Recently, I have gradually been able to relax. Rational thinking allowed me to do it.
It made me realize that I didn’t know how to use time effectively, despite always worrying about the future. Let’s talk about it.
How to plan for the future effectively
Sometimes, we want to plan for the future effectively. We can reduce risks and fears, and that reassures us. That is why we often plan elaborately and worry about the future.
If we are empathic and logical, we have two senses of thinking: empathy and logical sense. They have different qualities.
Empathy allows us to imagine future situations. That gives us emotional feedback, such as fear and excitement, and urges us to act for the future.
On the other hand, logical sense doesn’t have such emotional power.
That makes us feel that rationality is vulnerable to future risks. I also used to believe so. Empathy is a feature for the future, while logical sense is for the present.
However, that was wrong. Rationality can prevent future risks in another way. Today, I will explain it. This logic might allow you to judge more reasonably about the future.
Two senses to recognize time
Empathy and logical sense show us time differently, as follows:
- Empathy shows us only a single point in time over a long period. Although we can imagine the state precisely, we cannot recognize other points.
- Logical sense shows us the long-term transitions. Although we cannot imagine one point specifically, we understand that we don’t need to visualize it in detail.
They tell us that logical thinking could perceive the future more accurately than an empathic perspective.
One point vs. transition
To explain it, let’s look at how we plan for the future.
Suppose we want to start a new hobby, such as singing a song and publishing a video on YouTube.
Empathy shows us only one point in time. For example, we imagine that many people are watching our videos, but a few are harshly criticizing us. One aspect motivates us, while the other one shows us the risks.
They create conflict within our minds, and we tend to be more cautious of the unknown. That makes us hesitate to act. Perhaps you have experienced it many times if you have intense empathy.
On the other hand, logical sense shows us the long-term transitions. For example, we know that there is a common process from starting a hobby to quitting it. Something interests us, and we enjoy it, but we get bored gradually, and then we stop it.
That perspective tells us that we don’t need to focus on a single point in the cycle of hobbies. We eventually finish any hobby, whether there is criticism or not. It is unreasonable to fear only a negative event at a certain point in the cycle. A long-term perspective shows us numerous other troubles, and it is pointless to worry about all of them before starting.
That frees us from unnecessary stress and allows us to decide based on our mood. We will finish everything in the end. It means everything could be meaningless, even our lives. If so, we follow our own will.
It tells us that the risk empathy shown could not be a risk. It is just a temporary point on a long path of the hobby. That allows us to judge calmly.
How to use time effectively
That teaches us about how to use time effectively: adjust the later effects later rather than preparing everything at the beginning.
We have different assumptions for each phase of the cycle. It is better not to assume elements we cannot understand now.
In other words, leave the chaos as it is. Rationally speaking, there is neither success nor failure in a single phase of the cycle. It doesn’t make sense to question the meaning of one point in the long path. Success, failure, and meaning are part of chaos.
We will decide and proceed in a world without answers. Chaos will always be by our side. It is like half of ourselves. The more we understand it, the better we can get along with it. It will help us and reduce our burden. It is like a soul more knowledgeable than us.
Don’t worry, you will not lose it. You can be with it, even if you cannot understand it now.
When you leave chaos as it is, you are freed from success and failure. That allows you to use your time effectively from a long-term perspective.
Conclusion
That is why rationality can prevent future risks in its unique way.
It could help us perceive the future more accurately than an empathic perspective.
This logic might allow you to use your time more reasonably.
Thank you for reading this article. I hope to see you in the next one.
