Have you ever stopped to consider that there really are 3 ways to live your life: Past, Present, and Future. Most of us believe we’re being Present throughout our day-to-day lives and living every moment as it actually occurs, but the reality is that many of us live in the Past. We literally filter all of our “present” experiences through events that happened to us in the Past.
Maybe the last time your company implemented a new computer system a huge layoff immediately followed the implementation, so now you don’t believe your CIO when he or she says your job is secure and the current implementation is not the precursor to massive layoffs. The layoff is not happening “now”. It happened in your past, yet you are living your life as if it is actually happening now.
Or maybe you just don’t understand why you are 45 years old and terrified of dogs. Now that you read this though, you might consider that it actually has something to do with that huge furry beast who barked in your face when you were only 3 years old! Again, your past showing up in your present and determining how you live your life now even though it happened then.
If this “living in the past” seems ineffective and downright silly, perhaps you’d recommend more of a future-focused approach to life. Well, guess what? Some of us like me do live most of our days in the Future. I regularly focus on my next sales opportunity rather than celebrating the current contract I was just awarded. Or I get wrapped up in how someone might react if I say “I love you” to them rather than just being present with my feelings and sharing them wholeheartedly because that’s how I feel!
As this might suggest, whether we live in the past or future, we miss out on life’s opportunities as they exist right now, and now, and NOW! We literally end up living an alternate life to the one that is currently happening to us and around us rather than simply enjoying what life has to offer.
Does our past inform our present, sure. Is it wise to be mindful of our goals and intentions for the future, of course! Quit living in the past, and stop focusing so much on the “what if’s” of the future though. It’s time to start living your life to the fullest right now and now and NOW while you still can.
