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January 2009 
Everything Changes! Ways of Gaining More Control of our IOS No.19
Posted on Sep 15th, 2008
by 
dannyboy
dannyboy
What we know, or think we know, plays a critical role in our sense of control. What we know informs our actions, and those actions produce consequences. If the consequences match the expected outcome, we're happy. If not, we're obligated to evaluate what we thought we knew and to make adjustments accordingly. In this segment we discuss the three realms from which our sense of knowing comes. And why knowing from where our thoughts are emanating is an important part of dealing with change…
Past, Present, Future
S: In discussing methods of handling fear, we said that our internal operating system often triggers fear when attempting to interpret the outcome of an unknown. It does this by projecting previous experiences onto the present circumstances, or by playing 'what if' games with the future. These actions are all about our internal operating system's attempts to maintain control over the outer environment.
S: In previous discussions we've said that a big part of our sense of control comes from what we know. So where does our sense of knowing come from? It comes from our direct experience of right now, from our memories of previous experience, and from our expectations of tomorrow. In short, our sense of knowing is drawn from the three realms of past, present and future. However, just like real and imagined fear, it's not always easy to discern from which realm we're drawing our sense of knowing. And as our discussion on fear just revealed a sense of knowing that relies on the past or projections of the future can unwittingly impede our progress.
S: A number of years ago the Harvard School of Medicine for Mind/Body Wellness came out with a national program on stress reduction. I became interested because it was one of the first programs, to my knowledge, to link how we use our minds with the creation of stress. They conducted a study on the amount of time the average person spends thinking about the past, present and future. The results were fascinating. They found 40% of the average person's mental activity was spent dwelling on the past. They found another 50% of the average person's mental activity was spent thinking about the future. Which left only 10% of their mental activity focused in the present.
Their conclusion was people were creating stress for themselves by thinking about the past and the future. A conclusion that we could draw as well based on what we've been learning about our inner operating system's use of past memories and future projections to create fear.
Q: What's the value of memory--of being able to recall the past?
A: Have you ever been around an elderly person who is experiencing short-term memory loss? They often ask the same questions over and over because they can't remember what they just asked. This provides us with some insight into the importance of memory. Memory is critical to the learning process. Facts and figures certainly, but also learning from our experiences, and for recalling the results of our actions. Memory is critical to building relationships and interacting with others. It's also the means to surveying our progress, and a method of delineating the passage of time. So being able to recall the past has a lot of positive attributes.
Q: But are there negative consequences to being able to recall the past?
A: Well, we've just been discussing how our internal operating system can create a sense of fear right now, simply by recalling certain past memories. Memory allows us to replay the same event over and over. For example, if we make a mistake, being able to replay that mistake over and over can leave an indelible mark on our psyche. Memories are imprinted via our interpretations of events, meaning events are recorded according to how we interpreted them. For example, what we remember about past learning experiences can have a lot to do with our success in new learning environments. Previous experiences with change can easily influence our interpretation of current changes. What we're suggesting is our past can figure prominently in the limitations we place on ourselves in the present. What happened in the past does not reflect the exact same circumstances as today.
Key Concept: What happened in the past can only serve as a guideline, not a guarantee, of what will happen in the present or the future.
S: So the gift of memory holds both positive and negative attributes depending on how we choose to use it. However, many of us unwittingly let the past rule the present--by dictating our present actions. Since our present actions contribute to the unfolding of future events--the past can also be seen as influencing our future. Something to think about!
Q: Now, let's turn our attention to the future. What's the value of having an imagination and being able to think about the future?
A: Imagination makes it possible to envision a future different from today. It gives us hope. Imagination reflects the mind's eye where all things are first created--the fountainhead of creativity. We use imagination to conceive new ideas or expand on existing ones. The future is the canvas on which we paint our desires and color our dreams. From this perspective, our ability to imagine the future has some very positive attributes.
Q: But are there negative consequences to our ability to imagine the future?
A: The future symbolizes the unknown; if our internal operating system feels threatened it uses imagination to create a known where a known does not yet exist. This is an illusory attempt at manipulating a reality that has yet to unfold. It speaks to the problem we discussed in connection with fear; our imagination can create fear where there is only the shadow of the unknown. Yet, the future can only be experienced as a projection of our imagination. Frequently, the future turns out different than we hoped. This can lead to a sense of powerlessness in our ability to shape the future. For example, futuristic sci-fi movies inevitably portray us fighting evildoers or some kind of monster, which is simply a current mindset imposed on the future. This is a good example of how our past manages to dominate our actions and influence the future. Finally, let's not forget that the future can only be revealed in the present moment. An unknown created today can only be revealed as a future event when the present moment reaches that point.
