For most of us, emotions and thoughts have different directions in time.

Here’s what I mean by that. Emotionally we live into the future. When we know that a great event is coming up, we’re already excited about it.
Weeks before the holidays, my sons are excited about the gifts that are about to come.
Soon, I need to schedule a root canal treatment. I already feel nervous.

Our emotions are anticipating the future.

It works differently with our thoughts. So often, we’re caught up thinking and talking about what happened in the past.

When we discuss what initiative might work or might not work, we talk about past experiences.
When we build our career, we “take the next step” based on where we are right now and where we were yesterday.

When our mind is at work, when we talk and act, we come from the past.

The two different directions of time can make it difficult for us to have the most impact. How about aligning the two, and living completely into the future?

What this would mean is not to think about what’s next, but rather to build our lives and our work from the perspective of the future. Start by imaging where you want to be in five or ten years, and live into that future.

Decide who you want to be – and be that way.

How would you act if you were already there? What are the things in your company (or in your life) that aren’t true today, but they need to be true in the future? What can you do today to make you be and look like the company (or person) that you want to be in the future?

Live into the future and not out of the past.

Take the Next Step

Develop a picture of what you want yourself or your company to be like in the future. Get clear about what you need to change to be the you of the future. Act today as if you’re already there, and you will shape reality.