We often approach the future by looking forward: imagining scenarios, mapping trends, projecting change. But sometimes, a future becomes more accessible when we approach it from the other direction.
I’ve been thinking about the idea of an annual review, not as a list of achievements, but as a space to reflect on what we’ve learned: the surprises, the things we’re grateful for, what we want to release or build upon moving forward.
In futures facilitation, I’ve noticed that a similar move can be surprisingly powerful.
Instead of asking people to predict what 2050 will look like, I sometimes invite them to imagine it’s already happened, that they are living in this version of the world, and to look back. From that vantage point, different things come into focus. We hear about values, relationships, risks, opportunities, and learning becomes more visible than outcomes.
This isn’t about getting the future “right”. It’s about noticing what feels important when there is no certainty.
Looking back from the future can soften our grip on prediction and open up a more humane relationship with uncertainty. It reminds us that the future isn’t just something that happens to us. The future is something we live through, learn from, and shape along the way.