Time Rebellion
Futurists, foresight practitioners, and futures thinkers reflect on the concept of Temporal Exhaustion when societies suffer from short-termism. The sociologist Elise Boulding (1978) is often quoted in explaining this dire situation: "If one is mentally out of breath all the time from dealing with the present, there is no energy left for imagining the future."
This essay redefines the concept of Temporal Exhaustion as an inevitable condition that arises from an unhealthy relationship with the Now. In fact, a proper connection to the Present will encourage receptiveness to Future/s. The state of Future-Presence is introduced: Now is elongated to embrace a long tomorrow. This is achieved through Temporal Awakening: a realization that time is an illusory concept in the infinite game of life.
VISIONS STRONGER THAN MEMORIES
In developing nations, the burden of the present and the weight of the past cannot carry the uncertainty and complexity of imagining possible futures. The challenge for foresight practitioners is to diminish the negative connotation on the word "Future."
The current era is often described as V.U.C.A: volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. Ziauddin Sardar (2014) calls it "postnormal times" where the espiritu del tiempo (spirit of our age) is rooted in fast progress and constant change. The exponential growth brought by technologies increases the ability to access and accumulate gargantuan information, but wisdom cannot catch up: there is still ignorance on making sense of the speedy present, so the future becomes blurry in the vision.
However, paradoxically, living in the postnormal era stresses the urgent need for long-termism in the present. The increasing difficulties in predicting cannot be answered by obliterating visioning and planning. Even if the exact events in the future are unknowable, there must be awareness of all possibilities. Preparation is the antidote to uncertainty. Visions will empower memories.
Futures Literacy is about tapping into imagination and creativity to accept ambiguity, to befriend complexity, and to appreciate the value of novelty. There must be a discipline of anticipation that can respond to disruption with practical improvisation. Once foresight thinking is integrated in the personal level, there would be an inner reflective realization that "the future" is not yet established. There are "futures." The present becomes the past as the future unfolds. Also, as a Māori proverb says, we could walk backwards into the future with our eyes fixed on our past.
THE LONG NOW
There is a call to bend the linear concept of time. The Past is not yet finished; the Present is not just in the current moment; and the Future is not out of reach. Everything is happening everywhere all the time. All realities are existing all at once.
Foresight practitioners must introduce paradigm shifts that will redefine Past, Present, and Future.
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| Past | Instead of viewing the past as a series of events that has already passed, it must be redefined to a collection of memories that can be continuously remembered. It can always be revisited and relived for lessons and transformation. |
| Present | Instead of limiting the present to the current Now, it must be extended to a long Now that seeks clarity from the past and listens to the voice of the future. It can always weave stories that transcend time and space for broader perspectives. |
| Future | Instead of labeling the future as an established prediction that is set in stone based on trends and patterns, it must entertain possibilities based on visions and aspirations. It can always be reimagined according to preferred directions. |
Temporal Exhaustion exists because it strictly follows linear time. There is a belief that the unfortunate Past cannot be changed, and that the Future would remain obscure. It denies the power of making the past alive by applying the lessons that can be learned, and of being open-minded to future possibilities by imagining the opportunities that can be harnessed.
There is an unhealthy relationship with Now: the focus only remains in the current moment, because the populations remain victims of the past and slaves of the future.
For example, if the ancestors of a farmer have always lived in poverty, and his current life situation is challenged by extreme land drought, the idea of a future where he can be rich is elusive.
On the other hand, Temporal Awakening happens when time becomes illusory. There is a belief that revisiting the Past is healing, and envisioning the Future is inspiring. It harnesses the power of rewriting memories and reimagining goals. The past remains a tool for growth, and the future is an inspiration to move forward.
There is a healthy relationship with the Now: the focus embraces a long tomorrow. The life situation – whether fortunate or not – is not a condition that determines the fate of the populations.
For example, if the ancestors of a farmer have always lived in poverty, the memories of lessons learned are catalysts to improve the current life situation; there are no hindrances to move forward for a better future. The experiencing self is guided by the remembering self to stop the fatalistic self from sabotaging the autonomous self. The Future can be tugged toward the Present for direction; hence the concept of Future-Presence. Who one is can be shaped by who he will be. There is growth from the idea of Past-Presence (who one is is who he was).
The Past, Present, and Future are entangled. The multiple selves can always be accessed at any given point in time.
The best realities exist right here, right now – brought by the Past, Present, and Future that are all existing at once simultaneously. There is no beginning and end.
CATHEDRAL THINKING
Temporal Exhaustion can be extinguished with the mindset of Infinity and Interconnectedness. The metrics for growth shall not be in quarterly terms but in the language of five thousand years and more. The goals achieved by developing nations Now will not only have an impact on the lives of immediate families in this lifetime; it will be bequeathed to posterity.
The current moment used to be the unknowable and unimaginable future. If only the ancestors of developing nations taught of projects that can listen to the generation Now, current societal issues on poverty, inequality, hunger, health, education, sustainability, work, and climate change would not exist. Politicians must not be myopic: the focus shall not only be on the reputation for the 24/7 news, and the goals must not only serve one's term of office. Likewise, populations must be empowered to think not only for the sake of surviving one's lifetime but also for the sustainable success of the familial lineage. The impact of small actions Now must not be underestimated.
The mindset of Infinity does not think outside the box but goes beyond it.
The spirit of Interconnectedness trades short-term sacrifices for long-term sustainable success.
The Past, Present, and Future co-exist. Time and space are transcended when Eternity is the living reality.
