Explorations
Future Testing
by Peter Shepherd
1. Future testing. The experiential domains of the future are possibility, planning and commitment. Find examples of times in the past when you made a commitment to yourself or others but failed to follow through on the commitment. What was important to you at the time you made the commitment? It's likely that you were (paratelically) only considering the present (e.g. you wanted the other person to feel happy, it felt like a good idea at the time, it was an interesting challenge), rather than (telically) considering the practicalities, advantages and disadvantages likely to exist at the future time when the commitment is carried out.
2. Criteria represent some standards or valued qualities that must be satisfied, as part of a decision- or opinion-making process. Given appropriate criteria, the most suitable testing questions can be asked, relating to past, present and future performance in each criteria. What may be important to one person (maybe more telic dominant) however, may seem irrelevant or even be unnoticed by another (maybe more paratelic dominant) person, and conflicts may arise between them. Consider what criteria you would use for the following decisions, and also what criteria others may have.
What attracts you to a person as a possible friend? (E.g. interesting, good sense of humour, easy to talk with, etc.).
What attracts you to a person as a possible mate? (E.g. kind, considerate, attractive, someone I can take care of, etc.).
Why did you buy your particular car? (E.g. economical, comfortable, fast, etc.).
Why would anyone live in the city? (E.g. fast tempo, variety, culture, convenient for work, etc.).
Why would anyone live in the country? (E.g. fresh air, solitude, privacy, natural, serene, etc.).
Why would anyone live abroad? (E.g. exotic, nice change, tax evasion, learn the language, etc.).
3. Fulfilling criteria. Different people may have different understandings of a particular criteria and so think they agree, but eventually they come into conflict. For example the husband may consider security means owning a property, whereas his wife understands it as earning a good income. If the man cannot pay the mortgage they are soon going to be at loggerheads. To clarify the meaning of a stated criterion, you therefore need to be able to specify what you see, hear or feel that lets you know the criterion of yours has been, is being, or will be fulfilled.
How do you know when ...
A friend of yours is happy?
Someone likes you?
You like someone?
You understand someone?
Someone is generous?
Someone is kind?
She loves me?
He loves me?
He's an interesting person?
A house is comfortable?
Also consider how another may see, hear or feel such criteria differently.
Move on to High Arousal, Chapter Six - The Open Focus State.
Return to Transforming the Mind - Contents.