Looking Forward to the future šš½
By Ife Thomas
As I stood there, smiling into the distance, a thought struck me. Much of my work revolves around helping others envisage their futures, to set ambitious goals and to forge a path towards them. But today, as I sifted through my childrenās wardrobe, I found myself taking an unexpected journey into the past.
I paused, surrounded by tiny garments and old school books, each piece a fragment of a life once lived. For a moment, I was lost in memories, reliving the days when my children were just little bundles of joy. Holding up their baby clothes, I was engulfed by nostalgia for those precious, fleeting moments.
Emerging from this sea of memories, a wave of sadness washed over me. Itās a feeling we all know too well - the yearning for what once was, a longing for the ābetterā days of the past. Itās easy to get trapped in this cycle, to believe that our best days are behind us. It keeps us anchored, unable to move forward, constantly looking back.
But today, my journey down memory lane wasnāt about mourning the past. Instead, it served as a powerful reminder - a motivation for the wondrous possibilities that lie ahead. We live in a remarkable era, one that offers opportunities far beyond what we had a decade ago. The world is evolving rapidly, and itās only by releasing our grip on the past that we can truly embrace the future.
One of my favourite coaching strategies, which I learnt from the esteemed Brian Tracy, is āBack to the Future Thinkingā. This technique involves projecting yourself into the future, imagining youāve already achieved your goals. You then look back and ponder, āWhat must have happened for me to reach this point?ā This perspective shift is crucial. It helps identify the gap between where you are now and where you want to be, focusing your efforts on bridging this gap.
In my book, āFinding Light in the Darknessā, I delve into this concept further. I share personal stories of times I was shrouded in darkness and how I found my way to the light, employing strategies like āBack to the Future Thinkingā. My hope is that by sharing my journey, I can inspire you to navigate through your own dark times, guiding you towards a brighter future.
So, as you stand at the crossroads of your life, remember: the past is a place of reference, not a residence. Itās time to look ahead, to embrace the future with open arms, and to journey towards the life youāve always envisaged.
I paused, surrounded by tiny garments and old school books, each piece a fragment of a life once lived. For a moment, I was lost in memories, reliving the days when my children were just little bundles of joy. Holding up their baby clothes, I was engulfed by nostalgia for those precious, fleeting moments.
Emerging from this sea of memories, a wave of sadness washed over me. Itās a feeling we all know too well - the yearning for what once was, a longing for the ābetterā days of the past. Itās easy to get trapped in this cycle, to believe that our best days are behind us. It keeps us anchored, unable to move forward, constantly looking back.
But today, my journey down memory lane wasnāt about mourning the past. Instead, it served as a powerful reminder - a motivation for the wondrous possibilities that lie ahead. We live in a remarkable era, one that offers opportunities far beyond what we had a decade ago. The world is evolving rapidly, and itās only by releasing our grip on the past that we can truly embrace the future.
One of my favourite coaching strategies, which I learnt from the esteemed Brian Tracy, is āBack to the Future Thinkingā. This technique involves projecting yourself into the future, imagining youāve already achieved your goals. You then look back and ponder, āWhat must have happened for me to reach this point?ā This perspective shift is crucial. It helps identify the gap between where you are now and where you want to be, focusing your efforts on bridging this gap.
In my book, āFinding Light in the Darknessā, I delve into this concept further. I share personal stories of times I was shrouded in darkness and how I found my way to the light, employing strategies like āBack to the Future Thinkingā. My hope is that by sharing my journey, I can inspire you to navigate through your own dark times, guiding you towards a brighter future.
So, as you stand at the crossroads of your life, remember: the past is a place of reference, not a residence. Itās time to look ahead, to embrace the future with open arms, and to journey towards the life youāve always envisaged.
