Balancing Dreams and Fears: The Dual Mechanism Shaping Our Future
The emotional perception of the world and the strategy for behavior in the context of future life choices are formed through a dual mechanism in which dreams (as a projection of hope and ideals) and fears (as an instinctive warning about possible dangers) act simultaneously, setting the tone for our relationship with the imminent future.
According to the source, fear is associated with the anticipation of the future and represents a form of emotional prefiguration of what might come:
"Fear is intimately bound to time. If latent fear (dread) is a particular state of consciousness… Only that which is imminent relative to the present, that is, the near future, evokes fear. The moment of fear is the 'presentification' of a threatening future. The anticipated good sparks hope, reliance. Fear and hope are two poles of emotional prefiguration of the future, two poles of the human attitude toward the future. Human life oscillates between fear and hope, because we all live more in the future and with the future than solely in the present." (source: link txt)
In this context, dreams can be viewed as an expression of hope and an aspiration for future good, which, while in constant dialogue with fear, prompts a person to adjust their life strategies. While fear warns of possible threats and limitations, dreams (or, more precisely, the expectation of a favorable future) provide the energy to strive for higher ideals and to make decisions aimed at achieving these ideals.
Thus, the interaction between dreams and fears creates a dynamic tension in our emotional perception. It not only colors our worldview but also influences our behavioral strategy, determining the steps we are willing to take either to avoid negative scenarios or to achieve the desired outcomes. This anticipatory split of emotions helps us balance caution with the drive for change, which is critically important for making vital life decisions.