As a futurist, one of my biggest goals is to inspire people through my work and communication to start thinking about the future. We tend to address problems only when they arise. While this mindset is natural, it creates significant barriers to reaching our actual goals and greatly hinders our ability to plan thoughtfully for the future.
Short-term thinking is a widespread disease of our time, and breaking free from it is one of our most essential tasks. This is the first and most crucial step in tackling global issues like climate change.
There are four main reasons why most people avoid thinking about the future:
- they don’t know how to approach it,
- they fear it,
- they see it as pointless because the future seems mysterious and unpredictable,
- or they resist taking responsibility for it.
As a futurist, my goal is to dispel the first three misconceptions. We will delve deep into these topics in my club, The Lab.
As an applied health psychologist, my mission is to highlight the importance of the fourth. Without taking responsibility, any effort to think meaningfully about the future is pointless.
I recall a dinner party where I sat next to a man, and somehow the conversation shifted to gut health. Usually, I wouldn’t discuss such a topic with a stranger over a meal, but he eagerly shared his concerns while indulging in the richest, greasiest dishes. His symptoms led me to suggest he consult Schwab Richard, a famous Hungarian gastroenterologist specialised in longevity, and his team, specialists who could help. His response? “Thanks, but I’d rather not.” He then explained, unprompted, that although he’s upset by his worsening health problems, he avoided getting professional help because he knew they would tell him to stop drinking every day, and he didn’t want to hear that. He preferred to avoid the issue altogether.
This interaction stayed with me because it highlights a core truth: thinking and talking about the future are valuable only if we’re willing to accept our role in shaping it — both for ourselves and for those around us.
In my club, The Lab, I want to show you that this responsibility shouldn’t feel like a paralyzing or overwhelming burden. Instead, it can be a source of hope, motivation, curiosity, and meaningful action. By embracing our role in creating the future, we can turn fear into purpose and uncertainty into opportunity, and this is a powerful thing to do.
Come join the Lab, a members-only club hosted on Substack, doors are opening.
The Medium version of this article is here.
