Is the Future Scary (Part II)?

It can be. And for many, it is.

But most of what scares us in life are just moments. Temporary. Fleeting. What terrifies us now might not even cross our minds tomorrow. Fear moves on—or we do. And yet, the fear of the future, the long-term unknown, stays. It lingers.

Still, we continue. We work, raise kids, celebrate birthdays, go out, laugh with friends. We carry on as if everything is alright. Is that ignorance? Or a coping mechanism to keep us sane?

Why do we act as if nothing’s wrong, right after being scared to the bone? If something is out of our hands, why let it paralyze us? Death, for example, is certain. Yet it still frightens us—mostly because we don’t know when. And maybe that’s a gift. Knowing would destroy us, while for some it may be the moment to wake up to life.

Much of what happens in the world is beyond our control—and that’s nothing new. The only thing that’s changed is the amount of information we consume. We think that knowing more will help us, that being informed gives us power. But does it reduce our fear? Hardly. It may even amplify it.

And do we really learn from all this information? Probably not. In fact, the more we think we know, the less we question. The less we listen. The less we grow. That’s the part that scares me: the places where I may be blind, unwilling to learn, stuck in “knowing.” Resistant to new beliefs or better strategies to deal with life.

Yes, the future looks dark in many ways. I see opposing sides refusing to listen to each other. I see human rights ignored, crises piling up, leaders with no vision, and a world chasing self-interest. It’s overwhelming. Especially if you live plugged into the stream of bad news—minute by minute.

It desensitizes us. We forget to see beauty. Progress. Hope.

So how do we break that cycle?

Start with less information. Way less.

Limit how much outside noise enters your mind every day.

Avoid online debates that don’t touch your real life.

Spend time in nature.

Meditate.

Read.

Detach from the world to reattach to yourself. You’ll feel better. Maybe not instantly—but you will. At first, your brain will rebel. It’ll feel like going cold turkey. Thoughts racing. Triggers firing.

So do things that ground you. Move your body. Play with your kids. Step away from toxic talk.

And if activism calls you—answer. But stay open. Even adversaries might have something to teach you. Your truth might be flawed. Even this statement might be flawed.

Let go of knowing. Be curious instead. Ask more than you answer.

Question your beliefs. Allow others theirs.

Go inward. Meet yourself.

Learn by doing. Watching a welder doesn’t make you one.

Listen deeply—not just to words, but meaning.

Understand that “I hear you” isn’t the same as “I get you.”

Speak the language of others so you can truly be heard.

And then—suddenly—the future won’t feel so scary.

Because you’ll be steady, even when the world isn’t.

And maybe nothing you imagined will ever come true.

Or maybe some of it will.

But you’ll be ready. Not because the world got less scary—

But because you got stronger.

Lets-Talk about it
Namaste
Armaan