Misconceptions about the Futures
What are misconceptions? You could say that these are our incorrect thoughts and opinions that you believe to be correct. I want to talk about some misconceptions about the futures with you, because I believe it is important that you think about everything!
For example, you might think that you can’t change the futures, but I will tell you otherwise! Did you know that everyone actually has an impact on how our futures will look like? It’s amazing, isn’t it? Together, people could be the change to make the world a better place! But I have a lot of other examples in store for you. Let us investigate these 5 important questions: Do you know the futures? Is there only one futures? Can we change the futures? Are the futures far away? Are the futures only based on technology?
Let’s go!
Do you know the futures?
Do you know what will happen in the futures? Fortune tellers claim to know your futures. They will tell you when you will meet the love of your life and if you will find the dream job. Algorithms, online programs, also claim that they can predict your next steps. By following everything you do online, they think they can predict your next move in life. Say you have been looking at pictures of a car, they will guess that you will buy your first car soon. But is it possible to know what will happen in the futures?
A big mistake people make is thinking they know what will happen in the futures, because they don’t. We can never be 100% sure of what will happen next, a lot of factors can change the outcome of the futures pretty fast.
For example: Are you 100% certain that you will be at school next Monday? At first we would say yes, but what if you get sick or your bus doesn’t pick you up? What if your internet stops working for you online classes?
The only thing we can say for sure is that we are not sure about anything in the futures. There are many things that could happen. What we can do is make assumptions, work towards a futures we want and work against a future we dislike. But we will only know what the futures really holds once we arrive there.
Is there only one futures?
Like I mentioned before, we don’t know for sure what will happen in the futures. There are many different possible futures. A lot of different things can happen, but can we make any predictions that are likely to come true? This is why we talk about ‘futures’, because there’s many different possible versions of what the world could look like. There’s many different ways in which a tree can grow.
For example, what will cars look like in 10 years from now? I am sure you can think of many different kinds of possible cars that could exist and be widely used, but which one will you actually drive 10 years from now? A Tesla Cybertruck? A flying car? Maybe people will all have jet packs to travel around? The possibilities are as broad as your own imagination!
When you think about your own life, it’s easier to see all the different aspects that could change. Maybe you’ll get new friends, travel the world, live in a different country or speak a different language. Maybe you’ll discover your greatest passion or get started on something that will become your life’s work. Many things could change, you have many futures!
Can we change the futures?
Some may believe we can’t change the futures. So some people sit back, relax, enjoy the ride and see where things go. Good or bad, you can’t make a difference, right? But what if you are able to influence your futures?
Let's take our metaphor of the tree. Some might think that whatever we do, has no impact on the tree. But in reality, it does make a difference!
For example, if you decided to plant the tree in a rocky ground. You can almost be sure that it will not take root and die off.
If, on the other hand, you plant the tree in a well fertilised field, water it daily and cut off the dead branches when needed, you will be able to grow a strong and healthy tree.
The healthy and strong tree could then maybe become a nesting place for birds. So not only have we influenced the growth of the tree, we also made a new house for some birds.
If we look at it further, people might see our beautiful tree and start planting other trees near it. This could grow out to be a forest. The planting of one tree could be the start of a whole new ecosystem. This ecosystem made out of trees can lower the Co2 levels in the air, which could lead to the hole in the ozone layer to become smaller or even disappear!
What you do could have a big impact on not only your own futures, but also on the future of other people or living beings. One choice could change everything. You might not see it directly but it’s like throwing a stone in a lake. You will see a small ripple at first but that ripple grows bigger and bigger and can influence other things.
I would love to teach you how you can shape your own futures together with others. Even without certainties, you can try to move in the right direction. Curious to learn more? Let’s do this together.
Are the futures based on technology?
There is one prediction that is safe to make. The society is becoming more and more digitalized, this means that people keep on using more technology in their daily lives, in school, etc…. Technological innovation often goes too fast to follow. This may lead you to believe technology will be present in every aspect of the futures and that it can solve all of the problems.
For example, instead of adjusting your own behavior and encouraging others to do the same, it’s easier to just sit back and wait for the technology to suck CO2 out of the air and solve climate change.
However, you can ask yourself if this is unavoidable. Should you stop asking questions or put your foot down against certain technological innovations and stick to your current ways of living? Do people just accept total digitalization? Will billionaires become your new leaders or will you hold on to your critical thought and freedoms? Will the internet make people smarter or more stupid?
These are all questions to keep in mind. Regardless of what happens to the world around you, you remain a complex and independent person with thoughts, beliefs and feelings. There is more to the world than technology, a world you can’t lose touch with.
Are the futures far away?
It’s easy not to think too much about the futures because it feels like it’s so far away… but is it really? Take a moment to consider this. Five seconds from now or five minutes from now is already in the futures, and we end up being there before we even know it. This is why understanding the futures is crucial. It’s already here, we are living it right now!
