What if the biggest obstacle to achieving your dreams isn’t the world outside but your own inability to predict who you’ll become? Shankar Vedantam and Jordan B. Peterson present competing perspectives on how to think about the future, and journaling offers a practical way to navigate their differing ideas—while unlocking your potential along the way.

 

Shankar Vedantam: Embracing Uncertainty

Shankar Vedantam, host of Hidden Brain, warns of the “illusion of continuity,” the belief that our future selves will hold the same values, desires, and priorities as we do today, even though our perspectives inevitably evolve over time. Just as our physical bodies change, our thoughts and perspectives evolve, leading to different needs and desires over time. This illusion often leads to poor decision-making about our future, as we base choices on assumptions that may no longer align with who we become. For instance, someone once asked me what my plans for annual leave were, and I said I had no plans—just to stay home and rest. If my past self had heard that, the person who would book flights to maximize leave days for travel opportunities, they would have been shocked. Life evolves, and so do our priorities.

Vedantam’s message is clear: our future selves might as well be strangers, so predicting their wants is inherently flawed. Instead, he advocates for adaptability—the ability to adjust to unforeseen changes and accept the evolving nature of our values and priorities—as a key strategy for navigating the uncertainty of the future.

Jordan B. Peterson: Finding Clarity Through Goals

Jordan B. Peterson, psychologist and author of 12 Rules for Life, emphasizes the transformative power of future authoring. He argues that setting clear, actionable goals is essential for creating a sense of direction and purpose. Peterson’s approach assumes a continuity between our present and future selves, highlighting that the act of imagining and articulating a future vision provides a roadmap for becoming the person we aspire to be. For individuals who have experienced aimlessness or a lack of opportunities to apply themselves, defining specific goals can bring focus and clarity, turning uncertainty into intentional progress. Having goals is critical not only for achieving outcomes but also for the clarity they bring, regardless of what those goals are.


Reconciling Vedantam and Peterson: Two Sides of the Same Coin

Vedantam’s and Peterson’s ideas aren’t mutually exclusive. They highlight two sides of the same coin: the tension between the inevitability of change and the need for direction, as well as our deep-seated desire for certainty. Vedantam’s recognition of uncertainty challenges us to embrace adaptability, while Peterson’s structured goal-setting appeals to our longing for predictability and control in shaping our future.


The Role of Journaling

Journaling is the perfect tool to reconcile these competing perspectives because it provides a tangible way to navigate the abstract ideas of change and continuity, allowing you to document your evolution while actively shaping your future. Research has shown that writing fosters enhanced mental and physical health, improves psychological well-being, and creates structured narratives that reduce uncertainty and promote clarity.

Here’s how:

  1. Journaling Embraces the Unknown (Vedantam’s Perspective):

    • When you write about your present thoughts, feelings, and experiences, you’re capturing a snapshot of who you are today. Over time, journaling builds a record that makes your personal evolution visible. Looking back, you’ll see how much you’ve changed—sometimes in ways your past self never could have anticipated.

    • Try prompts like: What assumptions am I making about my future self today? or What might I care about in 10 years that I don’t care about now?

  2. Journaling as Goal-Setting (Peterson’s Perspective):

    • Writing about your goals and envisioning your future helps you chart a course for personal growth. Studies have demonstrated that clearly articulated goals improve productivity and motivation by tagging future aspirations with positive emotions, such as hope and engagement. Without a vision or clear goals, the lack of direction can be disastrous, leaving individuals aimless and disconnected from their potential. This process increases the likelihood of achieving intrinsic, meaningful objectives and forces you to articulate who you want to be, providing clarity and structure to what might otherwise feel like a vague sense of ambition.

    • Try prompts like: What would my ideal day look like in five years? or What small steps can I take today to move closer to my vision?

  3. Journaling Connects the Dots Between Past, Present, and Future:

    • Reflecting on your past entries allows you to notice patterns, track progress, and adapt your goals. For example, applying probabilistic thinking, as advocated by Charles Duhigg in Smarter Faster Better, can enhance this process. Imagine planning a weekend trip: instead of assuming it will be sunny and packing only light clothes, probabilistic thinking prompts you to check the forecast and pack for potential rain as well. Similarly, envisioning multiple potential outcomes in life—like a career change—helps you prepare for success, setbacks, and everything in between. Journaling can help you calibrate your expectations and make more informed decisions by prompting you to question assumptions and prepare for various scenarios.

    • Try prompts like: How have my values shifted over time? or What lessons can I apply from past mistakes to future challenges?


Why It Matters

Here’s why it works:

  • It cultivates self-awareness by forcing you to confront who you are now and structure your thoughts, which has been shown to reduce stress and improve emotional resilience.

  • It fosters probabilistic thinking by helping you evaluate multiple potential outcomes and identify realistic paths forward, leading to better decisions and greater clarity in uncertain situations.

  • It fosters resilience by helping you adapt when the future doesn’t go as planned.

  • It encourages agency by letting you play an active role in shaping your life.


How to Get Started

  1. Make It a Habit: Set aside 10 minutes each day to write. Consistency matters more than perfection.

  2. Combine Reflection and Planning: Balance prompts that explore your past and present with those that envision your future.

  3. Review Regularly: Reread past entries every few months. Celebrate progress, refine goals, and notice how your perspectives evolve.


The Bottom Line

Journaling doesn’t just help you plan your future; it helps you understand yourself by integrating Vedantam’s acknowledgment of unpredictable change with Peterson’s emphasis on deliberate goal-setting. It serves as a bridge between these perspectives, enabling you to document growth, adapt to unforeseen changes, and craft a meaningful vision for the person you want to become. Whether you’re grappling with Vedantam’s idea of the unpredictable stranger you’ll become or Peterson’s call to author a meaningful life, journaling is the bridge that connects who you were, who you are, and who you’ll be.

So pick up that pen and start writing. Your future self—stranger or not—will thank you.

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