Zero Sum Game

“In game theory and economic theory, a zero-sum game is a mathematical representation of a situation in which an advantage that is won by one of two sides is lost by the other.” (Source: Wikipedia)

Given the relatively more uncertain times we are in, Meditation, Awarefulnes, Mindfulness are being practiced and talked about much more. All of them essentially advocate being in the present and not spend a lot of time thinking about the past or future. 

High performance sports athletes have also spoken about “being in the zone”. Being in the zone is possible by being in the present. If the sportsperson is a cricket batsman, he only sees the ball and hits it. Does not think about his historical average or the target score etc.

Putting theory into practice

In theory, this looks very nice. However, when I sit to meditate, I can see how difficult it is for the brain to be in the present. It thinks about everything else other than the present.

In today’s world we need to be sold everything. This is good in many ways. However, it is limited by our abilities to be sold to. In theory, even if something is really good for us, but for some reason we refuse to be bought into it, only we miss out. As an e.g. Washing hands was once controversial medical advice. 

The mind also sees many things in terms of gain and loss. Economists say that not just many things, but everything is viewed in terms of gain or loss. So if the theory of gain and loss works with the mind, can we try to apply that theory to convince the mind that we will gain if we are in the present?

Our Past

By delving into the past, I can only learn either from our successes or failures. I learn from books, school, college, others’ advice etc. I have not repeated a class or a course. In very rare cases I have re-read a book. If we do not repeat all other avenues of learning, why do we need to delve into the past repeatedly to learn something.

The ROI on time spent thinking about the past follows the law of diminishing returns. Whatever had to be learnt, was automatic and is already stored for retrieval when appropriate. It is natural and instinctive, and it already happened.

This led me to conclude that the minimum time spent on the Past, it is better.

Our Future

At least, there is something to learn from the past success/failures. When it comes to the future, we all will agree that the future is completely unpredictable. 

In fact, many may look down upon people who predict the future and call it as not based on science, superstition etc. However the same person may be spending a lot of time thinking about the unpredictable future. I am not sure if the difference between the two is that big or just a subtle difference.

There are literally infinite factors at play and hence infinite outcomes that play out and become our present in the future. So spending time on the future is more like thinking how the casino roll is going to be. Real life in fact is much more unpredictable than a casino roll which has a limited set of possibilities.

This led me to conclude that the minimum time spent on the Future, it is better.

Our present

A race car driver is an epitome of being in the present. Probably allows for the least interruptions that can be afforded amongst all sports. He has no time to think about the scene that just passed him or that is going to come in the future. He lives in the present and keeps racing.

When I look at life now, the past seems to have just flown by, in an instant just like the earlier laps for a race car driver. The future also is going to be the same, because the future will be the past and we already know how the past was.

Zero Sum Game

Life - (Time spent on Past) - (Time spent on Future) = Time spent on Present

If we optimize this equation and minimize the time spent on Past and Future, only then we will have Time to be spent on the present. It is indeed a Zero Sum game.

My 21st century brain seems to be buying this argument and has become more agreeable to spending time in the present.

I hope this line of convincing will help your mind too. 

Welcome, Present !