Choices Are Seeds Planted In Time
And how asking insightful questions can plant the right seeds
Rehabitus: Empowering Personal Growth in Life After Addiction.
At a glance:
Choices are seeds planted in time.
Asking insightful questions can help plant the right seeds.
But first, a little philosophy.
We always exist in the present moment.
In the future, we will only have the present moment. That moment will unfold and that will be ‘now’.
We seamlessly shift from one present to the next. In a future moment, we will be the same person experiencing the reality of our choices in the string of previous present moments. In that way, we can create a gift to ourselves or cause harm to ourselves depending on what we choose to do at any present moment.
We can plant a seed in time.
What happens in the new ‘now’ depends on every seed we’ve planted along the way, and how well it was nurtured.
How can we make the best choices now to nurture our future selves?
Choices Are Seeds Planted In Time.
Each choice we make plants a seed destined to bear its fruit in the new present moment, whether ripe and fulfilling, inedible and disappointing, or perhaps even poisonous, depending on what kind of seed we plant. That future could be tomorrow, next week, a year from now, or decades on.
The fruits from these seeds could be highly beneficial. Choosing to save money builds a financial safety net; staying active fosters the vitality needed for new adventures; and engaging in positive self-talk may help enhance self-esteem. Over time, good choices may cultivate the confidence to share in groups instead of avoiding them; develop skills in a passion that could become lucrative; and improve communication skills to strengthen relationships.
The seeds we plant can also be harmful. Choosing to neglect our health can deteriorate our quality of life; choosing procrastination can prevent us from realising our full potential; and choosing substance use could lead to terribly destructive consequences. Remember, these are the seeds we plant for ourselves to harvest in the future ‘now’.
We will live with the outcomes of our choices. Ideally, we'd be able to pick what beneficial fruit we need at just the right moment. A circumstance may come about where we needed that good choice carefully planted and nurtured some time ago. And there is always now to start planting.
If choices are seeds, then habits cultivate their growth.
How Can We Determine Which Choices Are Right for Us?
Whether we're pursuing a significant goal or simply trying to break free from our current circumstances, we must reflect, take action, and make ongoing adjustments.
So, how can we identify the right choices that will improve our lives in the future?
Our answers may be found in the questions we ask ourselves. Good questions can guide us toward more meaningful choices and onto the most effective paths.
Crafting Insightful Questions.
To harness the full potential of questioning in guiding our choices and habits, we can learn to craft questions that are both insightful and constructive. So let’s take a look at example questions we could ask about the past, present and future, so we are better able to sow the right seeds to begin with.
Go grab your diary (or a fresh sheet of paper) and a pen you love to write with. If you missed the post on the importance of keeping a diary, it’s here. Try selecting a few questions that resonate with you and take the time to thoughtfully answer them.
Reflecting On Past Experiences.
Reflective enquiry isn't about dwelling on the past but about learning from it. By examining our previous decisions and their outcomes, we can ask insightful questions that help us avoid repeating mistakes and better fulfil our unmet needs. This process is crucial in identifying the choices that will most effectively propel us towards our ideals or away from our pains.
Here are some example insightful questions regarding the past:
"What did I need when I was younger that I did not receive? How could I provide that for myself now?"
"What key piece of advice would I give my younger self? How do I start that today?"
“Which mentor could have positively influenced my younger self? What guidance might they have offered, and how can I apply those principles now?”
"What am I most proud of in my younger self that has positively impacted me today?"
As you can see, these questions are not about reliving any painful moments. These questions can provide us with the insights necessary to come to terms with what choices and habits to start.
The Present Day.
Asking yourself insightful questions at any moment may help steer through the daily ebb and flow of circumstances or setbacks. Some examples are:
“How would I look after myself as if I was someone I deeply loved? Which specific actions would fulfil my needs? What does looking after myself involve?”
“What would an honest best friend say to me right now? What would they say I need to do?”
“Is what I’m doing right now in my best interests? What would be in my best interests?”
“What are the barriers I’m currently facing, and who or what could help me overcome them?”
“Which small habit change would have the greatest impact on me in the future?”
By regularly reflecting on our actions and choices, we not only prioritise our well-being and personal growth but also empower ourselves to make decisions that truly align with our deepest values and aspirations.
Questions For the Future.
One of the most impactful moments that you are going to have in the rest of your life is now. Now you get to decide, within reason, what you want to build into your experience of reality. You can nurture the right things into being. You can increase your luck surface area. This means sowing the right seeds now. Insightful questions may help you decide where you want to be.
"What does my ideal lifestyle look like, and what habits do I need to develop to align with this vision?"
“What character traits do I want my future self to have? What kind of person would attract the things I want? How do I start developing those traits?”
“In five years' time, what do I hope to say about the choices I made today?”
"What legacy do I want to leave, and what actions must I take to make sure it happens?"
Regularly contemplating these future-focused questions helps to clarify our long-term goals and the path required to achieve them. By envisioning the outcomes we desire and the person we aspire to become, we create a powerful framework for action.
Questions From the Future.
Imagining future scenarios can be a powerful tool for reflection and decision-making. By projecting ourselves into future situations, we can gain clarity and perspective on the actions we need to take today.
It’s five years from now and you are in your ideal world. Everything went well. What did you start doing today and commit to over the years?
It’s five years from now and everything went wrong. What could you have done differently? Which destructive habits got you there? Could you have made a different choice?
It’s five years from now and everything is about the same. Nothing got better or worse. You got stuck. Which one habit could you have picked up (or stopped) to kick-start that change you wanted?
If you could send a message to yourself today from ten years in the future, what actions would it say to start?
If your future self could thank you for one or two choices you made that changed your life, what would they be?
Each of these questions serves as a tool to dig deeper into understanding ourselves and our paths. By being curious about our lives and asking these kinds of questions, we can uncover valuable insights that guide our choices and our habits. Engaging with these questions regularly allows us to refine our actions and approach, ensuring that they are aligned with desired outcomes for the future.
“People do not decide their futures, they decide their habits and their habits decide their futures.”
― F. M. Alexander
Feel like sharing an inspiring answer? Do you have an insightful question that helps you make choices?
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I could quote every single piece of this! Amazing work. Also love you breaking the reflection questions up, going to go do them right now 😊
Love this piece. I’m writing my questions now.