S: So like the past, the ability to imagine the future has both positive and negative attributes depending on how we choose to use it.
Key Concept: The future is based on constantly changing variables--anything is possible. However, the degree to which we can separate reality from imagined reality is the degree to which we remain balanced and grounded.
Q: Well, what about the present, does it seem reasonable that the average person spends only 10% of their mental activity in the present?
Q: Does this reflect a presumption on our part about the relative importance of the past, present and future?
A: There could be some logic associated with such a presumption, after all we have a huge amount of historical information stored in the mind. The future has no limits from the standpoint of our imagination. And the present, well, it's this very small momentary snapshot of current awareness. So, from the perspective of an undisciplined mind--all that stored data and endless projections of imagination--could definitely make the present seem rather inconsequential.
Q: What do you suppose is the importance of the present?
A: Well, for one thing, without the present moment, there is no past or future. The present--this moment right now--is the only true reality that we know. It's in this moment that we are able to recall the past or imagine the future. We don't return to a moment in the past, we have a mental recollection of it. We can't transport ourselves into future, we create a mental image of it using our imagination. Does our recollection or projection have the same certainty and tangible reality of the present moment? It simply cannot.
S: In discussing strategies for reducing imagined fear the suggestion was to redirect our thoughts back to the present. In doing this we're directing the mind to leave an imagined reality and return to what is real in the present moment. Any thoughts or desire to change the past can only be changed by actions in the present. Any hope of an imagined future can only be realized by actions taken in the present. The truth of our reality--despite the important attributes of the past and future--is we will always and forever remain in the present.
Q: Are we saying that because we never leave the present that we shouldn't plan or set goals for the future?
A: Not at all. When do we plan and set goals? In the only time we have--the present moment. The point is not to become so focused on planning the future that we forget to experience the present. Without becoming aware of our mental habits the present moment is easily consumed with attention focused on the past or future. Those thoughts prevent us from being fully aware of what's happening in this moment.
S: It's interesting to note that the more focused we are in the present the easier it is to observe our thoughts, become aware of our actions, and really see the different processes responsible for producing outcomes. Attempting to be more centered in the present increases our awareness of time. We are less likely to be paralyzed by fear over an unknown--realizing that time will reveal the outcome. Also, we are more apt to see the actions that result in change--making it less of a surprise.
Q: There are many excellent reasons for staying focused in the present.
But are there any negatives to experiencing the present?
A: Unlike the past and future that exhibit facets of the unreal, the opposite is sometimes a problem with the present--our reality can be too real. We sometimes have difficulty accepting our present circumstances. If anything about our situation isn't fun, is painful or hurts, our reaction is often a desire to escape the current reality. The avenues of escape from the present are legion--everything from frequent mental excursions to ingesting substances aimed at altering the senses. Of course, it's not possible to actually escape the present so wherever we redirect our attention it's a temporary escape at best.
Key Concept: The magic of the present is that everything we do happens within the envelope of the here and now. The importance of the present is it reflects our truest measure of reality.
S: As individuals our reality may not be outwardly glamorous or famous, but from an expanded view each of our realities exhibits great beauty simply in our being. Remember too, that being endowed with the gift of self-consciousness enables us to play a part in creating our reality. As we will discuss in a moment all actions create effects, and over time all things change. We might conclude that focusing our attention in the present has a lot to recommend it.
S: The past, present and future represent the three playing fields on which our
internal operating system functions. These fields represent the range of thoughts from which we draw our interpretations about the world. If we intend to exercise a greater degree of control over our internal operating system we must become more adept at recognizing which field we are using to form our interpretations. The mission in this segment was to provide some insight into the advantages and disadvantages of each field. It's not a matter of which field to use--we need all three--it's about integrating the best aspects of all three fields into a more effective way of living and being in the world.
Note to reader: Thanks for reading! In the next segment our discussion turns toward summarizing and tieing up loose ends... As always, I'm interested in your comments or if you have any questions.
