Prompt #17 - The Future is Bright
Can you imagine it?
I'm currently doing an online course on Positive Psychology, the science of how we can support and increase our mental well-being.
A recurring theme is the power of optimism. Being an optimistic person is linked to better mental but also physical health. People who have a positive outlook on life, are happier, healthier, and live longer.
This is great for all of us “rainbows and unicorns” type people! But there is also good news for the skeptics and pessimists amongst us because optimism can be learned.
We can start by imagining a positive future. One in which we're happy, where things turn out well. We want to imagine this future today, not because visualisation magically makes things happen, but because imagining it in more detail will make it easier for us to believe in it.
The Activity: Draw a happy future
You can use any medium for this, even sculpture or collage if you prefer.
Step 1: Imagine the future
Close your eyes for a minute and imagine yourself in the future. This can be in a year, 10 years, 30 years, whatever comes to mind. Imagine yourself happy. What does that look like? Where are you? What are you doing? Who is with you?
Maybe you're in the countryside, surrounded by family, or traveling? We're not talking about a big life plan here, just a snapshot of a moment in a future where you're happy.
Step 2: Draw the future
Use your medium of choice, and capture this moment that you imagined. You can draw the full scene or just elements of it. Continue to imagine yourself in this future. How does it feel?
Step 3: Reflect and act
Once you're done with your artwork, take a moment to look at it. Try and think about one concrete action, big or small, you can do this week that will bring you closer to this future:
If you saw yourself surrounded by friends and family, can you call them?
If you would like to be traveling, can you start by learning more about some of the countries you want to go visit?
If you want to change your career, can you start learning a new skill online?
Start doing those things and don't stop believing that a happy future is possible. And remember it's a multiverse. This specific happy future is just one of the many possible happy futures for you.
My Example
Welcome to the Stress Less Pencil Studio!
I dream of having my own art studio one day. It fills me with joy to imagine coming to work in a space like this every day. There would be is a big table in the middle, stand-up height with stools around it, so I can host workshops. There's a giant closet of art supplies, and easels on one side, so people can come and be creative for a day. There's also an excellently equipped tea and snack station (fine, there can be coffee too I guess…). And a bookshelf full of art books for inspiration. There'll also be a little office and a bathroom off the main room.
I live in Sweden, and I would love for the Studio to be in a typically Swedish-red cabin in the middle of a forest. Ideally, with some water close by, i.e. a lake or the ocean so I can go paddleboard at lunch. But now I might be getting ahead of myself.
Even though I am nowhere close to renting a studio in the forest, the concrete actions I can take this week to get me closer to this future are:
Continue my Positive Psychology course
Brainstorm workshop ideas
Research if similar places exist already
Research what studio rental options exist in my area
Buy an easel
I'll see you at the Studio!