Thinking About the Future Makes Life More Meaningful

Thinking About the Future Makes Life More Meaningful
Thinking about the future can motivate us to take the steps necessary to reach our goals—but only if we take obstacles into account. Roman Samborskyi/Shutterstock
By Summer Allen, Ph.D
Updated:
Mindfulness is all the rage these days, and for good reason. Focusing on the moment can improve our well-beingfoster compassion, and help our relationships. What about going beyond the present moment? Yes, thinking about the future can trigger anxiety—but a growing body of research suggests that it can also make our lives more meaningful.
Humans aren’t alone in having some ability to consider the future, a process that scientists call “prospection.” After all, your dog gets excited when they see you holding a leash because they anticipate a walk is imminent; your cat may show similar excitement at the sound of a can being opened. There’s even evidence that some animals—like bonobos and ravens—can choose and save tools they plan to use in the future.
Summer Allen
Summer Allen
Ph.D
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