Fear of the future in psychology is a depressing feeling that one fine day in life everything may not go “according to plan.” Each person is the scriptwriter of his own destiny. He plans events, outlines the trajectory of his behavior in a given situation. But in life, as in chess, it is impossible to foresee all possible combinations. At some point, events may get out of control.
Having failed once, many people give up. Their will is constrained by a paralyzing fear of getting burned again. Like a snail sensing danger, they retreat into their shell, where they remain anxious and confused.
Not only negative experiences of the past can poison a person’s life. The feeling of instability and uncertainty about the future also undermine his strength. As a result, a person’s energy is wasted on empty worries, and his self-development is put an end to.
This is the truly destructive effect of fear of the future. In psychology, it is associated with thanatophobia - the fear of death. Moreover, it is not the death itself that is scary, but the awareness of how much needs to be accomplished in the short time that a person has.
Fear of the future - causes of futurophobia
There is ongoing debate among psychologists about the root cause of the occurrence and development of this disorder. It is believed that futurophobia has its roots in early childhood. The risk factor is especially great in conservative families, where any innovation encounters a wall of mistrust and suspicion. The child adopts a pattern of behavior that threatens to subsequently result in fear of tomorrow.
A phobia of the future can take hold of a person during periods of social and personal upheaval. Apocalyptic forecasts make their contribution. Suffice it to recall the panic fever on the eve of December 2012 due to the prediction of the Mayan tribe. Age-related crises, accompanied by a painful search for oneself, can also undermine confidence in the future.
Among the main “triggers” for the development of a phobia of tomorrow are the following:
- economic: the prospect of changing or losing a job, fear of unforeseen expenses;
- socio-political: escalation of tension in society, the threat of armed confrontation, the danger of famine, disease, military conflict, the end of the world;
- individual: dramatic changes in personal life, for example marriage, birth of a child, divorce, moving, departure of loved ones or relatives.
Fear of the future - psychology
Futurophobia is associated with the fear of the unknown. The latter is characteristic of all people and is based on the instinct of self-preservation. And fear as such is a basic feeling associated with the animal part of a person, but besides it there is also a social half.
Yes, I have. And for some, the social part - beliefs, positive personal experience, self-confidence, etc. - helps them fight a phobia. In other people, the primitive self turns out to be stronger, that is, the mind gives way to emotions, and then the person finds himself at the mercy of anxious experiences.
How to live without fear for the future
First of all, you need to learn one banal truth: problems are an integral companion of every person. Life will constantly throw a spoke in our wheels - that’s its habit. Reflecting these blows is the essence of full-fledged personal development, which is abhorrent to static. It should be remembered: if we are still alive, it means that we somehow had enough strength to cope with the challenges of fate up to this moment.
Do you want to overcome your fear of tomorrow? Toughen up! It is known that insects bite only people with poor physical fitness - sagging skin contributes to this. The strong blood flow in the body of a trained person will catch the small pest in a vice from which it will no longer be able to escape.
Are you afraid of the prospect of illness? Get plenty of exercise and eat a balanced diet. If you suffer from bad habits, find the strength to give them up once and for all. Hardening tactics and a healthy lifestyle should be used by anyone who wants to say goodbye to the ghost of futurophobia.
Are you afraid of losing your favorite job? Start mastering in-demand professions, constantly increasing your level of competence. Learn to manage your household more economically, and monitor the rational organization of your life. Recommendations from famous psychologists will help you cope effectively with psychological stress.
How can we live without fear for the future if this fear is constantly fueled by the media? If possible, limit access to your consciousness of news that generates panic. Tune in to the positive, choose for your evening viewing not mindless comedies, but films in which heroes overcome life's obstacles. In a word, do not give in in the face of difficulties, but master the art of fending off their challenges.
How to live without fear?
It is clear that everyone is afraid of something. But getting rid of phobias is also necessary; they complicate life, turning it into a nightmare . In order not to die from fear of the future, you should follow these tips:
- Strengthen your condition. If there is a fear of lack of money, start creating a “financial cushion” for yourself, a nest egg, to put it simply.
- Direct your energy to household chores. Do housework more often.
- Find hobbies. Any hobby will help take your mind off obsessive thoughts.
- Avoid talking, reading, or watching TV about the problem that is bothering you. If you are afraid of the political situation, you should never get involved in a dialogue about politics, this can give a new round of development to the phobia.
- Do what you love. Watching your favorite movies, listening to music, reading books - all this will prevent fear from eating away from the inside.
- To have a pet. The smaller brothers subtly sense the mood of their owners, become real friends and can help get rid of futurophobia.
If none of the attempts is successful, you should seek help from a specialist . Practicing doctors will always help you understand yourself and the difficult situation that created the phobia. Psychotherapy, medications prescribed by a doctor and the desire to get rid of obsessive fears will be the key to a life free of phobias.
How to overcome fear of the future
An interesting parable about ways to overcome various phobias was once posted on one of the foreign forums. It told the story of a lion who feared the crow of a cock more than anything in the world. Having learned about this, the elephant burst out laughing: “How can you be afraid of this?” At the same moment, a mosquito began to circle around the elephant. “Oh no,” the six-ton giant exclaimed in fear, “if he flies into my ear, that will be the end!” Now it was the lion's turn to laugh.
