Carl Jung's Idea of the Future Self

We often think about our future self as abstract potentiality.

Or in other words, that which we are capable of becoming.

And through concentration and action in the present moment we shape and solidify who or what we are going to become.

The Swedish psychologist Carl Jung proposed a very intriguing, yet somewhat frightening alternative to the phenomena of the future self.

In his theory, your future self already exists.

And that future version of you is trying to manifest itself in the present moment,

by directing your attention towards things of interest.

It stands to reason that your interests are ultimately what you become if you focus on them.

So whenever you are drawn or attracted deeply to something in your daily life,

it could be your future self trying to come alive in the here and now.

Often in life, we are drawn to things unconsciously.

We cannot always explain why we are curious about certain things.

We may become fanatically obsessed with something, without understanding on a conscious level why.

Why is an artist drawn to a certain mode of expression?

Or why are we attracted to certain people or places?

Why do we sometimes feel the need to explore something even if it may be impractical or even dangerous?

Could it be due to the phenomenon that Carl Jung tried to articulate?

This concept could be considered quite frightening because

it suggests that you may have very little control over what your interests are.

It may also explain why people that have no interest for anything,

those that suffocate their passions,

or those that are too frightened to follow that intuitive desire towards that which provides their life with meaning,

often become nothing of particular interest.

I believe an individual suffers if that is how they choose to live.

However those that pay attention to that which presents itself a highly meaningful

often manifest greatness.

Many of the famous artists, musicians, poets, and creators of the world

often say that they cannot sufficiently explain why they are doing what they do.

Perhaps there is weight to the insights of Carl Jung.

Of course we need to make a distinction between the things that draw your attention and the phenomenon of impulsivity.

I feel that is something for another post

But I suspect there is a consistency and a pattern to the meaningful things in your life,

that by following them, you are being taken somewhere meaningful.

Whereas impulsivity is blindly following urges related to emotional and superficial aspects of living.

And ultimately you are taken nowhere.