Anticipation Quote by Eckhart Tolle
“The future is usually imagined as either better or worse than the present. If the imagined future is better, it gives you hope or pleasurable anticipation. If it is worse, it creates anxiety. Both are illusory.”
About This Quote
Source Book: A New Earth, Eckhart Tolle, 2005
People imagine future outcomes as better or worse, shaping hope or anxiety, but both are mental constructs not guaranteed.
In simple terms: Imagined futures create hope or anxiety, but are not real.
Key Takeaway
Recognize thoughts as mental events, not facts.
Themes
hope
anxiety
future
perception
illusion
Mood
reflective
cautious
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- decision making
- goal setting
- stress management
- personal growth
Key Concepts
psychology
mindfulness
cognitive bias
Questions to Reflect On
- How do your future expectations affect present actions?
- What evidence supports your imagined outcome?
A Different Perspective
Future predictions can be inaccurate and cause paralysis.
![“[It is hard to know what is good luck and what isn't and therefore whether we should be happy or sad about it. Only time will tell. For example...] The Talmud relates a story about two people who wanted to travel by boat. One broke his foot and was unable to make the trip, while his friend got on…” quote by Zelig Pliskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/68d/zelig-pliskin-22951_anticipation_it-is-hard-to-know-what-is-good-luck-and_34545.jpg)
![“The only thing is that ordinarily when I do dance with [women] they think I am suddenly going to throw them over a table or twist them all around. All I want to do is one-two, one-two-three - a simple fox trot. But they're shaking with anticipation at the thought that I'm about to whip them around…” quote by Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/073/gene-kelly-11878_anticipation_the-only-thing-is-that-ordinarily-when-i_44100.jpg)