Copyright 2008. The information here is reproduced from Everything Changes! Understanding and Dealing with the Change in our Lives. It is provided for personal use. I encourage you to share it with your friends. Otherwise the material may not be reproduced, copied or used in any other way without written permission from the author, Dan Richardson.
Past, Present, Future
S: In discussing methods of handling fear, we said that our internal operating system often triggers fear when attempting to interpret the outcome of an unknown. It does this by projecting previous experiences onto the present circumstances, or by playing 'what if' games with the future. These actions are all about our internal operating system's attempts to maintain control over the outer environment.
S: In previous discussions we've said that a big part of our sense of control comes from what we know. So where does our sense of knowing come from? It comes from our direct experience of right now, from our memories of previous experience, and from our expectations of tomorrow. In short, our sense of knowing is drawn from the three realms of past, present and future. However, just like real and imagined fear, it's not always easy to discern from which realm we're drawing our sense of knowing. And as our discussion on fear just revealed a sense of knowing that relies on the past or projections of the future can unwittingly impede our progress.
S: A number of years ago the Harvard School of Medicine for Mind/Body Wellness came out with a national program on stress reduction. I became interested because it was one of the first programs, to my knowledge, to link how we use our minds with the creation of stress. They conducted a study on the amount of time the average person spends thinking about the past, present and future. The results were fascinating. They found 40% of the average person's mental activity was spent dwelling on the past. They found another 50% of the average person's mental activity was spent thinking about the future. Which left only 10% of their mental activity focused in the present.
Their conclusion was people were creating stress for themselves by thinking about the past and the future. A conclusion that we could draw as well based on what we've been learning about our inner operating system's use of past memories and future projections to create fear.
Q: What's the value of memory--of being able to recall the past?
A: Have you ever been around an elderly person who is experiencing short-term memory loss? They often ask the same questions over and over because they can't remember what they just asked. This provides us with some insight into the importance of memory. Memory is critical to the learning process. Facts and figures certainly, but also learning from our experiences, and for recalling the results of our actions. Memory is critical to building relationships and interacting with others. It's also the means to surveying our progress, and a method of delineating the passage of time. So being able to recall the past has a lot of positive attributes.
Q: But are there negative consequences to being able to recall the past?
A: Well, we've just been discussing how our internal operating system can create a sense of fear right now, simply by recalling certain past memories. Memory allows us to replay the same event over and over. For example, if we make a mistake, being able to replay that mistake over and over can leave an indelible mark on our psyche. Memories are imprinted via our interpretations of events, meaning events are recorded according to how we interpreted them. For example, what we remember about past learning experiences can have a lot to do with our success in new learning environments. Previous experiences with change can easily influence our interpretation of current changes. What we're suggesting is our past can figure prominently in the limitations we place on ourselves in the present. What happened in the past does not reflect the exact same circumstances as today.
Key Concept: What happened in the past can only serve as a guideline, not a guarantee, of what will happen in the present or the future.
S: So the gift of memory holds both positive and negative attributes depending on how we choose to use it. However, many of us unwittingly let the past rule the present--by dictating our present actions. Since our present actions contribute to the unfolding of future events--the past can also be seen as influencing our future. Something to think about!
Q: Now, let's turn our attention to the future. What's the value of having an imagination and being able to think about the future?
A: Imagination makes it possible to envision a future different from today. It gives us hope. Imagination reflects the mind's eye where all things are first created--the fountainhead of creativity. We use imagination to conceive new ideas or expand on existing ones. The future is the canvas on which we paint our desires and color our dreams. From this perspective, our ability to imagine the future has some very positive attributes.
Q: But are there negative consequences to our ability to imagine the future?
A: The future symbolizes the unknown; if our internal operating system feels threatened it uses imagination to create a known where a known does not yet exist. This is an illusory attempt at manipulating a reality that has yet to unfold. It speaks to the problem we discussed in connection with fear; our imagination can create fear where there is only the shadow of the unknown. Yet, the future can only be experienced as a projection of our imagination. Frequently, the future turns out different than we hoped. This can lead to a sense of powerlessness in our ability to shape the future. For example, futuristic sci-fi movies inevitably portray us fighting evildoers or some kind of monster, which is simply a current mindset imposed on the future. This is a good example of how our past manages to dominate our actions and influence the future. Finally, let's not forget that the future can only be revealed in the present moment. An unknown created today can only be revealed as a future event when the present moment reaches that point.
