How Thinking About the Future Makes Life More Meaningful

During these awful and negative minded times all over the world, thinking about the future keeps me not really positive.

Well, mindfulness is all the rage these days, and for good reason. Focusing on the moment can improve our well-being, foster compassion, and help our relationships. What about going beyond the present moment? Yes, thinking about the future can trigger anxiety—but a growing body of research suggests that it can also make our lives more meaningful.

Humans aren’t alone in having some ability to consider the future, a process that scientists call “prospection.” After all, your dog gets excited when they see you holding a leash because they anticipate a walk is imminent; your cat may show similar excitement at the sound of a can being opened. There’s even evidence that some animals—like bonobos and ravens—can choose and save tools that they plan to use in the future.

But prospector's unique benefits to humans extend beyond that of other animals. Not only do we fantasize about our next vacation or decide whether it would be better to take the stairs or the elevator, but our perspective can cast far into the future: We might save for our children’s education or plan for our retirement decades from now. We can make predictions about our own futures based on what we’ve learned about other people’s experiences and even from characters in books and movies. And we can consider multiple directions our futures might take.

It is this remarkable ability to simulate our possible futures that makes prospection special. Just like gold prospecting may literally make you rich, studies suggest that prospecting about your future can enrich your life in at least four ways.

Perhaps one of the most fundamental and important functions of prospection is that it helps us decide how to act: Thinking about what the future likely holds helps us decide what course to take in the here-and-now. Several studies have examined how thinking about the future shapes our decision-making.

Researchers have been particularly interested in the psychology that drives our process of deciding between receiving something now versus receiving something of greater value later. In general, people tend to choose smaller but more immediate rewards over larger rewards that they have to wait for, a phenomenon known as “delay discounting.”

But they don’t always choose short-term rewards over long-run gains. For instance, studies have shown that present-day connection to a possible future event can counteract delay discounting. 

Another study showed that participants who felt closer to their future selves were more willing to wait for a larger reward than those who anticipated changing; the same was true when they were asked to make decisions on behalf of a fictional character who they knew would go through a life-changing event (like a religious conversion or returning home from war).

While interesting in its own right, this research could have important personal ramifications. If people could be made to feel a more immediate connection to their eventual retirement (and consequent drop in income), they may be more motivated to make prudent decisions.

In fact, one experiment found that manipulating how people think about the time until their retirement—in days rather than years—caused them to plan to start saving for retirement sooner, because the shift in time perspective made the participants feel more connected to their future selves. A 2014 study found that viewing realistic computer-generated images of what they may look like in the future decreased their discounting of future rewards and led them to contribute more to a hypothetical retirement account.

Prospection has another important application: It motivates us to achieve our goals. But the relationship here is not a simple one. Work by psychologist Gabriele Oettingen and colleagues shows that whether thinking about the future helps us actually reach our goals depends on how we think about the future.

In fact, research has found that positive thinking about our future can backfire. The more people positively fantasize about successfully reaching their goals, the less effort they actually put into realizing them. For example, in one study, the people who fantasize more about successfully losing weight actually lost less weight. Another study found that students who fantasized about their transition into a professional career were less successful in their job search and students who dreamed more about their crush were less likely to start a relationship with their crush.

Importantly, both of these studies found the opposite effect for having positive expectations (“judging a desired future as likely”). People who expected to lose weight were more likely to actually lose weight; students who expected they would find a job were more likely to actually land one; and students who expected to enter a relationship with their crush were more likely to actually do so.

It makes sense that having positive expectations—optimism, essentially—could increase our ability to achieve our goals, but why might fantasizing about the future actually decrease the chance of achieving what we want? Because, write Oettingen and Klaus Michel Reininger, positive fantasies “lead people to mentally enjoy the desired future in the here and now, and thus curb investment and future success.”

But often our goals come from our fantasies. We want to excel at work, find Mr. or Mrs. Right, or run a marathon. How do we turn these fantasies into behaviors that can help us reach our goals? Research suggests that while optimism is important, it is also helpful to draw a contrast between our fantasies and our current reality, which allows us to see barriers that must be overcome.

