Bringing Your Future into the Present

“Freedom from effort in the present merely means that there has been effort stored up in the past.” – Theodore Roosevelt

How much time do you spend living in the future? Probably more than you realize because most of us are constantly worrying, projecting, planning and waiting for something to happen at some other time than right now.

There’s a very strong movement happening in our culture toward mindfulness, and this is for good reason. The truth is that there is no other moment than the one you’re experiencing right now.

It’s also true that most of what can help you with the future has already happened in the past, and is stored inside of you waiting to be discovered and utilized.

As much as you try and control some future outcome or incessantly think about what will happen you won’t have much of an impact.

It’s time to let go of your crystal ball.

Get tired of saying:
I wish…
If only…
One day…
When I…

Work on bringing the future into the present, combining it with your past, and acting assertively with all that information right now.

How to do this?

First you need to get clear with a vision for what your working toward. Whether it’s having a partner and family, finding more happiness, or long-term health, without a clear idea of what you want you’re sure to get lost.

Next, take a moment to reflect on what you’ve collected from past experience that qualifies you to be the master of your dreams and desires. It might be your stellar education, strong family ties, or the tenacity you learned from always being behind the eight ball growing up.

Once you have that clarity, you’ll honor the fact that everything you choose to do in the present is in some way pointing toward your longer term goals.

This means that nothing you do is without purpose or meaning. There are no wrong paths or detours because every step you take is in some way for the common good of your future…even if it feels off track.

Grounding yourself in the fact that everything you do right now brings you closer to your life purpose will keep you from looking too far ahead, and getting lost in the “if whens” that keep you stuck.

There is no such thing as wasted time, and you’re never waiting to start your life.

This is where you get to be the change you want to see in your own life.