Be Here. Now.
How often do you find your mind projecting into the future, wondering, “What if this or that happens? What will I do?” Or maybe you’re always looking backward into the past, telling yourself, “If only I had done such and such at this time, I wouldn’t be where I am today” And where exactly does all this brain static and worthless negative (usually) self banter get you? Stressed out!
We often find ourselves worried about the future or remorseful about the past. What can you possibly do about either one? First of all, the future is promised to no one. You may be gone tomorrow and you will have wasted your last hours on this good earth, bogged down in worrying about something that will either never happen or that you have no control over anyway!
Same goes for the past! If you made a mistake, most often you have learned a valuable lesson or made some type of spiritual progress as a result. If you have done somebody wrong in some way – apologize and move on! Everyone makes mistakes; as long as we learn from them and try not to repeat them, they have a purpose.
That leaves us with only one thing to think about. It’s a gift – that’s why we call it the present! Living in the present makes us alive to what is – right here and right now. If you stay in the here and now, you eliminate stress. Keep in mind that your head should always be where your feet are. If it isn’t, you’re behind enemy lines – in your own brain!
Of course it’s unrealistic to think that your mind will never wander into the future or the past. It’s just that too many people make it such a habit in their lives that they are never fully present in the moment. And not being present in the moment makes you miss out on a lot of life’s joys. How can you enjoy your child’s participation in a sports competition when you’re thinking about a presentation you have to give tomorrow or the argument you had with your neighbor yesterday?
Attempting to “live in the moment” allows you to take time to “smell the roses” in your daily life, to enjoy your family and friends, along with the opportunities you are given each day to become a better person, rather than agonizing over the past or worrying about the future.
Practice it – you’ll find yourself less stressed out and more grateful for each day you have been given, each gift of the present.
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