Results from a later study suggest that the effectiveness of mental contrasting is due to “energization”—meaning that, when people have high expectations for succeeding at something, considering what might impede their goals gives them energy to try to overcome those barriers. In other words, it helps to stress yourself out a little bit.

Mental contrasting, particularly when used in conjunction with “implementation intentions”—making plans to help move past potential barriers—has been shown to help people reach their goals. To describe this process, Oettingen and colleagues use the acronym WOOP : Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan. In studies, WOOP-type interventions have helped people break a bad snacking habit, get more exercise, and improve academic performance.

Thus, research suggests that thinking about the future can motivate us to take the steps necessary to reach our goals—but only if we take obstacles into account.

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Besides helping us make decisions and reach our goals, there is evidence that prospection may improve psychological health more generally. It might even help people who are struggling with depression and those recovering from trauma.

Indeed, some researchers pose a link between poor prospection and certain psychological disorders such as depression.

“We see faulty prospection as a core underlying process that drives depression,” write psychologists Martin Seligman and Anne Marie Roepke in the book Homo Prospectus. In particular, they note that people with depression imagine possible futures that are more negative than people without depression. Moreover, people with depression tend to overestimate risk and to have more pessimistic beliefs about the future.

One way to engage in anticipatory savoring, suggested by Roepke and Seligman in a recent review article, is to modify the “three good things” gratitude exercise. Instead of writing three good things that happened today, you can write three good things you anticipate happening tomorrow and what you can do to make it more likely that those things actually happen. For people who are struggling, they suggest also writing down three methods that could be used to mitigate disappointment if the good things do not actually happen. These could include coping strategies (exercise, reaching out to a friend, etc.) or alternative strategies to making the good thing happen (e.g., if a friend canceled lunch, you could suggest lunch next week).

While there’s a lot left for researchers to discover about prospection, you don’t need to wait for their published studies. You can try your own experiments right now, to see if prospection helps you to live a more generous, happier, and more meaningful life.

Live for the moment

 Live for the moment 

That means: SLOW DOWN! You/we are trying to make too many decisions NOW about which we don’t have enough information yet to make a good decision, and too many of these decisions are dependent on things which haven’t actually happened yet – and may never happen at all.

Let’s take a deep breath and step back a bit, and consider what MUST be done now, and what DOES NOT HAVE TO be done now (no matter how urgently we may WANT to do it).

Take it ‘one day at a time’: make decisions today, on what should be done TODAY. The things we are worrying about may never happen at all – and if they do, we will decide THEN.

Slow down.

Living in the present moment means no longer worrying about what happened in the past and not fearing what will happen in the future. It means enjoying what’s happening now and living for today. Choosing to live in the past or the future not only robs you of enjoyment today, but it also robs you of truly living.

“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.” One of the best, unforeseen consequences of simplifying our lives is it has allowed us to begin living our lives in the present moment.

Eliminating non essential possessions has freed us from many of the emotions associated with past lives that were keeping us stuck. And clearing our home has allowed us the freedom to shape our lives today around our most important values.

Choosing to live in the past or the future not only robs you of enjoyment today, but it also robs you of truly living. The only important moment is the present moment. With that goal in mind, consider this list of ten tips below on how to live in the moment.

Remove unneeded possessions: Minimalism forces you to live in the present. Removing items associated with past memories frees you and allows you to stop living in the past. Once the past no longer has power, you can begin to live in the moment.

Smile: Each day is full of endless possibilities! Start it with a smile. You are in control of your attitude every morning, keep it optimistic and expectant. Be intentional about it and you’ll find yourself doing it every day without even realizing it.

Fully appreciate the moments of today: Soak in as much of today as you possibly can – the sights, the sounds, the smells, the emotions, the triumph, and the sorrow. These are in our daily lives but we often forget to take them in and truly appreciate them.

Forgive past hurts: If you are harboring resentment towards another human being because of past hurts, choose to forgive and move on. The harm was their fault, but allowing it to impact your mood today is yours. Let go and choose to be present in the moment instead. That was one of the most difficult points for me.

Love your job: If you just “survive” the workweek constantly waiting for the next weekend “to get here,” you are wasting 71% of your life (5/7 days.) There are two solutions: find a new job that you actually enjoy, or find something that you appreciate about your current career. By the way, I love my jobs until now at the age of 71.

