how we think about the future

Depending on state of mind we visualise the position of the future differently. For example, in a panic, we may see ourselves facing the past as it rushes away as we reverse into the future with who knows what shocks coming to hit us on the back of the head. Or, when mellow, we could see the future someway off to the right with the past off to the left as we proceed along the broad front of the present. Or maybe sometimes we see ourselves eyes wide open steaming face first into the future leaving the past well behind. I wonder if there is a benefit in trying to shift from one mode to another?