Trust in the future is being tested. It can feel impossible to believe good things are ahead when the news seems to bombard us with negative stories and threats. According to the latest Youth Barometer, young people feel most uncertain and unsafe because of global political tensions, followed by the values and attitudes present in society, then worries about finding a job, and finally, concerns about climate change caused by humans. So, what can we do?
Tip!
Does thinking about the future make you anxious? Check out Kristiina’s tips for body-based exercises in the article ‘Millaisena opiskelijat näkevät tulevaisuutensa?’ (in Fin). These exercises help calm your mind so thinking about the future gets easier.
Believe it or not, just think
Even if you don’t believe in the future, it’s still worth thinking about. Future thinking is something you can practice, and by doing so, you’ll build up your own future skills. Developing your ability to reflect on the future means looking at your thoughts from a broader perspective—it’s not just about making the next decision in your life.
There’s no single right or wrong way to imagine the future. Each of us has our own approach, shaped by our experiences, life situation, and background.
To start your own future-thinking workout, consider these questions:
- Do I look toward the future with positivity and curiosity, or with doubt and skepticism?
- Do I wait for things to happen, or do I explore different possibilities in advance?
- What kind of future do I want? What steps can I take to get there?
- What choices can I make? How might my choices impact things?
- What opportunities do I dare to imagine and pursue?
Hopes and Possibilities
You might now have a clearer idea of how you view the future and what it means to you. Next, let’s look at the future not as a single path, but as a range of possibilities. Instead of imagining one predetermined future, let’s open up to a variety of different outcomes.
Take a look at the statements about the future below. What thoughts do they spark? Consider whether you think these scenarios are likely or unlikely. And do you personally see them as positive or negative? You’re free to decide how far into the future you want to look.
- Most music is created by AI.
- Human organs and limbs can be artificially produced and used for medical purposes.
- Technology makes it possible to read minds.
- The United States remains the world’s biggest economy and strongest military power.
- Climate change comes to a halt and the Earth’s average temperature starts to drop.
- Humans live on other planets.
Future skills are the skills for tomorrow
Future skills help you assess your own visions of the future, your values, and the beliefs you hold about what’s ahead. They guide you in making choices and decisions that shape your future.
Some examples of future skills include:
- spotting a range of possibilities
- accepting uncertainty and being able to steer your thoughts and actions toward the future, even when you’re not sure what will happen
- thinking critically, like figuring out which ideas about the future are your own and which might have come from others
- recognizing cognitive biases
- being responsible, for example, understanding how your choices can impact other people and society
No matter how your perspective changes after a critical review, it’s always worth pausing to ask yourself: do I want to be part of the problem, or part of the solution?
Let’s take a closer look at the skill of critical thinking. In the future, it’ll become even more important to be able to examine your own thoughts critically too. Next, let’s choose responsibility as our perspective.
Have you ever thought, for example:
- I can post anything online just for laughs—people know the difference between a joke and the truth.
- Why bother checking multiple sources if I can just ask AI to give me a summary?
- Who really wants to peel cardboard wrappers off plastic containers? We have a waste incineration plant, so even mixed trash gets put to good use.
- Does it really matter if I order cheap clothes from China? Everyone else does it. I deserve new, fun things too.
- I can buy as many clothes and things as I want, as long as I get them secondhand.
Where do these thoughts come from? How did I reach these conclusions, and what are they based on? What kind of choices do my thoughts lead me to make?
It can be hard to see how choices we make today might shape the future. According to the Youth Barometer, the World Economic Forum’s 2026 report on global risks names the spread of false information and disinformation as one of the biggest threats in the near future. That’s why building strong critical thinking skills really matters.
A world where the future looks bright
Now it’s your turn to dream up a vision! Picture your ideal future in your mind, write about it, or draw it—however you like.
“Congratulations! You wake up one morning in a good future (you get to choose how far ahead this is). In this positive future, things have mostly gone the way you hoped, and the world around you has changed for the better. What makes this future a good one?” Future Coaching Guide (Julkaisut.xamk.fi)
You can imagine the future you wish for by reflecting on these questions.
- What kind of environment do you wake up in?
- What sensations do you experience?
- What do you hear or smell?
- What do you feel or see?
- When you look out the window, what do you see?
- Are you heading out somewhere?
- Where are you going?
- How do you get there?
- What are the most memorable highlights of your day in this positive future?
Hopefully, your journey into the future was rewarding!
Author: Youth Information Advisors
