Future-Conscious Thinking

Many people — and many societies, for that matter — rely on short-sighted quick wins as their Number One go-tos when managing oversized problems. But what works in the short-term likely isn’t best in the long run; worse, such near-sightedness rarely considers its impacts on generations to come.

Enter longpath thinking, a mindset that prioritizes future-conscious thinking and behavior.

On today’s episode I speak with author and futurist Ari Wallach. Ari argues that when we step away from knee-jerk reactions we will both reclaim meaning in our lives and help preserve the planet for future generations. And if making daily decisions by considering their reverberations 500 years from now sounds revolutionary to you, you’re absolutely right. Ari’s on the show to ease the transition to future-consciousness in 3 simple steps.

Here’s a preview: 

[2:00] “Future” isn’t a noun; it’s a verb. Here’s why

[4:30] Debunking lifespan biases so as to create a better world for future generations

[6:00] 3 problems associated with short-termism

[11:30] How an understanding of transgenerational empathy encourages us to act on behalf of future generations

[17:00] What doubling down on sandbag strategies means for fulfilling our collective moral obligations

[20:00] 3 ways to start practicing longpath thinking and acting right now

Resource mentioned:

• Longpath: Becoming the Great Ancestors Our Future Needs

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