Are you holding on to the past?
Do you worry about the future?
Can you live within the present moment?
Take some time and ask yourself whether past pain or future uncertainty is stopping you from living in the present moment. If that holds true, has it prevented you in any way from enjoying your life right now?
This quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson sheds light on the fact that, yes, even though the past and the future do play impactful roles in our life and our journey, they don’t compare to the power of right now.
If you knew you only had an hour left to live, would you be at all concerned with what happened yesterday, a week ago, a year ago or would you think for a second how will tomorrow unfold? I bet the answer is heck no!
However, when you allow painful memories from the past or the worrying uncertainty of the future to intrude in to the present you cannot enjoy your life as it plays out in front of you. You cannot be in the chapter of your life that is happening right now if your mind is revisiting previous chapters already written or waiting for upcoming chapters still yet to be revealed.
Yet so many people are caught up in this time machine thinking.
They devote much of their finite time and energy jumping back and forth between past and future. They over-analyze and focus on the events that have come and are now long gone or they focus so intently on trying to control the outcome of tomorrow.
Does this resonate with you? Are you finding yourself in a similar situation? If so, how does it make you feel?
Yes, it is important to reflect back on where you came from in order to learn and grow from those experiences. It is also important to have clarity on where you want to be. However, there is nothing more certain than right now. There is nothing more real than this moment. When your mind starts engaging in that time machine thinking, ask yourself what is the intention behind it.
If the answer leads to anything but a positive feeling, think about how you can pull yourself back to the present.
If you are having a hard time doing so, start with gratitude. Practicing gratitude allows you enjoy the present moment but also allows you to appreciate where you’ve been and where you are going.
Remember, wherever you are, you are here.
Now it’s your turn.
How does this quote inspire you?
Tell me about an experience where you engaged in that time machine thinking. Were you rehashing past events? Were you focusing on a future that has not happened yet? How often do you allow this to take place and how does it affect your daily life?
If you are still struggling with this and could use some support, reach out.
Contact me or share your thoughts below in the Comments section.
Let’s get the discussion going.
Remember, you are not alone on this journey. Together we can become stronger individuals.
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