Future Control

Future Control is a basic guideline I have successfully used to carve out a good life for myself in this world. This is a follow-up from my thread Finding your Inner Voice of Wisdom. Once we have found the Inner Voice of Wisdom, what do we do with it? The short answer is, we listen to it and do what it says, if wisdom is to be a guiding light in our lives.

Future Control is the idea that we have a lot of control over our futures. There are things we cannot control, so we are forced to accept them. But there is much we do have control over, and our actions in the present have a great deal of effect on our futures.

Here's an example: I lock my car when I go home as a form of Future Control. Our neighborhood once had a thief come through and open every car door that wasn't locked, and I had some stuff stolen. Now, I invoke Future Control and lock my car doors. It won't prevent someone from smashing their way in if they really want something, but it will prevent the casual thief from stealing my stuff.

Here's another one: I'm out drinking, and I've had too much to drink. I could take the risk and drive home, and leave my future to chance - the chance of a DUI, the chance of a fatal crash, etc. Or, I could invoke Future Control and eliminate those possibilities by calling a cab. I have crossed onto a new timeline with a much higher likelihood of getting home without issue.

Here's my current example from this morning, which led to my posts today. I am a musician, and I am planning on playing out again in the spring, after taking the last 10 years off to raise kids. It is inevitable that beautiful women will offer their advances on me. It happens. If I cheated on my wife, and got caught, it would ruin my life. Even if I didn't get caught, it would affect me at a very deep level, and gnaw at my conscience. If I did get caught, my wife & kids would leave me, which I would find disastrous.

How am I going to Future Control this? By giving up porn. I resolved, with the help of my Inner Voice of Wisdom, that it could be an issue in my future. My Voice of Wisdom also told me that viewing and desiring the naked bodies of other women plants the seeds of desire deep within me, and seeds that are planted can spring up at any time, in times of weakness, convenience, opportunity; it is now clear to me that these thoughts have a strong potential to lead me down a path to ruin.

My family is such a high priority to me that I would sacrifice almost anything if it meant preserving my relationship with them. I am a normal male with normal testosterone levels, and enjoy looking at beautiful, naked women. I have to sacrifice that if I want to listen to my Inner Voice of Wisdom, and keep on the wonderful path I have now. This also ties into another of my threads, Sacrifice Your Self To Your Own Cause - A Path Towards Enlightenment. Following the path of Wisdom is difficult, but rewarding.

Sometimes, I'll be driving along, quiet of mind, open and receptive, and out of nowhere I'll get the inner voice speaking up: "Get off this exit and take the back way home". I follow the advice, and what happens is usually uneventful, and I get home safely. What would happen if I didn't follow that advice? I don't know, but we're not worrying about what would have happened if we weren't listening to our inner guidance. All I really wanted was to get home safely, and I did.

Once having found the Voice of Wisdom, acting wisely is the next step. Use Future Control to prevent problems that are likely to pop up. Reduce chance when you can. It's all about carving out the life you really want to live - a true, gratifying life guided by your soul, paved with honor, honesty, and happiness.

Preparation is the key to success. You must be ready to win if you want to win.

reply to post by TwoTonTommy


"It is inevitable that beautiful women will offer their advances on me. It happens."

You're joking, please tell me you're joking.

But asides from that, how does future control differ from common sense? I'm confused.

beansidhe
reply to post by TwoTonTommy

 

"It is inevitable that beautiful women will offer their advances on me. It happens."

You're joking, please tell me you're joking.

But asides from that, how does future control differ from common sense? I'm confused.

Future control can be the application of common sense. It has to do with an attitude of taking responsibility for your own future. It is just the terminology I use to help me remember to apply wisdom and common sense to my actions.

At one time I was quite reckless in life. I lived with no thought to the future. I created much suffering for myself in the process. This is one of the ways I helped correct that - focusing on the things I do have control over, and using that control to prevent continued mishap and suffering.

It goes deeper than common sense. It's about knowing where you want to go and getting there. Having a vision for yourself. Taking responsibility for as much as you can.

As far as your other comment, I used to play out at clubs on a weekly basis, and I definitely hooked up with some ladies as a result. It's been hard for me to resist in the past when I wasn't committed to someone; I want to Future Control it to make sure I don't have any problems down the road. When the Inner Voice of Wisdom speaks, I try to listen and follow through.

TwoTonTommy
My Voice of Wisdom also told me that viewing and desiring the naked bodies of other women plants the seeds of desire deep within me, and seeds that are planted can spring up at any time, in times of weakness, convenience, opportunity; it is now clear to me that these thoughts have a strong potential to lead me down a path to ruin.

Pretty much everyday my seeds of desire are planted and acted upon with my GF. This is why I wonder if its even possible to develop myself spiritually while having a woman in my life.

Tucket

TwoTonTommy
My Voice of Wisdom also told me that viewing and desiring the naked bodies of other women plants the seeds of desire deep within me, and seeds that are planted can spring up at any time, in times of weakness, convenience, opportunity; it is now clear to me that these thoughts have a strong potential to lead me down a path to ruin.

Pretty much everyday my seeds of desire are planted and acted upon with my GF. This is why I wonder if its even possible to develop myself spiritually while having a woman in my life.

I don't think having a sexual relationship is in any way an impediment to spiritual development. In my opinion, it's only dishonest, deceitful, and harmful sex that is going to impede development. I'm married, we agreed to be monogamous, so I need to keep my actions directed to my wife. You've got a girlfriend, and if you're in a monogamous relationship, you should keep your actions directed towards her.

I'm in no way judgmental over peoples sexual preferences - some couples have open relationships, and that works with them. It's all about what's on our own specific path, and being true to that.

I think desires can get a bad rap. I don't think desires themselves are bad, but our attachment to our desires can be bad. Desiring to have sex with your partner is totally natural and beneficial. If your attachment to that desire causes problems in your relationship, then it is an issue. In my humble opinion.

reply to post by TwoTonTommy


Maybe your right. Its just that Ive read a lot of stuff about spiritual development over the years and one of the consistent themes I come across is ridding oneself of desires. Sex, for me, is a huge desire.

Tucket
reply to post by TwoTonTommy

 

Maybe your right. Its just that Ive read a lot of stuff about spiritual development over the years and one of the consistent themes I come across is ridding oneself of desires. Sex, for me, is a huge desire.

Yeah, I've read a lot about that too. I've tried going without desire, and I've found it to be an extreme. Like the ascetics that go live in a cave for 20 years and meditate. I don't believe that's why we're here. We are human, and we should be humans. I have desires, but I keep them in line with my ultimate goals, and pluck out the ones that aren't good for me.

Drugs are another example of this gray area. Many spiritual teachings preach complete sobriety. Personally, I think some drugs can do a lot for spiritual development. Desiring a higher consciousness is okay, to me. But when that attachment to the desire to get high kicks in, that's where problems develop. I think desires are okay as long as you can say "no" to them when needed.

I have a strong desire to make music. I believe it is from deep within. If I abandoned that desire, I may miss out on my life's purpose (if there is one). The key is to not be attached to it - to be patient, and keep my priorities in perspective as I choose how to act on it.

I have tried many extremes of religion and spirituality, and have found the "middle way", of balance, of participation without getting sucked in, to be what works best for me. And ultimately, finding out what works and what doesn't is what the path is all about.