Forget Your Past, Embrace Your Present

Living in the present is becoming increasingly difficult when our decisions are made based on our thoughts and feelings about things that have already happened in the past. You might feel uneasy, be more prone to stress and agitation, and generally feel dissatisfied and uncomfortable with your life if you live in the past all the time. Because of this, developing your ability to live in the present is crucial. To quote the American psychologist Abraham Maslow, “The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness.” True contentment, calm, and joy—all essential for our mental health—can only be found in the present moment. Live today, don’t live in the past– make this your daily mantra.

We all tend to look back and reminisce our past, worry about our mistakes, but in reality there is nothing we can do to change our past. All we can do with the past is learn from it. Good, bad or ugly – we will only have memories and experiences from the past. We have today and we hopefully tomorrow. We forget that’s what we have, and waste our time and energy on the things we can no longer control.

Here are a few reasons why you should embrace the present and live today.

You can only find true peace in the present moment:

By practicing always being in the now, you can greatly reduce anxiety and stress brought on by worrying about the past or the future. Although being present is similar to meditation, and meditation-like energy produces a quiet, more serene mind, being present will make you feel much calmer and at peace.

Live your life one moment at a time:

Because life only happens in discrete moments, the greatest way to deal with challenges is to take each one on head-on. Trying to solve your entire life in one go causes unneeded anxiety and only serves to divert your attention from the problem at hand. It is much more useful to concentrate your time and energy on each moment as it arises because no one can deal with the past or the future because they both just exist as thoughts.

You’ll begin to let go of your expectations for your life:

You won’t be disappointed by anything that occurs if you don’t have any hopes for the future. Instead, you’ll approach life with an open mind, making anything positive that occurs a pleasant surprise. Nevertheless, because you didn’t allow yourself to worry about the future or harbor expectations about how your life should pan out, you won’t feel let down if things don’t work out. By remaining in the present, you stop comparing your life to what it was or what it may have been and instead focus on experiencing it as it is now. This does not mean you should not dream or have any expectations at all but do not let the expectations of a certain kind of future or the regrets of your past mold your present being. Living your dreams doesn’t have to prevent you from living today.

You’ll release regrets and resentments:

You won’t be lingering on the past if you live in the present. You’ll be able to forgive individuals and let go of grudges, and you’ll no longer have any regrets about the things you did or did not do. While the past is important as it teaches you certain lessons and previous mistakes that you must avoid, do not let past regrets turn you into a bitter person. Dwelling in the past at all times will not allow you to realize the beauty of the present moment you spend with yourself and your loved ones.

You’ll have more concentration:

The focus will come along with all the energy. The past and the future won’t be as distracting in the present. You can concentrate on what’s in front of you instead. You’ll have no trouble reading a book, meditating, or solving a problem you’ve been struggling with. Imagine you have a romantic partner or even children. Instead of living in the moment with them, if you begin to dwell upon your past or worry too much about the future, it can have negative effects on your relationships with the people you love and care for.

You’ll have greater self-belief:

Your awareness and sense of self will increase when you learn to live in the now. You’ll have a fuller perspective on things, giving you greater courage to face life’s challenges. Live today, and you will see how your attitude changes, bringing about positive changes in your personal and professional life like making you more confident and surer of yourself.

Your social interactions will improve:

We frequently find ourselves not really present and not focusing on what the other person is saying to us when we are listening to them because we are so preoccupied with planning our next move. They will recognize you are actually listening to them and deeply appreciate it if you are fully present and focused on the person in front of you. The relationship between you and the next person will likely become stronger and more meaningful if they reciprocate the gesture and listen to you when you talk with greater awareness.

You learn to appreciate each moment:

Being in the moment teaches you to stop taking life for granted and to appreciate it while it lasts. Consider asking yourself, “What would I do if today was my final day?” each morning. Consider how you would treat your family, coworkers, and even complete strangers. Make a mental list of everything you would do, including individuals you would contact and situations you would cherish. Imagine how busy and enthusiastic you would be if you lived each moment to the fullest. You should begin to concentrate on all the important aspects of your life and stop wasting time on unimportant matters that are depressing you.

Endnote

In a nutshell, happy life requires that one master the art of living in the moment. Don’t live in the past. Make the most of the present and live life as it comes at you, with all its good and bad. Take inspiration from the Swahili saying popularized in a Disney movie so close to our hearts, ‘Lion King.’ The saying goes- hakuna matata, meaning ‘don’t worry, take it easy.’ Living in the moment requires a lifestyle change, which can be very challenging; after all, we humans tend to attach great value to the past and future. However, if you are able to truly embrace the present and live today, you will know happiness like no other.