Dream about the future, but work hard today: Dream big. Set goals and plans for the future. But working hard today is always the first step towards realizing your dreams tomorrow. Don’t allow dreaming about tomorrow to replace living in the moment. Dreaming about the future is only productive when combined with action taken today.

Don’t dwell on past accomplishments: If you are still talking about what you did yesterday, you haven’t done much today. There is still plenty of time to build upon past successes and create more memories and achievements for the future-you. In the future, you’ll be cherishing the memories of today.

Stop worrying: You can’t fully appreciate today if you worry too much about tomorrow. Realize that tomorrow is going to happen whether you worry about it or not. And since worry has never accomplished anything for anybody, redirect your mental energy elsewhere.

Think beyond old solutions to problems: Our world is changing so fast that most of yesterday’s solutions are no longer the right answers today. Don’t get locked into a “but that’s how we’ve always done it” mentality. Yesterday’s solutions are not today’s solutions and they are certainly not tomorrow’s solutions.

Conquer addictions: Addictions in your life hold you hostage. They keep you from living a completely free life and remove your focus from the moment. Find some help. Take the steps. And remove their influence over your life. Allow yourself to live in the moment addiction-free.

Learning how to live in the present moment is an essential ingredient in a happy life.

If you can only live one moment at a time, you might as well make it the present.

Living in the Philippines with my family for more than 28 years, I learned everything here. That’s why I feel at home. And ONLY in the Philippines!

2,954 balikbayan boxes turned over to DMW in Davao City

 By Ivy Tejano

Published May 29, 2025 06:08 pm

DAVAO CITY – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) formally turned over 2,954 “balikbayan” (returning Filipino) boxes to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) during a ceremonial turnover on Thursday morning, May 29, at the Terminal Facilities and Service Corp., Port of Davao, Barangay Ilang, Tibungco here.

The BOC said in its official Facebook page that all the abandoned boxes, sent by overseas Filipino workers from various countries, were left unclaimed after being mishandled and neglected by unreliable freight forwarding firms, then held at the Port of Davao.

In an interview with the Davao media, 42-year-old OFW Lorna de Grasya from Kuwait could not contain her happiness upon hearing about the turnover of the balikbayan boxes. She said she is close to receiving the packages she prepared for her family after two years and eight months.

Lawyer Francis Ron de Guzman, DMW assistant secretary for the Reintegration Service, assured that the 2,954 packages from 12x40 containers they received at the BOC Port of Davao will be delivered directly to OFWs' homes. He said that the DMW will shoulder the delivery fee.

“It’s not the box we’re honoring. We’re honoring the hard work, sacrifices, and love behind each and every package. Rest assured, your government remains steadfast in ensuring that all these balikbayan boxes, along with the hope they carry, will reach your homes,” De Guzman said.

He said balikbayan boxes, often packed with food, clothes, and other gifts, are heartfelt symbols of love and sacrifices of the Filipino workers abroad. He added that for OFWs, these boxes help them stay connected with their families and show their dedication to giving them a better life.

De Guzman emphasized that the turnover of the packages means more than just handing over boxes. He said that the turnover of these balikbayan boxes represents a significant milestone in government accountability, compassion, and solidarity with OFWs and their families.

On the part of the BOC, it said the turnover of the packages marks the culmination of months of dedicated coordination and groundwork that began in 2024, when Customs officials proactively reached out to the DMW to address the issue of mishandled and abandoned packages.

The BOC said that from securing legal permissions to handling documentation and logistics, they worked to ensure that the balikbayan boxes could be released through lawful and proper means. It added that the DMW will facilitate the distribution and delivery of the packages.

Under the leadership of Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, the BOC vowed to continue to pursue reforms that go beyond trade and enforcement. It said that by aligning its efforts with the needs of the people, the bureau only showed that its service can be both efficient and compassionate.

UST, FEU stay unscathed

 

By Manila Bulletin Sports

Published May 29, 2025 02:50 pm

University of Sto. Tomas and Far Eastern University-Diliman swept their way to back-to-back victories in Pool D of the 2025 Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League (SGVIL) Rising Stars Cup Division 1 on Thursday, May 29, at the La Salle Green Hills Gym.

