Our Obsession with Predictions Keeps Us From Living in the Moment

Groundhog Day 2013
Groundhog Club Co-handler John Griffiths holds the weather predicting groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, as he is surrounded by photographers after the club said Phil did not see his shadow and there will be an early spring on Groundhog Day, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013 in Punxsutawney, Pa. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Humans love predictions. Just look at how Americans wait for a groundhog, of all the crazy animals in the world, to predict when spring will arrive. It’s a national holiday. Groundhog Day. Really?

In fact, our obsession with predictions really just keeps us from living in the moment and doing what is necessary to create the future we desire.

Here are some typical scenarios. When we hope for something auspicious to happen, we turn to the horoscope pages of the newspaper–or to some online site that sends it to our email boxes daily. Some of us go there after the fact to corroborate that the stars aligning just so actually predicted that our boyfriend would break up with us, we would get the offer for the new job or we would find it difficult to get anything done on that day. Many of us read that horoscope before hand. We want to know if the stars are aligned in our favor or what we should  look out for tomorrow, next week or next month.

We simply want to know what’s around the next corner. Yes, indeed, “Inquiring minds want to know…”

I love going to a good psychic for a reading. I admit it. And I’ve had my horoscope done by a professional astrologer. However, as someone who has also been known to do a bit of predicting herself–I used to read Tarot cards for people–I can tell you something: We all have free will, and that means any prediction made at any given moment can change if you change your behavior, your actions, or your mind.

On a planetary level, the same holds true. Our energy and thoughts, create changes. Meditation communities have done experiments with this and found their meditations can change crime rates in areas, for example. So, predict a crime rate for next year, but if a third of the people in the city take up meditation, maybe the rate will fall.

I’m not sure that holds true for the weather, but we know that what and how we consume things on earth determines the state of the ozone layer. So…predict how much ozone will be around next year, but if we change our habits…that prediction won’t come true.

And then there is God. If you believe God has a hand in your life, as I do, then a prediction could change simply because of some Divine Plan or Divine intervention.

It’s so hard for us to live in the moment, to just be okay with where we are right now and to not worry about what will come tomorrow. I know this well. I want to know if what I’m doing now will reap benefits in the future. I want to know if my family will have enough money come next month to pay the bills. I want to know if my children will be okay…if my health will remain good…

In fact, the best we can do is focus on right now, take action right now to create the future we desire. And no amount of predictions will manifest that future for us. Whether we create it for ourselves, or we co-create it together, or  God has a hand in it, predictions really don’t matter in the end. What we do matters.

Groundhog Day 2013

4 thoughts on “Our Obsession with Predictions Keeps Us From Living in the Moment”

  1. great post about living in the now and stop worrying about the predictiosn because the events of TODAY and the way we handle them today can change tomorrow and a lot of tomorrows after that. GREAT job!

  2. As with everything, moderation is always the key.
    Accepting things as they are is fine, but one mustn’t become complacent else one risks stagnation.
    Likewise, holding on to history so as to learn from the past is fine, but one mustn’t forget to move on else one risks getting stuck in emotional baggage best left unpacked, or at least tucked away in tidy fashion.
    And finally, planning for the future is definitely important, but only insofar as being able to flexibly roll with the punches life will surely throw one’s way.
    Balance is such an easy concept, yet so difficult to achieve. I’m working at it actively so I can only imagine how difficult it must be for those who don’t give it a second thought!

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