Are you present-focused or future-focused?

You hit the nail on the head with "You need safety and stability in the present to start thinking about the future."

I came to that conclusion recently and it has changed my life. I realize that the only way I could truly focus on the large goals of recording an album and starting my own business was to take control of my PRESENT situations (finances, health, friends). Now that all my personal ducks are in a row I feel liberated and able to concentrate on my future ambitions.

Great insights!

You always have something interesting to throw at us. Love ya Derek.

Some very interesting points. It's important to find balance with all extremes, but discipline is key to create direction and balance, without discipline we're like a leaf in the wind it seems.

It's funny, i was thinking about this today...

A balance is key.

«A few temporary mesures prevent a great journey from happenning.» Kung Tzu

Thank you for sharing this great post; Derek!

Being 100% in the present moment and taking care of the future are no contradiction.

The awareness of the moment helps to make the right decisions for the future.

While I record my Morning Tune Up videos I'm completely in the moment. But before I have to decide that I want to do it, set up the camera and plan to edit and upload the clip.

Setting up a routine can be helpful if it's not too rigid to destroy the fun of the journey.

I think the real statistic here is that 30% of kids don't really like marshmallows. :)

Or that kids who don't like marshmallows are more successful? — Derek

This is great, and I've really been striving to find that balance lately. Thanks for the encouragement!

I'd like to know more about your teacher...what could change your level of focus at 17 so intensely?

See sive.rs/berklee">sive.rs/berklee">sive.rs/berklee #2 — Derek

I need to find my own balance between focusing on the present and also focusing on the future as well. at times I'm more present focused and other times I'm more future focused. At times I also find that I'm too future focused and don't pay enough attention to the present. My self fulfilling prophecy seems to be ever changing and I want to be successful, but I feel held back at times for whatever reasons I'm unsure. With that being said I am becoming more goal oriented and try to take some advice from an article I read a while ago. It was about having a "Groundhog Day" mindset at the beginning of each day, taking each day like it's new and the world is my oyster. Phew, that was long winded. Thanks for the great article. I'm feeling inspired.

well, it's like my mom always said- if you've got one foot in the past, and one foot in the future, you shit on the present :)

i think being present is the best way to stay the happiest. but yes, i do think balance is best when pursuing a goal like music. you have to sacrifice in the short term for what you see as a bigger accomplishment down the road.

Thanks Derek.

Good article, Derek. Thanks!

Excellent article, Derek. You hit the nail on the head. Balance in Present, Future, Past thinking. Thanks once again for your efforts to support those attempting to live creative lives. Pam Mark Hall

sorry no comment here - totally despise marshmallows - I'll give it the 15 minutes if you can find a better candy to make me wait for - like say, a Kit Kat, or skip candy, I'll wait even 30 mintues for a great veggie-pizza! ANd an hour for a good pilsner - heck, we used to abstain for days until the 'good' weed would come in -

Okay, seriously - this is a great read and thank goodness this has been my MO for many years - has it paid off?

Let me get back with you on that one, I'm currently too future-focused to think back that far :-)

"You’re giving more importance to the future than the present. Willing to give up a little pleasure in the present, to benefit your future self."

Thanks, Derek. My friends often tell me that I need to put on 'blinders'. Pick one thing and focus on that instead of delving into several things. Focus! I appreciate all of your advice and the articles you send. now all I need to do now is apply them. Thank you!

I'm finding that balance. I feel grateful and happy to be able to take care of those basic needs so that from there I get to go out and try new things. Like today, I got back to Shanghai after taking the slow overnight boat back from the Zhoushan islands and I got lost. I don't really mind being lost. Actually it is possible to be lost as often as you like here. I was lost because my reference point had been moved. The boat passenger terminal had been moved by about 10 miles since the last time I used it, about 10 years ago! But besides being lost on part of the trip I made some friends and saw places I would like to return to. Life has its ups and it definitely has its downs too. I've always thought that it is kind of a great experiment in the gathering of experience, both by individuals and by the collective of humanity. Dream, gather, reflect, share. Interesting statistics, those 30% and 70%. I wonder what it means.