We are frightened by uncertainty and the unknown. Visualizing your fears often helps you get rid of them. You can proceed according to the following algorithm:
1. Take a blank sheet of paper and a pencil. Try to draw or describe your phobia in words. Pull her out from the depths of your subconscious, meet her eyes.
2. Think about what means you have to overcome the onset of this event. If nothing depends on you, then there is no point in being afraid of it.
3. Sketch out a draft of the consequences in your mind. Ask yourself what will happen next. You may come to the conclusion that your fear is a colossus with feet of clay. Remember: whatever doesn't kill you will make you stronger.
Conclusion
How to overcome fear of the future? Yes, just remember that you live here and now. There is only the present, which is entirely in your power. At any moment you can turn your life 180 degrees.
But such a radical turn is not always a panacea for all problems. The future is scary, but as B. Russell said, overcoming fear, a person gains wisdom.
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Fear of the future: how to overcome it and start doing something
One of the Quora users asked the readers of the resource an important question that comes to each of us at least once in our lives: “How to overcome fear of the future?” Indeed, any person has asked himself these questions:
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What will the future be like? Will my dreams come true? Will I be able to achieve the goals I set for myself? Will I be able to cope with all the obstacles that will come my way? Will I be able to build a career? What about my personal life?
Today we will share with you people's opinions on this matter.
Get out of your comfort zone
I believe it is more a fear of failure than a fear of the future. Therefore, I think it is worth starting with this. Failure or error is not always a bad thing. An intelligent person will be able to learn a lot from his mistakes, gain experience that he would never have acquired if his path was paved exclusively with successes.
Have you ever noticed that a person who has built a successful business in any industry often stops there and does not strive to develop and “capture” new areas of business. And why? Because he doesn't know the secret of his success. Or he just thinks he knows.
It is very strange that the author of the question limited the future only to his own selfish framework and did not mention that it could be much worse than not getting a good job or not fulfilling your cherished dreams. War, for example. Nuclear terrorism. Economic collapse. Various epidemics. Hunger. A large asteroid will fall to Earth. Totalitarian tyranny. Global warming or cooling. Or something else like that.
In my opinion, to overcome your fear of the future, you need to get out of your comfort zone. Start small: talk to a stranger, or stop taking the same route to work year after year and try to find alternative routes. Read a book about something completely new to you. Sign up for courses that are far from your interests and your professional activities. Create your startup.
Ask yourself: “Is there something that I want to do or that I want to achieve, but I just can’t get around to it?” If your answer is yes, go for it.
And of course, take some time off and think carefully about what you want to do in the future. What YOU really want, not your family, friends, colleagues or acquaintances. And then start doing it.
The more you achieve, the more different things you manage to do, the less you will be afraid of tomorrow. You will be confident that you can handle whatever life throws at you.
The future is already here
When the future comes, it will be the present. Simply put, there is no future, there is only one present, the eternal “now”. Understand this and you will stop being afraid, because the present is always in our power.
Be courageous
In my opinion, fear of the future is based on the past. For example, a person in the past experienced misfortunes or betrayals, in a word, he experienced all the pain and injustice of this world. And now he's afraid it might happen again. I can't formulate a specific plan of action, but I really want to give you one quote that I hope will help you:
Lord, give me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, give me the courage to change the things I can change, and give me the wisdom to know the difference.
All in your hands
Most people simply don't realize how much control they have over their lives. We are all free. Any of us can pack our things, buy a ticket and leave wherever we look.
You just need to take action today to make sure your tomorrow is what you want it to be. Don't expect someone to change your life for you - this won't happen. Everything is in your hands.
Problems should be solved as they arise
The most important thing is to understand that it is useless to worry about things that you cannot yet change. This will bring you nothing but negative consequences.
Live in the moment, put more effort into becoming successful at work, or in order to achieve other goals that are important to you.
Obstacles, problems and difficulties will always be in your life. But why think about anything and worry in advance? Problems should be solved as they arise.
Fear and worry will never lead to anything good.
What do you think about this?
Causes of futurophobia
The reasons are:
- self-doubt and feelings of helplessness;
- negative personal experience, only sad changes occurred in a person’s life;
- fear of error;
- instability in life.
Let's look at the latter in more detail. Those who do not feel happy and secure in the present are afraid of the future. Yes, at first glance they may have an ordinary life: work, family, friends. And there seems to be enough money. However, something is gnawing inside: “What if all this disappears? Will a crisis happen, will you be fired, will your husband leave?” Such experiences are associated with the fact that a person relies on the outside world, while he needs to have support within himself.
Examples:
- If you are confident in yourself, familiar with your strengths and weaknesses, and abilities, then you are not afraid of the future, because you know that you can find worthy use of your skills and knowledge.
- If you have mastered an in-demand Internet profession, then you will not have to worry that you will be fired, that you are tied not only to a specific organization, but also to the city. By the way, we have a suitable course for those who want to find something they love online and gain confidence in the future. In the program “Quick start in making money online,” we talk about 17 Internet professions with an income of 40 thousand rubles per month and how to find your first customers, even if you don’t have a portfolio.
- If you have built your business, created a source of passive income, learned how to manage and invest money wisely, then you will not have to worry about a possible crisis. If you recognize yourself in this example, then we offer another course - “School of Millionaires from God.” As part of it, we help get rid of limiting beliefs and fears and teach financial literacy. The result is self-confidence, financial stability, happiness in your personal life, harmony within yourself.
Remember: phobias live only in your head.
