Aside from that, what is the difference between, say when I make a decision to achieve a goal, over say a few weeks, and I work towards that goal with the hope that I will achieve that, then would that not be anticipation ?
Or is the act of making a decision to do something anticipation in itself, since in deciding to do something done in anticipation that the goal will be achieved ?
There must be some distinction ?
I think this is a very complex question, and others have shared their own experiences and I think this is where the answer may lie. In other words, I think it's individual observation, and honesty with the self, what differentiates when one is striving towards a goal and when one is anticipating a specific outcome, wishfully.
However, we should also take into consideration that we're 3D STS beings and as such, we will anticipate almost as a rule, and this is part of that self honesty.
But if I had to speculate a bit, maybe the idea is in the words we use to describe both processes, Anticipating an outcome is wanting something to be, something it may not be, and is akin to imposing one's wishes upon reality. And it's, when I think about it, a way not to do something to affect the odds. It's waiting for reality to come your way.
While working towards a goal, implies the application of will and knowledge, it's working WITH reality to meet it halfway, and applying one's will in order to achieve that goal.
Perhaps a good example would be diet. "I am going to change my diet, and knowingly accept its benefits AND limitations, and adjust my path as needed" is making a decision and walking through the doors that such a decision opens for you. As opposed to "I am going to change my diet into this specific routine, and that WILL make me healthier, period"
In both of them, one experiences change, and there's information being provided by one's body. On the one there's knowledge, as one is open to adjustment and limitations, one continues to choose as reality provides feedback. On the other... there might be hardships as one would refuse to see the information that indicates that the outcome desired, isn't the one taking shape.
I realize the above example might not be clear, but I think that as humans, there will always be a conception of a desirable future, and a projection of our actions in that direction. But I also think that it's the relationship with reality, how we relate to it and its feedback that might offer us the difference between that conception of the future being wishful thinking, or striving towards a goal.
It reminded me of that one phrase by Stephen Covey, "freedom lies in the space between stimulus and reaction". Something similar might take place with Anticipation, it will happen because we all wish for a specific future, I think our choices have to have a relationship with the future, I don't drive to work without anticipating a paycheck, for instance.
But that differentiation of wishful thinking and an open and humble relationship with reality, might happen in that small space of feedback from reality and our choices, interpretation and humility about that feedback.
My two cents
But a couple of recent times eventually we just let it go as it is (applied non anticipation) and it worked!! the best way we could not even predict ! It’s just our essence here is to predict ...they taught us from the very childhood that we shall imagine the result , so we imagine , but how we here notice the best result is when we don’t ...now I learn to keep this feeling of non anticipation in mind and reality really envelopes smoothly and wonderfully and me just observe how it goes without emotions rush and prediction
