Jayden Szeto - Week 10 - Power of Dreaming and the Future
Reflecting on the past is a common thing to do, where people often find themselves thinking about previous mistakes or what would have happened if they made another choice. Something I learned is to just stop thinking so much about the past and just think about the future. What sports should I play? What classes should I take? What college do I want to try to get into? The future is the motivational force that keeps us moving forward.
Research indicates that people who have a clear sense of themselves in the future end up making better decisions in the long term. Instead of just thinking about the short term benefits of something, they think about where they want to be in the future. For example, when you think about the future, you choose bigger long-term rewards instead of instant short-term ones. This concept is called delay discounting. When you think about living in a nice house or having a nice car, you are probably more likely to start saving up for those. This helps prevent you from wasting money on short-term instant happiness that does not help your future.
This brings us to the second point, which is having a goal (or dream), which is sort of related to thinking about the future. Having clear, achievable goals not only helps guide what direction you want to go in, but also gives something that you can reach. For me, it is like instead of saying “I need to finish my homework” (thinking about the future) vs saying “I am going to finish my homework” (setting a goal). Goals also help with self-discipline because you need to spend time and effort to achieve something. Once you achieve it, you also feel like you did something, which leads to a cycle of you making more goals and trying to achieve them.
While looking back can be a very good learning experience, it's looking at the future combined with goal setting that benefits us the most.
Hi Jayden!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog post about the power of focusing on the future and setting goals instead of ruminating about the past. I found it fascinating to learn about “delay discounting,” and I appreciate how you explained the term before using it. Additionally, your is blog both easy to follow and straightforward because you organized the different subtopics into distinct paragraphs! I also appreciate your example of an achievable goal to set, which was “I am going to finish my homework,” as it clearly showed me how I could use goal setting to change the way that I view my tasks!!
I tend to think a lot about the past, wondering what would have happened if I chose not to do something. And it’s obvious; thinking about the past more than what is needed to learn lessons from potential mistakes is essentially pointless. This is something that I am actively trying to do less, as I realize that I could be using the time I spend thinking about the past to relax or do something that could help me in the future.
On the other hand, I believe that the future is filled with endless uncertainties, which means that at times, I begin to ponder about the future in an unproductive manner. Hence, although I understand how considering the future in the ways you mentioned has many benefits, thinking about the future too much (and obsessing over the what-ifs of the future) is in some ways as ineffective as repeatedly reflecting on the past.
Hi Jayden, I initially thought your post would be about lucid dreaming and how controlling dreams is some sort of power. However, your topic being related to how the unconscious mind can be influenced simply by thinking of desirable objects. This topic relates to my blog post and an area that I have recently taken interest in, the calculations or decisions that the mind makes that we are unbeknownst to. Though I feel there is an aspect of unconscious thinking apparent in your blog post, I appreciate your emphasis on the conscious thoughts that can be controlled in order to improve one's future.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the delay discounting overview that you have included as a link as well as your post, I understand that lowering the level of delay discounting in an individual can make them more likely to reach overarching goals. I also connect high levels of delay discounting as a susceptibility to being heavily swayed by the possibility of quick dopamine rushes. I also find it interesting that you mentioned extensive planning for the future as a positive. While many might see this tendency as harmful, I agree with your assertation that as long as the tendency is moderated, regular goal setting can be extremely beneficial to general success.
I appreciate how you separated your two main claims with a visual interpretation of your claim. This gave the audience a break from the text which allowed the idea of the benefits of planning for the future to linger in our minds before we transition into specific tactics in the field of planning that can be beneficial to being successful. I also appreciate your use of text in parenthesis to specify your claim. I find that writers who specify their thoughts with dashes or parenthesis make it less likely that their audience will have to re-read the text. This topic is important, specifically for high school students because this is where we start thinking about higher education and occupation to an increased extent.
Hi Jayden! I enjoyed how your blog reflected the realistic aspect of life. The structure of your blog was direct to the point and engaging to read. The start of how people often reflect a common thing in the past begins with an appeal to credibility that conveys to the reader that you as a writer understand how people feel. In other words, it helps to establish a trusted connection with the reader. I also enjoyed how from the introduction, you smoothly transition to a direct answer to the idea that the future is a force to motivate people.
ReplyDeleteI felt very interested to read this because I find that the examples you provide guide me to find trust in the information I am collecting. I also felt more informed about the concept of delay discounting and how thinking about the future and setting clear goals helps to guide one to the right direction. This also reminds me of how sometimes I reminisce about the past and get caught up with what’s ahead of me. I think the future has opportunities and setting a growth mindset can help to drive towards a goal.
Hi Jayden! This blog was very insightful. I learned many of the same ideas and concepts in my AP Psychology class so this was extremely interesting to read. The concept of “delay discounting” stood out to me as I did not know there was a term for that. In our psychology class, we learned that humans are more motivated by short-term rewards rather than long term rewards. Although it may be hard to stay motivated, it very important for us to think long-term and prioritize long-term benefits over short ones. Your point about thinking less about the past and more about the future really resonated. It's easy to get caught up in what could have been or dwell on past mistakes. This blog really connected with me, especially as a student navigating the complexities of academics and life choices. I think your point about setting goals by saying “I am going to finish my homework” is a much better way to think about it which really motivated me. Overall, I really liked your blog. Good job!
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ReplyDeleteHi Jayden!! This reminded me of how growing up, my dad would always stop me when I started a sentence with “I should have..” and prompt me to ponder about what I will do instead. I learned that while it is important to acknowledge past mistakes, dwelling on regrets becomes aimless. Rather, looking ahead, and considering what you can do differently next time, is what makes a difference. This not only provides a motivation force, as you mentioned, but also helps foster a growth mindset.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, I was intrigued by the concept of delay discounting, and how envisioning long-term rewards can influence decision-making, and ultimately the trajectory of your future. I’ve always believed in setting small goals as stepping stones towards a larger vision, however, your perspective on how prioritizing short-term instant happiness can hinder long-term fulfillment introduces a new thought-provoking perspective.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading your blog, and I was reminded of the importance of proactive goal-setting as a catalyst for personal growth and progress!