In a world gripped by a polycrisis, where uncertainty reigns, it's no surprise that many of us are struggling to envision a brighter future. This feeling of being trapped in the present, unable to look beyond the immediate days or weeks, is a shared experience for countless individuals.
As we enter a new year, traditionally a time for planning and imagining a better tomorrow, we find ourselves paralyzed by the weight of global challenges. From economic instability to political unrest, rising living costs, and severe weather events, the daily bombardment of bad news leaves us overwhelmed and overstimulated.
Dr. Steve Himmelstein, a seasoned clinical psychologist, confirms that this struggle is widespread. Most of his clients, he says, have "lost the future." They feel trapped in a bubble of the present, with the road ahead shrouded in uncertainty. This sense of despair and lack of optimism is not unique to a few; it's a collective experience, impacting our ability to commit to long-term projects and invest in the next generation.
When we asked Dr. Himmelstein if this inability to think about the future was unprecedented, he drew comparisons to the aftermath of 9/11. However, he emphasized that the current situation feels worse, with clients expressing a profound sense of despair and a lack of plans or anticipation for the future.
Dr. Himmelstein, a student of the renowned psychologist Viktor Frankl, a concentration camp survivor and author of "Man's Search for Meaning," understands the importance of believing in a stable, brighter tomorrow. Frankl's "tragic optimism" allowed him to survive and thrive, even in the darkest of times. When we lose faith in the future, we lose a crucial anchor that helps us navigate life's challenges.
So, how can we reclaim our vision of the future amidst this polycrisis?
Our human brains, evolved over millennia, were not originally designed for long-term future thinking. Dr. Hal Hershfield, a psychologist and professor, explains that from an evolutionary standpoint, we are not wired to contemplate a distant future. Instead, we remember and envision it, creating memories that shape our ideas about the future.
During times of crisis, when uncertainty is radical and all-encompassing, our ability to recall and predict future scenarios becomes impaired. This makes it harder to plan and invest in the future, especially when we feel insecure about what lies ahead.
Dr. Daniel Gilbert, a professor of psychology at Harvard, studies how humans navigate the concept of time. He emphasizes that our species hasn't been able to conceptualize the future for long, and we often struggle to predict how our future selves will react to events.
In times of crisis, when uncertainty is compounded by multiple concurrent issues, it becomes even more challenging to plan and make decisions. This is the essence of a polycrisis - a stacked crisis where the effects of each issue amplify the others.
So, how have other cultures dealt with uncertainty during crises?
Dr. Daniel Knight, an anthropologist, has studied how humans understand the future, particularly during the Greek debt crisis of 2008-2010. He observed that Greeks turned to history for familiar scenarios and outcomes, drawing parallels to the 1941 great famine. They also refocused on shorter timeframes, prioritizing themselves, immediate family, and friends, and creating micro-utopias within their communities.
Similarly, as New York City emerged from pandemic lockdowns, a sense of community and collective action began to take root. Friends and colleagues joined community gardens, running clubs, and volunteer programs, reimagining their lives and finding hope in collective efforts.
Dr. Knight's work on Europe from 1644 to 1660, a period of great turmoil, highlights how a polycrisis can give birth to positive change. The end result of this tumultuous time was a more democratic governance, decentralized power, and improved sanitation. Europeans learned to listen to experts and invest in their universities, leading to the Enlightenment.
This serves as a reminder that our current challenges, though unique, are not unprecedented. We have the power to choose the future we want and work collectively towards it.
So, how can we get the future back?
Dr. Hershfield encourages us not to stop planning, even in the face of uncertainty. We can still think about our values and plan around them. It's important to be flexible and compassionate towards ourselves, understanding that past choices may not have prepared us for the current timeline.
When unexpected events disrupt our plans, it's okay to shift gears and refocus on the most likely future scenarios. This helps us remember our envisioned future self and plan accordingly.
As we embark on a new year, let's remember our resilience. We are a hardy species, capable of recovering from tragedy and trauma, often returning to our original levels of happiness. This is the good news we carry with us into the future, a future that, despite its challenges, holds the potential for growth and positive change.
