The Past Focused, Present Focused And Positive Future Focused Approaches

People can choose what they focus on when dealing with events in their lives. They may choose to be past focused, present focused or positive future focused.

The approach that people take can sometimes influence the way they communicate with others. Let’s look at one example where people who have different focuses when responding to a challenge.

A person who is past focused may want to go over past events that have led to the challenge. This can be useful to make sure certain things do not happen again. But it can also lead to paralysis by analysis.

A person who is present focused may want to explore how they feel and think at the moment. This can provide a platform for shaping the future but it can also lead to a person going round in circles.

A person who is positive future focused will want to move onto the possible solutions to a challenge. They want to channel their energy into how things can be better in the future. They may say things like:

“How can we solve it? What are the goals we want to achieve? What is the picture of success?”

Each person may have positive intentions but are focusing on the challenge from different angles. This is neither good nor bad – but it can lead to difficulties in communication. Let’s explore the different focuses that people may have in life.

The Past Focused Approach

People who take this approach are often quite thoughtful. They like to understand the context and why certain things have happened. They may then feel more able to move on to shaping the future.

There are pluses to this approach. Such a person may find it useful:

To understand the events that have led: a) to certain things happening, or; b) to them experiencing certain feelings; 

To analyse why things may not be working well in a situation or in a relationship;

To, if they have a positive frame of mind, focus on the past to recognise their successful patterns and then follow these principles in the future.

There are also potential minuses to this approach. These include the following. Such a person may find that they tend:

To focus on diagnosis rather than cure and not move forward until they understand the past and can make guaranteed plans for the future; 

To, if they have a negative approach, focus on regrets or what they see as failures in the past;

To, sometimes in relationships, fall into criticising others and blaming them for certain things in the past.

The Present Focused Approach

People who take this approach often live in the moment. They may immerse themselves in experiences and feel fully alive. They may also experience extreme highs and lows.

There are pluses to this approach. Such a person may find that they are able:

To be fully present and enjoy experiences – such as food, music, nature, companionship and other events;

To apply their heart and head when doing an activity – such as a piece of work – and sometimes go into a state of flow;

To enjoy extreme positive emotions that can create wonderful memories for life;

There are also potential minuses to this approach. These include the following. Such a person may find that they tend:

To be open to negative influences – such as being depressed by events, difficult people or their own emotional swings; 

To be so wrapped in their own feelings that they may not be aware of the consequences of their behaviour on other people;

To take themselves and their feelings too seriously and not be able to see things in perspective.

The Positive Future Focused Approach

People who take this approach are often upbeat and action oriented. They are quick to recognise what is happening in a situation and want to move towards shaping a positive future.

There are potential pluses to this approach. Such a person may find they are able:

To maintain a positive attitude and, when appropriate, encourage both themselves and other people;

To keep focusing on the principles they want to follow in life towards their picture of success;

To be good at looking ahead, preventing problems happening and, when necessary, focusing on possible solutions to challenges.

There are potential minuses to this approach. These include the following. Such a person may find that they tend:

To get along best with people who have a similar approach but be impatient with others – which has implications for whom they work with and for their relationships;

To want to quickly move to making decisions – which can be difficult for people who have different styles of processing information;

To be so future focused that they keep striving forwards rather than appreciate their achievements.

Let’s return to your own life and work. Looking ahead, can you think of a specific situation where you may want to follow one or more of these approaches? How can you do this in your own way?

If you wish, try tackling the exercise on this theme. This invites you to complete the following sentences.