We live in a moment-by-moment world. Most people are just concerned with getting their current issues fixed. They want instant results. They are driven in most areas of their life by a short-term perspective. They want a solution right now and they won’t worry about it until next time the ‘issue’ or ‘problem’ occurs again and at that time they will seek the same ‘band aid’ solution.
You may relate to this. You may notice that the mood of the day is instant. I notice it within myself. For example, as a write this I am flying across America from Florida to LA on my way back to Australia (now that was a journey that I did in my youth in a ship as the regular form of transport and it took 3 weeks. Anyway, I have laptop power and internet on this plane and I was surfing the web, watching some YouTube videos and then the internet slowed for a short time. My first reaction was – this is poor service!! (actually I used other expletives to myself) but the point was that my expectations of instant solutions are now much higher.
So it is with most of our fast paced life today. Now I’m not a luddite who wants to hold progress back – far from it, I’m the first to get the new techy gizmo that comes out.
What is useful in this context is a perspective of where we are relative to where we have been relative to where we are going. The old adage of “If we don’t understand our history we are bound to repeat it” is so true in this context. No matter how crazy fast we are moving in our world there are still some basic and fundamental premises that are at play. Summer follows spring just like winter follows Autumn. To our peril we ignore the cyclic nature of our history.
If you were to cast your memory back over the past and become aware of the Journey you have taken so far you will become aware of the patterns you have created.
As you understand the causative relationships and see the current ‘issue’ as an integral part of that process you will have greater tolerance. You may even appreciate this viewpoint which leads you to see the future in a different way. It allows you to take a long-term perspective and plan accordingly.
From this vantage point you will get to look beyond. You will get to set long term outcomes, create a long term vision. After all the Sony Corporation has a 200-year vision, why can’t you have at least a 2 or 3-generation vision.
When you adopt a long-term vision based on a long term reflection of the past you will find a welling up of gratitude and appreciation for everything that you have in your life right now.
When you convert your short-term thinking to a long-term perspective you will leave a legacy of great value.