Derek nel 2006 la coppa del mondo di "soccer" calcio è stata vinta dall'Italia ai rigori contro la Francia

Just wanted to point out that Ghana football team didn't reach the Fifa World Cup final in 2006: they lost with Brazil in the Round of 16 (Brazil lost in the quarters with France), but it was their best result after the quarterfinals in 1950. Actually the final was Italy vs France and the trophy was conquered by the Italian team after the infamous Zidane-Materazzi incident.

I know that this is completely off topic, but try to understand me: I'm Italian :)
Thanks for the correction! — Derek

Ieps,

no fue en la final, Ghana perdió contra Brasil, sí, pero, según en enlace de la wikipedia que aparece en este artícuo, fue en dieciseisavos de final.

Saludos,

ßingen.

Amazing article, its hard to focus especially in today's world, so many disruptions and everybody wants everything NOW, they don't want to wait 2 seconds, so to be focus today you need to be organize and not worry about others,

Thank you

Marios

I thought everyone knew this?

As someone else pointed, they didn't make it to the finals in 2006. However, worth noting, they made it to the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup and had they not missed a penalty vs Spain, they could very well have advanced further to the semi's.

I think I'm well balanced in this area. But it's taken about 20 odd years and dozens of books on the subject of self-improvement. I liked the marshmallow experiment and wondered if I would have been able to hold out. Then I thought about my children and which of them would have been able to hold out. Very interesting insight.

Surely there was the odd child who held the marshmallow in mouth for 14 minutes and reproduced it in time to get the second.
Bold innovative trickster of a rascal.
Fuzzy Bunny.

Thank you Derek for sharing...

Strong Powerful parables like this help us visualize and focus on the next critical steps on our journey to accomplish and achieve.

Life is often like a game of golf... if you're playing a bad round, just focus on your NEXT shot, as it's the ONE that will count next... the previous shots are already done.

thanks Derek! I don't always comment on your posts, but I do always read them and give the ideas a lot of thought.

Once again, incredibly thought-provoking, and very telling. Thanks for posting this. I'm definitely going to be passing this on to others...

Thanks,
Ethan

Hi Derek,

Thanks for sharing this highly thought proviking issue and providing various links.

Like yourself, I changed my focus - primarily by one of my professor. That cxhanged my life completely.

I fully agree that you need to secure your present to feel safe before you can focus for the future.

Over the years, I have realized that, one can be content, if one can balnace between future and present with time to time looking back towards the good memories in the past.

Sorry for the long comment. Thanks again. Best regards,
Shekhar Gangopadhaya

yep!
thanks

You hit the nail on the head with "You need safety and stability in the present to start thinking about the future."

ghana didnt play the final. they made it all the way to semifinal though :)

Really great stuff Derek - thanks man. This is the struggle of all entrep's and those aspiring to be. Helps to have a coach at the beginning and to practice these disciplines. - R

I relate this directly to rock climbing. Thoughts of the future help me find the next climb, and make new goals, pushing myself to the (once) impossible.

While climbing, when you get "in the zone" everything flows and feels so natural. That focus is key--gone is the scary future thoughts of "I could fall!" making you nervous and more apt to mis-step.

Looking back at the past and reliving the moments is priceless.

It's a little disappointing read an amazing article like this and, at the end, come across an example that never existed.
Why invent that Ghana reached the final of the 2006 World Cup, since not even has passed the round of 16? And worse yet, linking it to a true fact, that it was Brazil's victory over Ghana, why?

what does this have to do with the marshmallow?

great post. but i just want to put the fact straight on the last example.
"Sure enough, in 2006, with their great combination of present-focused creativity and a new future-focused desire to win, they almost won the World Cup, only losing to Brazil in the final game. They did win the FIFA “Most Improved Team of the Year” award. "

Ghana national team never been on World Cup final. their best achievement was quarter final and that happened in 2010 :)

