Sometimes
in life we find ourselves dwelling a lot on the past. We discover that the more
we try to move on with life, the more the past comes calling. There are also
times when the thoughts or fear of the future tends to overtake out thoughts,
depriving us of the happiness that today brings. For example, when we are at
work, we fantasize about
being on vacation; on vacation, we worry about the work piling up on our desks
and other activities at the work place. We dwell on disturbing memories of the
past or fret about what may or may not happen in the future. The truth is that
whatever the past was, it is gone. There is nothing you can do to change anything
that has happened. If you keep re-visiting the past because of regrets, then you
need to understand that you can’t go back and undo whatever has been done. Also,
if you hang on to a guilt of the past, you are only damaging yourself. I admit,
it is hard to resist the allure of dwelling on the past, but of what use it is
when all it does it to deny you of the joy and happiness of the present?
The truth
about life is that it unfolds in the present. If you want to be successful and
happy in life, you must turn your attention and focus on what is happening to
and for you right now. Too many times, we let the present slip away, allowing
time to rush past unobserved and unseized, squandering the precious seconds of
our lives as we worry about the future or ruminate about the past. Believe me,
worrying about it would not change anything. All you can do is to focus on the
present and don’t let it deprive you of what you can do better today. You must
turn your attention to the “here” and “now”. Don’t become obsessed about the
past simply because it was better for you, learn to appreciate the memories but
also move on and put your efforts into finding a different kind of good time
right now. If it was truly better then, may be you can analyse exactly why -
money, power, health, vigor, fun, youth etc, then move on to find other avenues
and explore. You have to leave both good and bad stuffs behind and find new
challenges, new areas to inspire yourself.
Every day is
a fresh start and you can make of it what you want, write what you want on that
blank painting. Keeping that enthusiasm can be tough though - yes it might be
hard at the beginning but very possible with perseverance, focus and
dedication. The past is like a room different from the one you live in now, you
can go there but you don’t live there anymore. You can go visit but it isn’t
home anymore. Home is the present and each second of it counts. Don’t waste too
much time in the old room. Don’t miss what is happening now in the new room
because you were too busy looking back or later you will be busy looking back
at this time and wondering why you wasted it. The worst part about living in
the past or the future is that it deprives you of your creative power. If you
are not living now, you are giving up your live because if there is anything
you would like to change in life, it is best done now. If you are living in the
past, you cannot do anything about it, it is gone. Also, if you are worrying
about the future, you are living somewhere that doesn’t exist. The future is
now.
You need to
live more in the moment. Living in the moment involves a state of active, open
and intentional attention on the present. It means that your awareness is
completely centered on here and now. You are not worrying about the future nor
thinking about the past. When you live in the present, you are living where
life is ‘happening’. Don’t be deluded, the past and the future are illusions,
they don’t exist. Just as the saying goes “tomorrow never comes” It is always
waiting to come around in the corner and never shows up. The real time is
always NOW. People who live in the moment are happier, more exuberant, more compassionate
and more secure. They have higher self-esteem and
are more accepting of their own weaknesses. They fight less with their partners
and are more accommodating and less defensive. Live here, live now, live in
this moment. I leave you with this popular saying “if you worry about what
might be, and wonder what might have been, you will ignore what it is”. Learn from yesterday, live for today and hope tomorrow. I love
you.