Beyonce Bowl, Thinking Like a Futurist, and Having a Say
Reflecting on 2024
I died and someone brought me back to life. But never to my senses. ~ Raye/Beyonce
Beyonce’s Christmas Day halftime show delivered. It was packed with symbolism, inspiration, and iconic American history. Through lyrics, visuals, and strong cultural references it told a story, posed a question, and was a call to action – all at once.
As the beat dropped on Freedom from her 2016 Lemonade album, she shifted right before our eyes. Tossing off her long white Roberto Cavalli coat and shedding her “Cowboy Carter” sash, she transformed into a Rock-and-Roll reinvention of herself.
Freedom, from the album that told her personal story of triumph, played for seconds and was the only song that wasn’t from Cowboy Carter. Was it a call for personal liberation? We all know the current news headlines around her marriage.
Or was it a call for the collective? The sound flashed me back to the 2016 BET Awards with Kendrick Lamar rising from underground belting, ‘revolution televised, hoping that you see the sign.’
Collective liberation always begins at a personal level.
It was a look back to look forward moment in my eyes — which I think we are all faced with right now.
As 2024 creeps to a close - a year that has seen the meteoric rise of AI, a tumultuous election, war, genocide, and another expose of the horrid yet covered behavior of a very public figure - many are asking what does the future hold and how can we best prepare?
There’s a lot of uncertainty on multiple fronts which can naturally be a cause for fear. Living with uncertainty is not something that many have been well primed for.
In light of all of this, I want to encourage us to begin thinking about our futures on all aforementioned levels as something we actively create.
It is time to fully come to our senses - acknowledging the signals that cause us fear, those that bring hope, the visions that come with both and to be proactive about it all.
Think Like a Futurist
Researchers and futurists at the Institute for the Future (IFTF) in Silicon Valley are actively involved in forecasting, simulating, and gamifying potential future outcomes in order to proactively choose and work towards creating desired futures.
They define the future as 10 years from now - giving the space and ‘safety’ to reduce concern for what seems most pressing short term and think more long term about the world we want to create.
There are futurists imagining futures around food, healthcare, work, education, climate, housing, and many other areas.
Thinking like a futurist shifts the fear and uncertainty of ‘what is happening to me’ to action in choosing and creating the future we want to see.
The FIA Cycle
Futurists at IFTF use what they call the FIA (foresight-insight-action) cycle to begin thinking about the future and taking action.
They begin with a foresight, this could be a signal or idea that you have about the future from something you’ve observed. You probably can think of one that is pressing for you right now. As you consider this topic ask yourself the question, “what does this mean for…?”.
As you think about what this means for you, your community, society - write it down. You are developing insights.
These insights, especially when you begin to think about them from the perspective of 10 years out, where it feels less pressing and dire yet maybe urgent and doable can then generate action steps to begin preparing for the future you want.
Integrating Future Thinking into Your Life
I realize thinking about the future, especially around certain charged topics can feel overwhelming and even like a luxury afforded by a few.
Luckily with a little practice and honoring the ways you are already thinking like a futurist you will allow cultivate the skill with intention.
Honor the multi-hyphenate in you. It has been shown that people with multi-disciplinary backgrounds are well positioned to solve societal issues. Many of you are multi-hyphenates with various skillsets.
I would go as far to say that any member of a group that has had to code switch in society is naturally multi-hyphenated as life has required it of you.
While in the past this may have felt like a source of tension in wondering how to best focus your time and energy - know that it is a clear and necessary skill for the future.
It makes you a better problem solver being able to call on various skillsets as you work to forecast, imagine, and gamify various futures in moving towards chosen outcomes.
Cultivate the empath within. The sometimes consuming ability to sense is something that empaths often struggle with. It however is a skill that when cultivated and directed with intention will allow you to have greater foresight and insight into signals about the future.
The ability to sense the potential impact of current events, new technological releases, policies, and any signal that is calling your attention is valuable.
As you cultivate this skill it is important to get grounded and identify the signals that concern you. You already have a lot of foresight and insights about them swirling around.
They may be causing fear, they may be a source of hope, maybe a little of both. Begin to identify the tangible sources (an event, policy, new observed behavior) of a concern, fear, or encouragement as a signal.
Instead of letting it swirl around and take up mental space, write it down and see it as foresight and get curious - what does this mean for you and your community?
Channel the anxious energy into curiosity knowing that you are taking the steps to choose and create your future. As you do this you will have aha moments (insights) and get ideas that propel you into action.
As you gain insight you may see the future trending in the direction that you desire or away from it. This is where the rubber meets the road. Envision the future you desire.
This will help you create the mindset of knowing you can have a say in choosing the future you want to see - whether it is having an impact to shift the direction of things or helping it to move in the direction you see it going.
Envisioning your desired future regularly, has a way of creating possibility and action towards it.
Take the inspired action. The great thing about thinking like a futurist is working towards a future that is 10 years out. While thinking more short term the overwhelm and anticipation may feel like it’s too late. Yet longer term gives you the space to walk towards it.
As you begin to imagine what you want the future to look like in 10 years hopelessness can turn into urgent optimism. The actions you take today will plant the seeds for tomorrow.
It won’t take 10 years for to begin to see and experience progress. 10 years is enough time for massive change to occur.
I will reiterate — the time and space to think and imagine the future may seem like a luxury when life is life-ing.
However, if you begin to create the habit of redirecting the mental and emotional energy that is used worrying or in fear you may find that this luxury becomes a necessity that propels your life forward creating more energy and time.
Remember it’s ok to start small, it could be a change on a personal level that you want to create in your life.
It may be a movement or company or initiative that you choose to start.
However it looks for you, creating the mindset and habit of thinking like a futurist, someone that has a say in choosing and creating the future (because you do) will reduce fear and make you an active participant in doing so.