Many people waste energy by trying to solve problems that might occur in the future. Instead of mapping out every unpredictable scenario and devising strategies to mitigate them, focusing on what is needed right now pays higher dividends.
I believe people become caught up in future problems for three reasons.
Firstly, we have an embodied, domesticated need to avoid mistakes—a trait that is neither inherently good nor bad. However, if this need leads you to spend your time on low-probability scenarios with no life-or-death consequences, you waste valuable energy. The future is unpredictable and ambiguous, making it irrational to invest heavily in preventing events that may never happen. This avoidance is rooted in fear, yet most solutions can be devised once problems arise. In the present, when all the information is available, mistakes are much easier to correct.
Secondly, those who devote energy to potential future problems often lack confidence in their ability to handle challenges. If you truly believed you could solve any problem, you wouldn’t expend energy on hypothetical issues. While you might claim to be capable, actions speak louder than words. Deep down, a doubt—shaped by past experiences, trauma, or negative self-beliefs—can undermine your confidence. For such individuals, simply flipping a switch isn’t possible; the key lies in recognizing that this doubt isn’t deeply ingrained and understanding its origins.
Thirdly, society expects you to have answers for every potential scenario. This collective belief, born from insecurity, fear, and a desire to belong, drives you to prepare for every conceivable problem in order to signal trustworthiness, competence, and intelligence. Yet, most of the scenarios you worry about will never come to pass, making the energy spent on them irrational. Our desire to fit in thus becomes an obstacle to allocating our energy optimally.
I am not saying that all planning or future-oriented thinking is worthless. The people who change the world have a clear vision of the future and let that guide their actions—only in this way can you create endeavors that take years to come to fruition. However, it is useful to audit your thoughts and actions by evaluating how many potential problems you are trying to solve before they even arise. Since time and energy are scarce resources, treat them as such. More often than not, the greatest potential lies in actions taken in the present—not in an uncertain future based on assumptions that may prove false. Solve problems as they emerge.