How to stop living and the past or future and become present

Author

Ivan Djurovic
March 13, 2024

Many of us have thoughts about the future and the past. What people don’t know is that this can be a source of unhappiness in your life.

The famous mathematician and physicist Blaise Pascal sums it up like this:

“We never keep to the present.

We anticipate the future as if we found it too slow in coming and were trying to hurry it up, or we recall the past as if to stay its too rapid flight.

We are so unwise that we wander about in times that do not belong to us, and do not think of the only one that does; so vain that we dream of times that are not and blindly flee the only one that is.”

Planning for the future or dwelling on past mistakes keeps us from being present now.

The opposite of being in the moment is worry. It’s weird when you think about it, because worry is always about things that haven’t happened. It steals your energy, keeps you from falling asleep and in the end keeps you from living life.

Being present enables you to:

  • Be 100% in the moment when you’re with loved ones

  • Focus on the task at hand and deliver the best work

  • Enjoy life more

If you’re interested and want to learn more, read the book ‘The Power of Now. Eckhart Tolle is one of the best teachers when it comes to presence.

The power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle

You can also check out his podcast for free.

Tips to be more present:

  • Start enjoying the little things

  • Get of social media and fix your dopamine addiction

  • Introduce some form of meditation in life

Try to find some presence in your everyday activities this week and most of all

Keep improving 👊

Ivan