It’s Time to Live in the Present

 If you are depressed, you are thinking too much about the past. If you are anxious, you are obsessing about your future. The best way to handle either of these is to concentrate on the present moment which can help calm you.
Some believe this message came from Buddhist philosophy. No matter where it came from, it’s an important message to heed. For instance, if you are worried about what you have done in the past, remember there is nothing you can do about it. You cannot change it, but in the present moment, you can make amends.

Using experiences of your past is okay since you want to try to avoid making the same mistakes. But, when you are constantly thinking about past events to the point where they stress you out, it’s time to let them go.

You may be dealing with the consequences of something that you were responsible for in the past. However, you are still dealing with the consequences now, in the present, and so you should handle them with that in mind. The most important aspect of the past is to make sure you learn from it.

Planning certain aspects of your future is important. However, nothing is for sure, and any plan you set up may not come to pass. In that case, you'd probably need to change the plan. You may also need to change plans that you're making now. You'll need to make decisions now that affect your future. But don’t obsess about this either.

Some people get so hung up on planning for their future that they forget to live their lives. What happens if you are not around to enjoy those plans? You will have spent your entire life not living the way you should.

Another problem with living entirely for the future is you will miss out on enjoying life with your kids. They grow so fast, and that is one part of your past you will regret, i.e., not spending time and doing more with them. By living in the present and not worrying so much about other time frames, you will have memories with your family that you can always look back on. Family memories are a great part of your past and something that you can happily think about anytime you want.

If you do look back on your life, you will see that everything worked out. When situations occurred, you handled them, and you moved on. Just think about that the next time you find yourself dwelling on the past or the future. Someday, the situation you are experiencing right now will be a part of your past.

Make an intentional decision to get off the hamster wheel and live in the now. It’s important to take responsibility for your thoughts, feelings, and actions because they do become the foundation in which you build your life.

Until next time...

Cheers!

Lisa

P.S. My lifestyle coaching membership guides members on the PATHS of essential life management skills to create a foundation that supports the pursuit of personal focus goals. I've created a safe space...a sacred space...for learning and reconnecting heart, body, and spirit. Members move along the PATHS at their own pace and have a private community that they can choose to participate in for additional inspiration, encouragement, and support. Get more information here: https://www.lisamcgrath.me/thank-you-for-your-interest-in-a-pilgrimage-to-self