THE BIG DIFFERENCE: Being Focused on the Past, or Being Optimistic About the Future

“There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why. I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?” – Robert F. Kennedy

“The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” – Ayn Rand

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

As we enter a new year and a new decade it is time to reflect on what is and what could be.

There are those who are focused on the past and those who are looking toward hope and a better future. There are those who focus on past mistakes and losses and those who move on by learning from past mistakes and ignore past losses. There are those who are sad, depressed, forlorn and those that are energized, happy and hopeful.

QUESTION: Which are you?

Perhaps the biggest drama being played out on the world stage is that of those who cannot let go of the past versus those who are laser focused on building a better future. We are seeing it globally with movements like BREXIT and demonstrations in Hong Kong.

There are many reasons to be optimistic about the future of mankind. Johan Norberg Tweeted ten reasons that the last decade was the best in history.

Just one month left of the best decade in history. pic.twitter.com/XGg6mpLTNq

— Johan Norberg (@johanknorberg) November 28, 2019

Some do not look forward to the next decade. Others find great hope and exalt the possibilities of the new decade.

Tyler Brandt, an Associate Editor at Foundation for Economic Education, published 6 Reasons for Optimism in 2020:

1. Extreme Poverty Is Plummeting
2. More Than Half the World Is Middle Class
3. Global Life Expectancy Is Rising
4. Climate-Related Deaths Are Falling
5. Life Is Getting Better in the World’s Poorest Countries
6. The Cost of Starting a Business Has Plummeted in Developing Economies

As President Donald J. Trump said, “No dream is too big. No challenge is too great. Nothing we want for our future is beyond our reach.”

Perhaps we all need to ignore the past and look toward the future possibilities of the next decade.

What have we got to lose?