“I Know How This Ends — And It’s Bad”
- The Path Team
- Apr 2
- 3 min read
Updated: May 3
When the fog is thick, it’s easy to imagine cliffs ahead—even when the ground beneath your feet is solid.
What Fortune-Telling Looks Like
Fortune-telling happens when you assume you know how events will turn out—and you predict that they will turn out badly.
You hesitate before an interview and think, "There’s no point—they’re not going to hire me."
You consider reaching out to a friend and think, "He probably doesn’t want to hear from me."
You picture trying something new and think, "I’ll fail, just like last time."
Instead of preparing thoughtfully for what could happen, the mind acts as if the worst outcome is already guaranteed.
Why the Mind Slips Into It
Fear of disappointment. Expecting failure can feel safer than risking hope and getting hurt.
False protection reflex. If you “know” disaster is coming, it feels like you can brace for it.
Emotional momentum. When anxiety is already high, the mind rushes to create vivid negative stories.
(Many believe these patterns grow from a mix of learned fear, emotional habits, and instincts that once helped humans prepare for danger. For a deeper look at where wrong thinking comes from, read [Where Does Wrong Thinking Come From].)
But Reason reminds us:
Just because you can picture something bad happening doesn’t mean it’s going to.
The Hidden Price You Pay
Self-fulfilling prophecy.
Don’t worry—you won’t manifest bad things just by thinking about them.
But expecting failure can kill your motivation and poison your effort, making you miss out on real opportunities for success.
Missed opportunities.
You talk yourself out of actions that could have succeeded.
Stolen peace.
Anyone with solid life experience knows—you can suffer real worry, fear, and grief over events that haven’t even happened and might never happen.
When you treat imagined cliffs as certain death, you stop walking—sometimes just steps from solid ground.
Working Through It—What Often Helps
Many men find it helpful to slow down and challenge their assumptions when they catch themselves fortune-telling:
Identify the Prediction.
Notice when you find yourself declaring the future as if it's already decided.
Examine the Evidence.
Ask: "What facts do I have about how this will really turn out?"
Separate past fears from present facts.
Reframe It.
Shift your thinking:
"I can prepare wisely—but the future is still open."
"Past struggles don’t erase today’s chances."
"Not knowing the outcome is normal—not a sign of failure."
4. Bring in Reason.
Step back and ask:
"What would a steady, rational mind expect here?"
"If I can't know the future, what action today puts me in the best position?"
When it comes to uncertainty, a reasonable man doesn’t pretend every outcome will be perfect.
But he also recognizes that life often delivers more good than bad, more help than harm.
Expecting good things—without guaranteeing them—is often the strongest and most useful course of action.
Reason doesn’t pretend the road will always be easy—but it refuses to surrender before the journey even begins.
Simple Practice (No Paper Needed)
When you notice yourself predicting disaster today:
Pause.
Say silently: "I can't see the future—and I don't have to."
Focus on the next right step instead of the imagined ending.
Your duty is to prepare and act well—not to guarantee every outcome.
Closing Thought
When the fog is thick, fear can fill in the unknown with monsters.
But men who walk by Reason know:
The unknown is not automatically an enemy.
Possibility can hide as easily as danger in the mist.
Walk forward steadily.
Let each step—not your fears—reveal the path ahead.
This article is part of the Fog on the Path series — exploring the hidden traps that cloud judgment. See the full series here.