The Utility of Distant Thinking
We all have dreams. All types of dreams. We dream as we sleep - a mixture of random thoughts, visions, and emotions that may, or may not, be influenced by our active lives. We also daydream - a temporary release from reality, usually a wishful fantasy that has no, or little, chance of becoming reality. And then there are goal oriented dreams - a strong desire to achieve a high or great objective, purpose, or end. The goal oriented dreams - our aspirations, are worthy of our conscious thoughts.
Some pondering of future possibilities is a good thing: distant thinking. This is not magical thinking that is escapism; this is not thinking to resolve current situations. This is productive thinking beyond both the immediate and intermediate to the more distant future. A future that is a possible reality. Distant thinking does a number of things for us. It gives us the freedom to try a variety of scenarios. It builds self-awareness. How do we feel about different futures, values, and goals? How will this fit our abilities, wants, and feelings? It reminds us that we do not exist alone, but that we reside in a social context and our aspirations need to include the influences of others and our impact on them. It is constructive. It allows us to think backwards from our goals to build the steps that are necessary to reach those goals.
Various facets of distant thinking includes acceptance of opportunities, appreciation of consequences, planning options, possibility of serendipity and setting of priorities. Pondering the future yields personal expansion through understanding. It is the expansion of self through new integration of thoughts, possibilities, and planning of priorities. All this is conducive to personal growth.
Distant thinking has utility when it is productively used to help motivate us to act. It gives us insight and helps us plan. We learn to differentiate and utilize our feelings and capabilities. We learn to understand ourselves so that we can act based on being true to ourselves. When we distant think productively, our motivation to reach our aspirations increases.
| If
you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is
where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.
Henry David Thoreau |
© Center for Applied Motivation, Inc.