Benefits of Looking Forward To Something

Everyone looks forward to something because it is part of life. When we were younger, we looked for most things that were different from what we look forward to now that we are older. Even so, we might still look forward to some of the same things: birthdays, holidays (some more than others), graduation, first job, dating, marriage, anniversaries, raising a family, and more.

It is good to look forward to things to come. Actually, looking forward to something has benefits.

Having Something to Look Forward To

There’s a particular kind of energy that enters people's lives when they have something on the calendar—an event, a goal, a moment, or even a simple pleasure. It doesn’t have to be grand. Sometimes the smallest anticipation can shift the emotional climate.

Looking forward to something is more than optimism. It’s a psychological anchor. It gives the mind a direction, the heart a reason to stay open, and the body a subtle push toward movement. Anticipation creates momentum.

1. The Mood Is Lifted Before the Event

Research consistently shows that anticipation can be as powerful as the event itself. Planning a lunch with a friend, a weekend project, or a personal milestone release feel‑good chemicals that brighten the present moment. The joy begins long before the experience does.

2. It Provides Mental Rest

When life feels heavy, having something ahead—something that sparks interest, curiosity, or delight—acts like a mental buoy. It doesn’t erase stress, but it gives you a place to rest your mind. You are reminded that your life contains more than the difficulty you’re facing at the moment.

3. It Encourages Forward Motion

Anticipation naturally creates movement. When you’re looking forward to something, you prepare for it. You tidy the house before guests arrive. You save money for a trip. Not only that, but you practice for a performance. The act of preparing becomes part of the reward, giving your days structure and purpose.

4. It Strengthens Your Sense of Identity

What you look forward to often reveals what matters to you—creativity, connection, rest, learning, beauty, or adventure. These small anticipations help you stay connected to the parts of yourself that bring meaning and joy.

5. It Reminds You That Life Still Holds Good Things

Even in seasons of uncertainty, anticipation whispers that the story isn’t over. It keeps the heart from closing. It keeps the mind from shrinking. It keeps the spirit from settling into resignation. Looking forward is a quiet declaration that life still has something to offer—and that you still have something to receive.

A Gentle Invitation

You don’t need a major event to feel the benefits. Choose one small thing to look forward to this week. A walk in a favorite neighborhood. A new recipe. A phone call with someone who makes you laugh. A personal project you’ve been wanting to start.

Let that anticipation work on you. Let it lift you. Let it remind you that your life is still unfolding, still meaningful, still capable of surprising you. Know that you have something to look forward to.

“Echoes of Home”

The things I look forward to in this life are small, but they carry a familiar sound. A quiet morning. A gentle conversation. A moment of peace after a long day. These earthly anticipations are not random comforts—they are echoes of something greater.

• Every time I long for rest, I’m touching the edge of the rest that waits for me.
• Every time I look forward to connection, I’m brushing against the fullness of belonging that heaven holds.
• Every time I anticipate joy, I remember that joy has a home, and I am headed toward it.

My earthly hopes are not distractions from eternity. They are reminders of it. Little foretastes. Small rehearsals. Gentle signals that the deepest longing of my spirit is not for something here, but for Someone there.

I let these anticipations guide me—not away from this life, but through it. They help me endure what is hard, savor what is good, and keep my eyes lifted toward the home I am moving toward with every faithful step.

I endure hardships with hope—and heaven is the joy set before me, the reason I keep walking.

My earthly anticipations are echoes. They’re small rehearsals for the joy, rest, and presence that await me. Therefore, I live with expectancy for what is to come.

My Daily Prayer

Every day I pray that the One who holds my future will continue to lift me, guide me, and keep me in perfect peace. Every small joy reminds me of the greater joy prepared for me. My heart rests in the promise that greater things are in store for me: Heaven, my ultimate home.