I’ve been resisting writing about what the future holds. Why? Because I don’t want to look forward. Whenever I do, all I see is endless war, economic inequality, the devastating effects of climate change, political polarization—I could go on.

It’s all I can do to stay in the moment and deal with the day-to-day challenges of being an elder in a society that does not respect or care in any meaningful way for its aging citizens. I don’t want to think about how global issues along with our own government’s dysfunction is going to continue to affect my life and those I love.

While struggling with this, I remembered something from when I was nine or ten years old. My mother was ill, and my father was having a hard time keeping our dairy farm going. It was a Saturday afternoon, and I was alone in the barn doing chores.

As always, I had the barn radio turned to a station that broadcast music so I could have company while I worked. I didn’t really listen to the songs, but rather used the sound to keep my fear and anxiety at bay. I remember I had just finished sweeping the walkway when I heard these lyrics being sung by a female singer: “Que sera, sera. Whatever will be will be. The future’s not ours to see. Que sera, sera.”

I don’t know why those words resonated so deeply with my pre-adolescent self, but I felt something change within me. It was as though she was singing directly to me, telling me not to let all the uncertainty about the future weigh me down. I didn’t have to be the one to try to fix what was happening with my family.

As I think about this sentiment now, I’m trying to figure out if we’re being told there’s nothing we can do to change the future. Are our fates unalterable? Must we resign ourselves to being at the effect of forces over which we have little or no control?

Of course, as individuals, and as groups, there are many actions we can take to try to affect change: petition elected official to introduce legislation that will help create a more just and healthy society; we can vote; we can change our lifestyles to have less of an impact on the climate; we can join boycotts; or participate in demonstrations. But do any of these things do much to mitigate our sense of unease about tomorrow?

Closer to home, what can we do to lessen the anxiety we feel about our own future?

In the Christian scriptures, in the book of Matthew, there are teachings referred to as the Sermon on the Mount. In it, the teacher goes on at length about the futility of trying to figure out what lies ahead: “..do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear…do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

The lesson isn’t to be lackadaisical about living and planning for tomorrow. The teaching is about what, in this religious context, is referred to as striving for the Kingdom of God. To put it in more universal terms, it means being so centered that one is not buffeted about by what is happening around one or in the world. In this calm state we will be directed to take those actions that will most benefit us, while also contributing to the greater good.

Similarly, in Yoga philosophy and Buddhism there is the concept of dharma. It is believed that there’s a preordained or correct way for each person to live their life. We all have a purpose or mission that is predetermined, and it is imperative for us to live within this path. In the Bhagavad Gita it is taught that it is better to live one’s own dharma poorly than to do another’s well.

By living in the right way, we will find that we are on the path leading to self-realization and enlightenment.

Trust yourself. Listen to the voice within. And remember! “Que sera, sera.”

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An edited version of this appeared in 3rd Act Magazine