#86 – How do you know it's trust and not "futurizing"?

Whenever we're attached to a potential outcome, we're not living in the present.

I call that "futurizing," and it's as dangerous as what some people call "hopium."

Hopium could be described as an irrational optimism rooted in our dogged desire for that which we hope for to materialize in the future.

Trust, or faith, also makes us feel at peace, knowing that whatever may happen in the future, everything will be ok.

The difference is crucial, though: hopium (or futurizing) is the attachment to the specific future you want (and envision). It feels good while you're in it, but like any drug, the crash is inevitable. The sadness or anxiety creeps in when we realize our ideal future isn't taking shape. We become restless, impatient, and sometimes, hopeless.

Trust, or faith, in contrast, is a "this foot and then this foot" type of approach. Live in this moment, breathe this breath.

And as you do, you know in your bones that everything will be alright – but you don't have the arrogance to think you know what will be.

A few months ago, I created a journal with the objective of helping people manifest what they wanted in their future.

I thought it was an excellent idea, until I started working through it myself.

At first, it felt empowering—like I was crafting the life I always wanted. But then came the despair. Constantly thinking about this ideal, preconceived, choreographed future that I wanted meant I wasn't trusting life itself.

Instead of living my present – and solving the issues of my present with creativity and trust in myself – I was putting all the hope in a non-existing future.

What is possible when you trust each step rather than pretending you can force the destination?

Love,

Carolina