Looking To The Past And The Future
Mark Manson wrote that we should overestimate our future but underestimate our past. That sounds about right to me.
Many of us tend to do the reverse - we overestimate our past (both in terms of the implications of what we’ve achieved, as well as the ramifications of the mistakes we’ve made) and we underestimate our futures (in terms of what is still possible).
In terms of the past, our achievements should be cherished and valued. They should give us confidence. But we can’t cling to them forever, in the sense that they leave us feeling entitled to what’s still to come. There is no birthright of success, it needs to always be earned. Past success in any domain doesn’t guarantee future success in that same (or any other) domain. A sense of humility becomes an asset.
Similarly, in terms of the future, we should always be hopeful and positive, regardless of what has or hasn’t gone before. Just as a measure of past success doesn’t guarantee future achievements, a lack of it is no indicator of what's still to come. Our pasts only hold us back if we choose to let them.
As a people, hope is our best ally, a comfort in times of trouble. So it’s important that we always hold that sense of hope close. If we lose that, we’ve lost everything. There’s always a path forward in some form or fashion.
In other words:
Let your accomplishments fuel confidence, but not a sense of entitlement.
Maintain a sense of hope, regardless of what’s gone before.
Above all, keep taking action towards where you want to go, no matter how small.
Easy to say, hard to do, I know, but worth the pursuit.
