In my previous post I talked about motivation through time travel. Today I want to continue the time travel theme and look at another way this particular thought experiment might be able to help: overcoming fear through perspective.

We all have fears, some are rational and helpful. Those we need to listen to act on accordingly.

Others fears are irrational and unhelpful, they simply hold us back. Usually these are in some way a fear of failure or rejection. In many cases even if we do “fail” then no real harm will be done except, perhaps, to our pride and self-image. In other words, the only thing we really have to fear is what we do to ourselves.

A few simple examples: we’re worried that our date might not go well, that we don’t know anyone at the party, that people might laugh at us, that they might not laugh at our jokes. We worry about public speaking in front of friends, we keep putting off trips to the dentist. I’m sure you can think of many more examples to share.

It’s these situations, when there’s really nothing to fear except what’s in our heads, that perspective can help. So here’s what I do:

I mentally get into that time machine of mine and set the dials for ten years in the future. Cue flashing lights and wibbly sound effects…

Now I look at myself and my life ten years from “now”. What importance do I now place on the thing I was sacared of? Do I even remember it? Has it affected my life in any way in the long term? Does anybody else even remember it? If they do, is it any more than a shared joke?

Usually the answers are: None, no, no, no and no.

Seen from the perspective of my future self the fear that was dominating my life appears very small and insignificant.

Of course I already knew this rationally. But rational knowledge isn’t always enough. By projecting myself mentally into the future, by associating with a future self, I’m able to feel how irrational my fears are.

That helps me to face them. It doesn’t make facing them easy but it does makes it less difficult.

Of course perspective can go too far. Douglas Adams envisaged the dread “Infinite Perspective Vortex” in which we could see ourselves as the universe sees us – very small and insignificant. However used in moderation within the context of our own lives I find a little temporal perspective can be very helpful.

Photo credit: destinelee (Creative Commons)