S: So like the past, the ability to imagine the future has both positive and negative attributes depending on how we choose to use it.
Key Concept: The future is based on constantly changing variables--anything is possible. However, the degree to which we can separate reality from imagined reality is the degree to which we remain balanced and grounded.
Q: Well, what about the present, does it seem reasonable that the average person spends only 10% of their mental activity in the present?
Q: Does this reflect a presumption on our part about the relative importance of the past, present and future?
A: There could be some logic associated with such a presumption, after all we have a huge amount of historical information stored in the mind. The future has no limits from the standpoint of our imagination. And the present, well, it's this very small momentary snapshot of current awareness. So, from the perspective of an undisciplined mind--all that stored data and endless projections of imagination--could definitely make the present seem rather inconsequential.
Q: What do you suppose is the importance of the present?
A: Well, for one thing, without the present moment, there is no past or future. The present--this moment right now--is the only true reality that we know. It's in this moment that we are able to recall the past or imagine the future. We don't return to a moment in the past, we have a mental recollection of it. We can't transport ourselves into future, we create a mental image of it using our imagination. Does our recollection or projection have the same certainty and tangible reality of the present moment? It simply cannot.
S: In discussing strategies for reducing imagined fear the suggestion was to redirect our thoughts back to the present. In doing this we're directing the mind to leave an imagined reality and return to what is real in the present moment. Any thoughts or desire to change the past can only be changed by actions in the present. Any hope of an imagined future can only be realized by actions taken in the present. The truth of our reality--despite the important attributes of the past and future--is we will always and forever remain in the present.
Q: Are we saying that because we never leave the present that we shouldn't plan or set goals for the future?
A: Not at all. When do we plan and set goals? In the only time we have--the present moment. The point is not to become so focused on planning the future that we forget to experience the present. Without becoming aware of our mental habits the present moment is easily consumed with attention focused on the past or future. Those thoughts prevent us from being fully aware of what's happening in this moment.
S: It's interesting to note that the more focused we are in the present the easier it is to observe our thoughts, become aware of our actions, and really see the different processes responsible for producing outcomes. Attempting to be more centered in the present increases our awareness of time. We are less likely to be paralyzed by fear over an unknown--realizing that time will reveal the outcome. Also, we are more apt to see the actions that result in change--making it less of a surprise.
Q: There are many excellent reasons for staying focused in the present.
But are there any negatives to experiencing the present?
A: Unlike the past and future that exhibit facets of the unreal, the opposite is sometimes a problem with the present--our reality can be too real. We sometimes have difficulty accepting our present circumstances. If anything about our situation isn't fun, is painful or hurts, our reaction is often a desire to escape the current reality. The avenues of escape from the present are legion--everything from frequent mental excursions to ingesting substances aimed at altering the senses. Of course, it's not possible to actually escape the present so wherever we redirect our attention it's a temporary escape at best.
Key Concept: The magic of the present is that everything we do happens within the envelope of the here and now. The importance of the present is it reflects our truest measure of reality.
S: As individuals our reality may not be outwardly glamorous or famous, but from an expanded view each of our realities exhibits great beauty simply in our being. Remember too, that being endowed with the gift of self-consciousness enables us to play a part in creating our reality. As we will discuss in a moment all actions create effects, and over time all things change. We might conclude that focusing our attention in the present has a lot to recommend it.
S: The past, present and future represent the three playing fields on which our
internal operating system functions. These fields represent the range of thoughts from which we draw our interpretations about the world. If we intend to exercise a greater degree of control over our internal operating system we must become more adept at recognizing which field we are using to form our interpretations. The mission in this segment was to provide some insight into the advantages and disadvantages of each field. It's not a matter of which field to use--we need all three--it's about integrating the best aspects of all three fields into a more effective way of living and being in the world.
Note to reader: Thanks for reading! In the next segment our discussion turns toward summarizing and tieing up loose ends... As always, I'm interested in your comments or if you have any questions.
Copyright 2008. The information here is reproduced from Everything Changes! Understanding and Dealing with the Change in our Lives. It is provided for personal use. I encourage you to share it with your friends. Otherwise the material may not be reproduced, copied or used in any other way without written permission from the author, Dan Richardson.
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