unconscious to consciousness) and choosing freely something that works better. It's true that very few people bother to do this -- most people go their entire lives being run by their old programming, and those unconscious commitments are far more influential that some measly conscious desire! (or offering cash to people to support you in it)

Maybe you should write an extensive blog post about it and just post the link whenever you say something like this... it helps you not having to repeat the same thing 600 times..

Unless that is one of your hobbies of course.. if so, by all means, don't let my weird ideas stop you

[Angela]

Originally Posted by ssandra

Maybe you should write an extensive blog post about it and just post the link whenever you say something like this... it helps you not having to repeat the same thing 600 times..

These forums have been an extensive blog post on the subject!

There was an appropriate thread here today, where the OP was looking for advice on how to exercise, even though exercise is torture for them. One member posted that the OP should just make it a daily habit, and push past the hump of resistance. That's a good example of trying to change at the level of behavior or environment, and it just doesn't work as well for creating lasting, inspiring change as making change at a higher level, like changing your attitudes, beliefs, identity, or purpose, and then letting the exercise shake out (so to speak! ). And usually when you've got a conscious desire that occurs very direly, like moving one's body occurring as "torture," there's an identity-level limiting belief operating in direct conflict to it. 30-day trials of something that you're unconsciously committed to failing at are not my idea of effective.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by Angela

These forums have been an extensive blog post on the subject!

That's good.. so you can just copy paste...


hmmmm maybe in your own special thread I'll make a compilation of your most wise advice When i come back from the dry cleaning

[James81]

Originally Posted by ssandra

Maybe you should write an extensive blog post about it and just post the link whenever you say something like this... it helps you not having to repeat the same thing 600 times..

Unless that is one of your hobbies of course.. if so, by all means, don't let my weird ideas stop you

I actually thought perhaps she was talking about something new with that. Hence, the question.

[Savage]

Originally Posted by bluelighth

One more thing on topic - I think whats being said isn't that the past equals the future, but that the past points at the most likely future. It's like quantum physics - anything can happen, but the majority of the chances are for a very small amount of possibilities(relative to the total amount).

The future is a sea of possible realities. But some realities are much more probable than others. By changing your habits, you redirect the central core of the strongest probable futures.

[Angela]

Maybe you should write an extensive blog post about it

No, wait -- I DID write a blog post about this.... Levels of Change.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by James81

I actually thought perhaps she was talking about something new with that. Hence, the question.

It wasn't against you James (but you probably already knew that). It's just that when I saw your question I was predicting to myself what Angela's response would be and so it became kind of an inside joke that only I am inside of