“The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades”

(Pat McDonald 1986)

 

“Hmm ...”


(Phil v 2.0 2020)



Nothing like leaving things to the last moment ...

 

But, whether or not Boris is actually marching off to a “golden age”, is mercifully, beyond the scope of this blog!

 

Brexit was of course, a significant unknown throughout 2020, and a (perhaps ongoing) source of worry for many. You don’t need me to tell you that COVID and the so called, “new normal” constitute a great source of concern over what 2021 might bring ...

 

... and no doubt, we all have our own things that are matters of concern, going forward.

 

Is it really, going to be a truly, “happy new year”?

 

As you might have noticed, Phil v2.0 has a tendency towards pessimism and indeed, frequently, looks to the future, with much trepidation. I am, therefore, particularly unconvinced for much of the time, that the “future’s so bright”. Add my own fears to those which face many others, and at times, looking ahead seems to be distinctly unappealing and can feel rather overwhelming.

 

Right - it’s now time to attempt a more positive approach ...

 

While negative foresight can provoke prudent caution, excessive worries, might be unnecessarily dampening of my mood. I should therefore step back and look at whether I spend too much time worrying about things which might not need to be worried about, quite so much.

 

As you will have gathered, I tend towards a surfeit of brooding over what might occur. 

 

To myself at least, the key words here, are “might occur” and in particular the word “might”. 

 

Yes - we can and do, make predictions. Surely though, a prediction is nothing more than that. We might consider that some outcomes are more likely than others, but that doesn’t render them to be an inevitability.

 

Of course, we should plan for future happenings and manage risk, accordingly. But note that “risk” is a word which is related to likelihood. Just because there is a risk of something happening, doesn’t necessarily mean that it will happen.

 

Dependent upon the perceived likelihood and anticipated severity of an outcome, risk should be managed to an appropriate degree (if nothing else, through an exercise of caution). 

 

Maybe, some of the things of which I am fearful won’t come to fruition ...

 

“Don’t worry - it might never happen!”

 

...and if they did, is it really so bad? Looking for example at the possibility of advice to the effect that a desired new house purchase must remain on hold, for a while longer. I don’t really want to hear this, but where I am currently living, is pretty nice and staying here for a while longer, isn’t such a bad thing, at all.

 

In brief summary, feared outcomes might not occur (although some are more likely than others) and if they did, is it such a big problem after all? 

 

I must somehow, attempt the application of a filter to many of my fears of future happenings and set aside or reduce, at least some of these. An enhanced balance should be sought. Yes, make plans and manage risks, but perhaps keep things more in proportion ... 

 

A less timid and fearful approach might go further than simply, negating some despondency, and might actually, shift things in an actively positive direction.

 

Pushing aside to a greater or lesser extent, excessive worry, can leave a bit more room for positive anticipation. Of course, in the same way as a bad thing might not turn out that way, the same is true of a good thing, and optimism should be tempered accordingly. Nevertheless, certain items do warrant positive anticipation.

 

The most significant by a long way is my daughter’s pregnancy - the baby, being due in February!

 

As a first-time grandfather to be, I am positively, enthralled about this.

 

BUT

 

In the same way as worries can be reduced, I’d better curb my unbridled excitement.

 

After all, you never know ... 




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