Thanks Derek!
Since few months, I was very future focused. but I got to understand that it doesn't bring happiness to present and also doesn't help in reaching future target as you need to spend time in present to get there. As example, develop social network is part of present and serve the future on the same time

great article

But Ghana did not make it to the 2006 final....they made it to the round of final 16...they came in 13th

In 2010...they came in 7th

Please correct or exclude Ghana part, it's incorrect both in facts and interpretation of factors that lead to success

Thanks

This piece is very fascinating. The only thing I could not find in it is how peer-pressure and other social factors can play a role in changing a society, a nation or a humans’ focus.
Before I came to read and contribute, I was thinking about focus. I reflected that in any situation, one who loses focus from what is right, real and issues that are universally accepted important, such people will be always wrong and hardly make it in life or will be ever unhappy with their lives because their focus is centered on trivial things. How would any human expect to be right when you made a conscious decision to do or support wrong doings or take the opposite of what is real and true?
I have been embroiled in a situation that involves global attention. From observing a majority of people who have been making comments about such a situation of global significance and involves a human’s life, his sufferings or reasons why he shouldn’t suffer, I perceived that for a total of sixteen years, ¾ of most of these people have been present-focused or lack any focus whatsoever. Like the children mentioned in your piece, they believed that my ability to change my life to whatever standard, must rest on the shoulders of the affluent that are expected to disburse millions of dollars without any contributions from me. To them my efforts must not count. They fail to see a whole picture or even try to understand the situation from the effluent’s point of view, from an educational point of view, a legal point of view or from the view that whatever is the reason for the situation, it must have stemmed or involves a highly significant matter that is far removed from trivialization that a present-focused individual might perceive or deduce from such a situation. They never realize my reaction to such a situation and misguided responses does require platitude to be able to make a better future for myself. Such platitude is seen as foolish and ignorant because I should have relied on the reach and the wealthy rather than use my talents, determination and a belief in deferred gratification.
I came from a small town in Africa and happen to came to a situation that involves the entire globe. One has to ask him or herself, what made that possible before making any comments. It was and is. up to me to see my past experiences, whether they were sad or happy, look at the present and what actually involves in it, take a thorough, scientific look at the whole picture to believe that I will have a brighter future. I have to differentiate the mindsets of people of your caliber to reflect on my focus, what is in it for me, particularly in the said media frenzy, as oppose to the mindset of people who do not believe in any possibilities. I have to look at what strength I have to make the situation a reality, not for the present moment but my future, wherever I might find myself then and in whatever period of time.
I am glad to read your piece that has given me a reassurance that I have been paying attention to those who are really focused (balanced).

Interesting...

I would bet that out of that a significant portion of the 30% that delayed gratification would be classified as Introverts if tested. Accordingly, a majority of the 70% remaining would most likely be identified as Extroverts.

I recently started reading "Quiet - The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking" by Susan Cain and would highly recommend it. According to her research while writing the book, Introverts and more likely to delay gratification than Extroverts. They are also more likely to function well without sleep and learn from their mistakes.

If you ask me, these "introverted" qualities would logically give an advantage to the 30%, which enabled them to be more successful later in life.

I understand what you are saying but the fact is that the past is gone and the future may never come, they are just distractions of what truly matters which is the gift, the present, the current moment.

So helpful I learnt a lot from this article I hope more people look at it.

Good way to think. Thank you. The over future thinkers have a hard time with the trade off. Sacrifice one thing for another. Because when you are working hard, you need to find the joy in work and really like it.

So cute!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc4EF3ijVJ8

Very interesting ..

Hello I have a situation in wich my best friend for 20 yrs has a really big problem with thinking about the future. He will not attempt to at all. What are some things that I can do to help him start setting goals and looking towards the future ad a positive thing?? Please help me to help him
Read the book, but I think it suggests just asking some questions about his future will get them to think that way more. Of course he might resist, but find good ways to keep asking. Start with the near future. — Derek

It is true to focus on whaat's important for your future sometimes illness comes up which can break your concentration.Sometimes people fail to realize tha because it's not them.

My father always taught me to be patient and wait. Being patient sometimes gives a better response.