The Junior Tigresses banked on the crisp spiking of Kimberly Rubin to submit University of the Philippines Integrated School, 25-20, 25-13, and stay unbeaten in the country’s biggest grassroots volleyball league backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R and B Milk Tea.

Rubin poured eight of her game-high 13 points in the second set as she finished with nine kills and four aces for UST, which opened its campaign with a 25-20, 27-29, 25-19, victory over the St. John’s Institute-Bacolod Falcons last Wednesday.

Aneeza Santos and Ryzel Laag added five markers each for the Junior Tigresses, who sent the Junior Fighting Maroons to a second straight loss in as many games.

Meanwhile, the Lady Baby Tamaraws defeated the Falcons, 25-21, 25-20, to prime up for their much-anticipated showdown against UST on Friday.

Ifunanya Udeagbala powered FEU with 13 points anchored on 12 kills while Cathlyn Umal and Shiela Pascual chipped in a combined 12 markers.

SJI dropped to a 0-2 win-loss record tied with UPIS.

Defending champion Adamson University bounced back from an opening day shocker after venting its ire on University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, 25-4, 25-12, in Pool A.

The Lady Baby Falcons showed better chemistry and cohesion to barge into the win column of the tournament backed by Mikasa, Asics, Team Rebel Sports, Belo Deo and Smart following a three-set loss to Emilio Aguinaldo College on Wednesday.

In Pool B, Bethel Academy survived debuting Holy Rosary College, 26-24, 18-25, 25-21, for a 1-1 slate.

Eunice Suamer and Joanne Reducto scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Bethelites, who absorbed a straight sets beating at the hands of Chiang Kai Shek College in the opener.

Meanwhile, King’s Montessori School rebounded from a sorry loss in its first outing with a 25-16, 25-12, drubbing of Corpus Christi School in Pool C.

In Division 2, De La Salle Zobel B defeated Assumption College-San Lorenzo, 25-21, 25-18, for a 2-0 record in Pool E.

La Salle Green Hills shared the top spot in Pool E after winning its second straight at the expense of debuting Everest International Academy, 26-24, 25-22, while Domuschola International School outlasted Immaculate Conception Academy, 25-21, 20-25, 25-23, for a 2-0 mark in Pool F.

ICA slipped to a 1-1 card.

Fearless forecast: Viva Entertainment's Vic del Rosario says Jayda will be a big multimedia star

 

By Robert Requintina

Published May 30, 2025 07:34 am

Jayda Avanzado, the talented daughter of OPM icons Dingdong Avanzado and Jessa Zaragoza, radiated happiness on May 27 as Viva Artist Agency officially signed her during a grand media conference held at Viva Cafe in Araneta City.

What excited Jayda the most was the presence of Viva Boss Vic del Rosario at the launch. Boss Vic is known in the entertainment industry for rarely attending showbiz events.

Boss Vic supported Jayda and delivered a brief speech for the young star, who looked surprised by his impromptu talk. Jayda was on stage while Boss Vic was accompanied by other Viva officials who sat with the audience and members of the entertainment media.

The full speech of Boss Vic to Jayda:

"Jayda, welcome to Viva!

"Ngayon lang uli makikisama ang Viva sa isang record company. Ang Universal (Record) is the biggest musical label in the world. It's a privilege to partner with them. (This is the first time Viva will partner with a record company. Universal (Record) is the biggest musical label in the world. It's a privilege to partner with them.)

"Ako ay natutuwa na pumayag silang maka-partner ang isang local company. Sixty years na kami rito pero magsasama kami for the first time because of you. (I'm glad they agreed to partner with a local company. We've been here for 60 years, but we're coming together for the first time because of you.)

"Matagal ko ng gusto si Jayda bata pa. Sabi ko sa magulang niya sana pag nag dalaga na makuha na namin. Pero I waited for 12 years. First time ko siyang nakita mga nine years old. Sabi ko gusto ko man lang siyang mahawakan bago ako mag retire. (I've known Jayda for a long time, ever since she was little. I told her parents that when she got older, we could sign her. I waited for 12 years to make that happen. The first time I saw her was when she was about nine years old, and I expressed my desire to sign her before I retired.)

