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In life, we tend to look either to the past to see what has been or we look to the future to anticipate what is to come. This is natural, and without this ability we would not be where we are or be able to do all the things we can do.
Unfortunately, this leaves us open to a problem: When you focus on either the future or the past to the exclusion of the present, you wind up in a world of hurt. “Stop living in the past” is a saying that is well known. You usually hear it when someone is stuck on something that happened that they keep reliving in their mind, trying in vain to make it come out differently.
You do see some people warning against trying to live in the future as well, but it is less common. I believe that the main reason for this is simply, that as a society, we are taught to keep our eyes on the future. This can take two different forms: In the first example, we have someone who is fundamentally optimistic. This person will envision the future as a perfect paradise. At the other extreme we have someone, who is basically pessimistic, that will see the future as an impending disaster.
The problem.
While looking to the future is not only a good idea, but downright necessary for survival, trying to live there is automatically self-destructive. Just as living in the past will prevent you from being able to deal with the present, so too will living in the future prevent you from being able to discern what you are seeing in the present.
Instead of living in the future, try to simply accept the possibility of what may happen and let it go. Don’t ignore it, but let it go.
The reason for this is that you cannot bring about the paradise or avert the disaster without truly bringing your abilities to bear. Unless you can stop wasting your energy on what may or may not happen, try instead to redirect it into making something happen.
What about our dreams?
Obviously, some will say that if you let go of the future, then that means that you have to give up your dreams. Nothing could be farther from the truth. If you learn to see your dream as having come true here and now, if you live in congruence with your dreams, they will come to you.
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(Thanks to Saaarah for the image.)