WoW, Mind-blowing article!! Really needed to know this at this phase, thanks a lot! :)

For comment # 62, having a friend with no future, I was like comment # 2,

What would have helped me line up my ducks? I am middle aged, so memory is dim, but partly for sure it was a self esteem thing. Being valued by a friend helps, as is a friend I can role model off of, in terms of beliefs, maturity, actions and future plans.

So don't be afraid to share how your life is going, with all the ups and downs. Such sharing is therapy and advice in disguise. While some parts of your life would be beyond my reach, surely some small part I could reach for.

You could share putting coins in a piggy bank and budgeting time in your calendar for fun. Even building stamina for free walking is a goal.

More for # 62:
If you've seen any good movies lately, or read any self help books lately, especially the ones where you do exercises and make plans, including doing self-talk, then you could share that too.

I can remember telling people I liked the list on page 36 of common thought errors in David Burn's book, Feeling Good.

What can i do to get this nice book..i enjoyed seen it

Economist and author of The Bitcoin Standard @saifedean refers to this as having a high or low time preference. One of the most interesting concepts in his book, and explains why some people understand/don't the value of Bitcoin.

Interesting perspective, without having to get the book (already have other books that I have to read) what synopsis can you direct me to, to get a better idea and apply ... Thanks, and by the way really enjoying you book. Presently I read 2 to 3 ideas in the morning.
Read my notes at book/TimeParadox">sive.rs/book/TimeParadox">book/TimeParadox — Derek

Shortly after reading this (in Hell Yes or No) I was listening to a favorite pastor and teacher of Contemplative Christianity (after Richard Rohr) who actually was teaching the very same thing. The Biblical teaching of "now and not yet" (re the kingdom of heaven) is the same paradoxical point. Sivers, Zimbardo, Jesus? Why not! Rock on.
☺ !!! — Derek

I found this particularly profound and insightful: “This concept even helps me understand myself when I’m acting out of character. If I’m acting too undisciplined, I realize it’s because I’ve stopped vividly seeing my future. I can only see the present. If I’m acting too disconnected, I realize it’s because I’m obsessed with my goals. I can see only the future.”

It’s the start of a new year and instead of feeling inspired and disciplined I notice I am undisciplined and struggling to ‘fire’. This paragraph of yours, feels like it really hit the nail on the head. In self reflection, I think I’m struggling to reconnect with my ambitions. Any tips on getting clear and refocusing on the future after a period of ‘living in the moment’ over the holidays?

Wow, this is like a solution to the puzzle. I often wondered things that you just answered through this post in an instant.

Looking forward to reading The Time Paradox.

Thank you so much 🙂🙂

Maybe I am too anxious to be future-focused.
I am present-focused these days…
In order to balance these two perspectives, I think the person needs to be exposed to various perspectives, whether face to face, via book or online.

I'm usually a future-focused person. I see a forest more than a tree. I prepare for the future and want to become a competent person. But at the same time, I like to make my day happy. It's hard to balance what I should delay for the future and what I should enjoy right now.

I think what i'm doing right now affects the future

Thank you for this article much needed

I’m definitely a future-focused person. I’m trying right now to become present-focused. I’m obsessed with my goals as well often leaving me feeling disconnected. Really trying to work hard on my mind while in pursuit of future. Struggling to find balance in my life. Advice?

I think there are 2 more mindsets, past-focused people - for some reason they are stuck in the past or keep coming back to it. Causes them to fear a lot, resist huge changes, etc. in my opinion.

There are also distracted-people or un-focused people - more prevalent these days with habits around social media, other distractions. This might have an overlap with present focused people, although I would argue that these people are intently trying not to focus on life, numbing their brains, not even observing their present realities, possibly to avoid confrontation with harsh realities or choices.

These are just my thoughts, what do you think?!

삶의 비중을 현재 미래의 반쪽처럼 밸런스를 가지고 살면 좋지 않을까? 현재 행복도 즐기면서 미래를 대비 하는 준비를 하면 좋을 것 같다.