"Kapag magaling na singer at babae, magaan ang loob ko na tulungan. Palagay ko marami kaming magagawa like Sharon (Cuneta), Donna Cruz, Regine Velasquez, and Sarah Geronimo. (When a woman sings well, I feel we can help her. I believe we can nurture Jayda into an artist like Sharon Cuneta, Donna Cruz, Regine Velasquez, or Sarah Geronimo.)

"Jayda will be a big star. Ang interest ng Viva sa kanya is beyond her voice. I feel she will be a multimedia star."Viva will be using Jayda as an actress, host, and probably she'll get endorsements in the future. So congratulations, Jayda. Salamat sa press, sa pagpunta ninyo.

"The reason I am here is because I believe in Jayda," the Viva boss said.

Turning 22 on June 1, Jayda said she was so grateful for Boss Vic's inspiring words. Reacting to the statement of the Viva executive, Jayda said, "I feel so blessed in this position right now to be working with Viva. Thank you so much, Boss Vic, and to my Viva family."

Jayda is ready to begin a new chapter, having joined the Viva family. Together with Universal Music Group (UMG) Philippines, Jayda enters a publishing and recording contract with Viva Records, as well as a co-management contract with VAA (Viva Artists Agency) for potential movies, series, and brand deals.

She launched her showbiz and music career in 2017. She has since then worked with brands, she released her debut EP "In My Room" (June 2018), became a regular on ASAP, and held her first major digital solo concert entitled "Jayda in Concert.

Following this milestone, Jayda released more music between 2021 and 2024, including “No Way But Up,” which served as the official soundtrack for the TV series Teen Clash—a show that also marked her acting debut—and “Right Lover, Wrong Time,” which she co-wrote with her father, Dingdong.

In 2023, Jayda also signed with Republic Records Philippines, a subsidiary of UMG Philippines. Jayda’s passion for music has earned her notable accolades early in her career, including Best Female Recording Artist at the 32nd Awit Awards in 2019 and Female Pop Artist of the Year at the 13th PMPC Star Awards for Music in 2022 for her song “Sana Tayo Na."

When asked about her first project for Viva, Jayda said: "This early I can't reveal too much, but I am excited for the adaptations of the young adult series. I am looking forward to it. I'm just over the moon because I can come back to acting." With hints that acting would be her first project, Jayda also said: "Potentially."

Jayda also revealed her birthday wish. She said: "Growth sa aking career. I am excited about the partnership of UMG and Viva with me. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I hope that this partnership bears fruit. I wish for more success and experiences to learn."

BAD WEATHER EXPERIENCED IN MINDANAO HAS REACHED ABOUT ₱20-M

 𝐊𝐀𝐃𝐀𝐔𝐓 𝐒𝐀 𝐍𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈 𝐍𝐆𝐀 𝐃𝐈𝐋𝐈 𝐌𝐀𝐀𝐘𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐇𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐀 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐎 𝐍𝐈𝐊𝐀𝐁𝐀𝐓 𝐍𝐀 𝐒𝐀 𝐃𝐔𝐋-𝐀𝐍 ₱𝟐𝟎-𝐌

Nibilin og nagbalor 196.4 milyones pesos nga danyos ug kadaut ang…

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BAD WEATHER EXPERIENCED IN MINDANAO HAS REACHED ABOUT ₱20-M

The bad weather experienced due to the Intertropical Convergence Zone and ITCZ in Mindanao left 196.4 million pesos worth of damage and damage.

Based on the data of the Office of Civil Defense and OCD, they recorded 4.6 million pesos worth of agricultural damage in Region 9 and 10.

Most of the affected include high-value crops, fisheries, livestock, and poultry in Zamboanga del Norte, Lanao del Norte, and Misamis Occidental.

In addition, up to 150 homes were destroyed of which 115 were partially damaged while 35 were totally damaged.

So far, more than 352 thousand individuals have been affected by the severe weather from Region 8,10,11,12, and the BARMM.

As up to four the unfortunate disaster struck and there are a few moaning as well.

via| Radyoman Angel Garcia, RMN Manila / DZXL News

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