Hindsight is 20/20
We say that hindsight is 20/20 in that looking back on an experience already lived you can make some pretty intelligent, informed decisions, right? You can say what you would have done because you’ve already seen what you did do.
But this looking back also has the down side of regret and remorse. Knowing what you know now you look back with even more information and pronounce your actions as wrong (while forgetting you didn’t have this new information).
So, in a way you tell yourself what you should have done, and you may from time to time ask yourself “Why did i do that—I should have known better!”
Ask yourself—a different self
But there is someone you can ask a question to—the person who has yet to take action. Instead of asking your past self, do something radically different. And before we go on, have you ever heard the podcast about notes from the future? You may notice I enjoy thinking fourth-dimensionally to solve problems.
Obviously you can’t actually ask your past self a question, but you can participate in a thought experiment. If you place yourself in the mindset of who you were ten years ago—what you were going through, the limited information you had (as compared to now), the differences in social norms, available technology, etc., you can ask yourself what you would do or what your past self feels about something. It’s an experiement.
The future self
So, what if you asked your future self? Sounds odd? Sounds like yelling into the void? It’s not. it’s a way of this past self to communicate with the self you will become.
Try it, and listen to more on the podcast.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS
Upside Down has joined the epic duet of The Sword and the Sunflower and Amira. Upside Down is the prequel for those who have read the duet and have to know more about what happened in those thousand years… Btw, The Sword and the Sunflower is now available as an audiobook (audible, Apple, Google, Your Local Library). Check it out.
Mark Bradford developed a system to achieve goals, manage your energy and understand and strengthen your path – it’s Alchemy for Life.
He writes, coaches and speaks on the subject. For more information, tips and tricks, like Mark Bradford on Facebook, follow Mark Bradford on Twitter.
Schedule a 15 minute chat.
Articles are posted regularly on AlchemyFor.Life, and LinkedIn.