I have always been obsessed with A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. I love the premise of falling asleep and having three different spirits usher you through your past, present, and future. And in 1992, when the Muppets released their version of the story with Michael Cain as Scrooge, Gonzo as the narrator, and Kermit and Miss Piggy as the Cratchits, forget about it! It is lights-out, the best Christmas movie of all time. It’s not even up for debate.
Yet, even as a young person, I had questions about the utility of the story (imagine that!). I understood the need to revisit the past and objectively look at the present for the story’s arc. However, there was always a bit of futility in that for me. Almost as if I wanted to say, “Feels a little like we’re pouring salt in the wound here, it’s not like Scrooge can go back and recreate those events or rectify those wrongs.” Which I understand was not the point and simply a setup for behavioral choices yet to be alluded to by The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. And even though I was spooked by The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, (honestly, tell me this spirit wouldn’t terrify small children), I knew that spirit was the one with all the impact.
If Scrooge hadn’t been exposed to those future scenarios, he would not have changed his present behaviors. Talk about a gift of perspective! If only we could Muppet-port ourselves into the future to help us change today’s behaviors.
We can!
It’s called Temporal Distancing, and unfortunately, it does not involve character felt or musical song and dance numbers, but it’s extraordinarily effective.
Temporal Distancing involves mentally projecting yourself forward in time to gain perspective on current situations or issues. It’s a form of perspective distancing that can help reduce emotional reactivity and improve decision-making.
How it works:
When you practice temporal distancing, you imagine looking back at your current situation from a future point in time – perhaps weeks, months, or years from now. This shift in perspective helps you:
- Reduce the intensity of negative emotions by seeing the temporary nature of most problems
- Gain broader context about what really matters in the long run
- Make more rational decisions by considering long-term consequences
- Decrease anxiety about immediate challenges
For example, when facing a stressful situation like a job interview or difficult conversation, you might ask yourself: “How will I feel about this a year from now?” or “When I look back on this in five years, how important will it seem?”
What the research tells us:
- It helps separate your identity from immediate emotional reactions
- It engages the prefrontal cortex (responsible for planning and reasoning) rather than the amygdala (involved in emotional responses)
- It allows you to see situations as challenges rather than threats
Problems and issues won’t disappear with the use of this practice, but like Scrooge, his perspective was changed and that altered his behavioral choices and the subsequent decisions he made when he returned to the present.
Give it a try; Muppet character costume optional, but always a fabulous choice.
