If you have read any self-help book, meditation book or listened to a spiritual teacher chances are you would have heard the term, ‘to live in the present’.
But what does it even mean? What is the true benefit of living in the present, or in the ‘now’?
The present moment is one of the most powerful things we have because when we are present in the moment we are single handedly taking care of our past and our future.
Like most people, I spend a lot of time dwelling on the future. What if this happens? Or this? Or what if, what if, what if…..Sometimes the list can go on and on but that list is all one big, fat lie.
We have no idea what the future will bring, sure sometimes we have a slight idea, but that idea can change as quickly as it’s formed so essentially, spending time going through our lists of ‘what if’s‘ explores ideas that are not yet here and therefore, not real.
Just the same, our past can also be a lie. The past is really just our memory, our interpretation, it is essentially hearsay because it no longer exists. Doesn’t mean it didn’t happen, but unless time machines are real, there is no going back.
So, why spend your time focussing on something you cannot change? This just leaves us feeling hopeless and powerless and we start fabricating and embellishing our past and soon we forget what even really happened.
Focussing on our past puts us in victim mode and attaches us to a story, an idea of what we believe happened. Just the same, pretending the past didn’t happen or avoiding the past leaves us forever on the run from ourselves.
All we can do is move forward, into the present and look to the here and the now.
The present is the only moment that is real, truthful and honest and therefore, if we want to live truthful honest lives, all we can do is make our decisions based on what we see and feel in the present.
To act in the present is as simple as doing what you want to do NOW, but consciously. And, the conundrum continues because the only way to act consciously is to live truthfully.
So, it all sort of goes around in circles until we come back to the present, for this is the only thing that is real. The past is just a memory and the future is not yet here.
In order to deal with your past and to protect your future all you can do is live consciously in the now.
