We often think about the future like it’s a far-away land we haven’t reached yet, right? Think again! The future isn’t just some distant dreamland; it’s being cooked up right here, right now, in the present moment. Yep, you heard that correctly! It’s all about what we’re thinking, feeling, and how we take on the big wide world around us and respond to it right now, this very moment.
Now, let me share a little story. I was minding my own business, following my curiosity like a boss, when suddenly, I became intrigued in a what-if scenario. It sparked a wild inner journey that lasted a few days. It was like I hit the start button on a rollercoaster ride through my mind!
Thankfully, I managed to hit pause on that whirlwind of thoughts and its effects on me on an energetic level after a bit. But here’s the kicker: that question and the answers I uncovered could have become the blueprints for what was about to unfold. Talk about mind-bending stuff, right? When you start tinkering with what-ifs or any other thoughts or emotions, and follow up on them without full awareness, we set wheels into motion. Voila, you get the future with the consequences of what you create here and now.
It all began with my insatiable curiosity. You know the expression, “Curiosity killed the cat”? Well, I was that cat. Luckily, I lived to tell the tale, though I learned a few lessons along the way.
What, if?
My curiosity led me to a moment of questioning—was it wisdom or folly? I posed a hypothetical “what if” to someone close to me, expecting an honest answer. I got one, but it wasn’t the answer I wanted to hear. Through my personal filter—let’s call it Parisa’s filter—I processed the response, letting it spread through my brain like a thick layer of thought-provoking jam.
This sparked an uncontrollable torrent of thoughts and emotions, leading to even more questions. One pressing query was, how much honesty can I really handle? I like to think of myself as a “goddess of honesty.” (By the way, if you haven’t read my post on “ The Size And Color of a Lie, you can read it here.” ) Then came the big question: What do I do with this newfound truth? It hit me how every single choice has consequences. Thoughts, once entertained, can spiral into powerful emotions. My musings, thrown into the world as a “what if” question, brought back an answer. But it wasn’t the one I wanted.
Was it worth it? Would I do it again? I’m not sure, but one thing is clear: everything we do has consequences.
Our minds are always buzzing with thoughts, often unnoticed. I realized this recently, during a 10-day silent Vipassana meditation retreat. It wasn’t until the third day that I could still my mind enough to see the madness inside. There, I found great compassion for humanity. No wonder the world is chaotic and crazy—most of us aren’t aware of the constant chatter in our heads. We say we know ourselves, but do we really? Our thoughts, emotions, intentions, and reactions shape our lives. If we want to create a peaceful world, we must start with ourselves.
Curious about what I’m getting at? Sign up for a 10-day Vipassana course and start practicing daily. Then you’ll hopefully see what I mean. But back to my point: had I not asked that question, I wouldn’t have gone through this inner process or written this post.
Recently, a colleague of mine tossed another “what if” my way. It was more fun than mine:
“What if you could time travel to any period in history and take only either a thing or person, not both, what age would you choose, why and what would you take with you?”
I can’t wait to read your answers.
Thanks for stopping by to check out this post. If you haven’t yet, hit subscribe to join our cool group of writers. By the way, if you’re interested, check out my poem “Mirror Mirror On The Wall” inspired by my Vipassana retreat on my blog or catch me on Instagram. Need some tunes or movement inspiration? Head over to my Spotify (look for Movement Coach Parisa.)