As human beings, we tend to look back on the past or look ahead to the future. I believe most of us do.
I keep looking back, thinking about what I did and what happened in the past, whether it was a moment, a person, or a place. Whether it was a pleasant or unpleasant memory, I hold my past in my brain and heart.
The same thing happens with the future. I keep thinking about what I have to do or can do, what I want to write and read. Where I want to go, or who I want to be.
So basically, I am either missing or cursing my past version, or dreaming about my future version. Is something wrong with this? No, absolutely not. It’s natural. But what’s missing in all this? My present.
I am not focusing on my current version, which is one of the most important things to do. By working only on my current version, I can build or attract my future version.
Another important thing I, and most of us, forget is that I can control only my present, not my past or my future. Surprisingly, we all know this, yet we still fall into the trap of the past and the future.
When my mind runs away, I pause, take one slow breath and remind myself that I can’t control my past or my future. My present is in my hands. I do what I can do.
So what I am learning and applying now is to let go of my past and not attach to it or to my future. But be mindful of my present, because it is a gift from God. It is The Present.
A simple exercise for you: “Where is your mind today: in the past, in the future, or here?”
I would love to hear your stories too. Share them with me, and let’s connect.
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