Future consciousness

I have always thought of myself as an optimistic person; alike, I have been told by family members and friends that I am, indeed a positive person. When I envision the future, I think about what kind of career I will have and where I will raise a family. Within these visions, I picture a green earth and a continuous upraise in technology. However, there are improvements in my daily life I could make in order for my vision of the future to come true; such as recycling, using sustainable products, cutting down on water, electrical, heat usage, etc. My beliefs that guide me to have a positive future is my faith, my ability to know that even as one, small person, I can make a difference, and that by my word-of-mouth and way of living I can help change the world.

A barrier that I face when envisioning a great future is my over-consumption. I love to purchase new clothes and new technology, even when I do not need these items. As Limited Consumption: Toward a Sustainable Culture explains, “we are encouraged to consume at every turn by the advertising industry” (Durning, 12). This is SO true; we are constantly being told we need the ‘next big thing’ and if we do not have it, we are not good enough. Another great note that Durning makes is, “Consumption becomes a treadmill with people judging their status by who’s ahead of them and who’s behind.” I love this because it is so true for me. I tell myself that the new clothes are for me and my own benefits, but I never mind ‘fitting in’ with the fashionistas. However, buying new clothes is not the problem; it is buying unsustainable fibers and purchasing from companies that practice un-environmentally friendly production.

As an optimistic, I do believe I have a future consciousness. I have love for our future generations, especially those family members I leave behind. I want them to grow up in a prospering world, not a deteriorating one. I have great hope for our future and I look forward to spreading that anticipation with others, especially those that tend to think more negatively. As Seligman explains in Thinking Ahead, “the emotional state of depression is primarily due to pessimistic thinking. Each mode of thinking tends to reinforce the behavior that leads to the very results that are anticipated.  If you expect to fail, you probably will. And those pessimistic habits of thought can be changed through relearning, education, and training.” So, there is hope! I plan to engage my fellow generation through excitement and enthusiasm at about the future, and also realistic views of what the future could be if we all do our part. Recycling is not difficult; it simply takes a little extra effort each day. Aside from the people doing their part, the community can also chip in by making recycling bins easier to access. However, recycling is only a small sector in the part to make our world a better place. There is so much more!

Durning, Alan (1991). Limiting Consumption: Toward a Sustainable Culture. The Futurist. 10-15

Lombardo, Tom (2006). Thinking Ahead: The Value of Future Consciousness. The Futurist. 45-50