I don’t tend to spend a lot of time focusing on the future. There are times when decisions which include the future need to be made, but other than that I orient myself to stay in the present.
It is much more enjoyable (usually) and provides less worry, anxiety, and stress for me.
I do what i do and usually, i am focused on the present. This does not take away some wishes and ideas, those of which probably everyone holds dear to the heart, if this belongs to core elements of your existence. Those have to be taken into consideration. To be focused on the present moment allows for listening to others well, to be there for others, to interact with my fellow friends with kindness, awareness and mindfulness. My connection with music would benefit and meditation practice as well, as they feel being underrepresented for the moment being, and this is gonna be changed. Thank you for this question!
I realize now
that when I was young
I focused a lot more on the future . . .
the goal of my task or project,
rather than the process.
I could speed-clean my home
when company was coming,
or whip up a quiche in no time,
but as I’ve gotten older
I have found
that it doesn’t really work anymore.
Maybe it never did.
I first noticed it with gardening,
thinking I’d plant a 12 pack of seedlings,
cover them,
water them,
and be done with it for the day.
Gardening
actually requires me to slow down
and realize that there is more to the process
than bim, bam, thank you ma’am.
The soil needs to be worked and weeded,
the more carefully the better.
It also helps to take the time
to mix a little fish emulsion in with the water.
This process led to an epiphany,
found in the Parable of Mushin
in ‘Everyday Zen’
by Charlotte Yoko Beck,
and saw it repeated here today
in a post by John.
I’ve come to realize
that the Journey
(which is today the present moment)
is where the jewels are to be found,
not in the goal or destination.
In my eagerness to get where I think I want to go,
I squander the learning and the kernels of wisdom
to be earned along the way.
So I have made a practice of giving my attention
to the day-to-day,
to the work,
to whatever is before me in the moment,
which satisfies me more
than reaching for the carrot at the end of the stick. ♥
Sparrow- I think you wrote this just for me, I needed to hear this – thank you.
“In my eagerness to get where I think I want to go,I squander the learning and the kernels of wisdom to be earned along the way…”
My mom called it “borrowing trouble” when I’d worry about something that hadn’t happened yet, might happen, and also might NOT happen. I may have thoughts about some of those unknowns. I label them in the category of “I’ll deal with this when we get there” and mostly succeed in setting them down and not wasting my mental energy fretting. We feel all the same physical responses to a memory or an imagined future that we would when it actually happens, and that isn’t something I want to do to myself.
Michele mentioned retirement. I do think about that (more on a long weekend, as a good taste of retirement life). I’ve planned for the future by setting up recurring retirement investments from my paycheck. I do think Current Me can help Future Me with this kind of looking ahead and setting things in motion. But I don’t check the account balance every day–that would be focusing too much on the future.
All areas in my life would benefit. For most of my life I have spent far too much time future tripping. I see now it really was a waste of time as most of the stuff I future tripped about never came to pass. Live & learn.
I am happier & more content, satisfied when I stay in the here & now. After all the present moment is all we truly have.
P.S. Thank you to All who prayed for my safe travels yesterday. I made it home safe.
Appreciate your prayers. 🙏🏻♥️
🕊️♥️
I am happy to hear you made it home safely,
dear PKR,
especially with all of the weather going on.
I don’t think I future-tripped too much when I was younger . . .
I was just trying to make it through the day.
I’m afraid,
as I”ve gotten older
I have to stop myself from worrying about the future . . .
like will there be enough money?
Things like that.
I am going to try and follow your example
and stay in the here and now. ♥
All areas of my life, really. The future hasn’t happened. I can’t predict it, nobody can. Broadcasting myself into an imaginary future is just me trying to grasp at certainty, when I could be spending my time in the present, with all of its elements and colors.
I know I wrote an answer but I apparently forgot to post it! I will just say that when I am in the future or the past, I go there alone but the strength I need is always in the present. God/grace is ISNESS.
All areas benefit when I don’t future-trip. Learning to be grateful and content in this present moment has helped me get off of that downward spiral of “what if.”
Very well said, Sunnypatti. I was going to say the same but you beat me to it. As far as what ifs are concerned, I’ve heard a saying all too familiar over the cookie on how it’s not the way it crumbles.
I long for the reunion of my family. But it seems to be too far away as it may take up to 20 plus years. Short duration brings hope, long duration brings giving up… Well, I would better just appreciate this present moment, when I am able to contact my family from a distance via strong internet connection. May everyone have a wonderful day filled with peace and love. 🌹
My Ngoc, it’s one of the few benefits of technology. It wasn’t too long ago when we had to put in quarters to talk long distance with restricted time, write letters, and wait for them to arrive.
Two of my other readings touch on this concept:
The “Daily Stoic” reminds us to get our affairs in order so that we can live life like it is our last day.
And Living Life Fully for today suggests to us to focus on the journey not necessarily the destination. https://www.livinglifefully.com/meditations3/med3dec2.htm
I loved the meditation,
dear John,
and the quote from Ursula LeGuin.
It carries the same message
as ‘The Parable of Mushin’
in Charlotte Yoko Beck’s book,
‘Everyday Zen’.
I also like what Willa Cather had to say . . .
‘The end is nothing; the road is all.’ ♥
John, I was blessed when I learned that life is process not product. The moment is fleeting but its what we are given. I have learned that if I am in the past or the future, I go there alone. The strength I need is always in the present. I think it was Meister Eckhart who said “God is Isness.”
This is a great question as I tend to focus on retiring a lot, lol. I will say, this site has taught me the value of Presence and I do find myself catching myself when I am past/future tripping and tell myself to focus on the present.
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I don’t tend to spend a lot of time focusing on the future. There are times when decisions which include the future need to be made, but other than that I orient myself to stay in the present.
It is much more enjoyable (usually) and provides less worry, anxiety, and stress for me.
Focusing less on the future and trying to be more present, has a positive effect on my mental health.
I do what i do and usually, i am focused on the present. This does not take away some wishes and ideas, those of which probably everyone holds dear to the heart, if this belongs to core elements of your existence. Those have to be taken into consideration. To be focused on the present moment allows for listening to others well, to be there for others, to interact with my fellow friends with kindness, awareness and mindfulness. My connection with music would benefit and meditation practice as well, as they feel being underrepresented for the moment being, and this is gonna be changed. Thank you for this question!
My mind and well being would benefit from this!
I realize now
that when I was young
I focused a lot more on the future . . .
the goal of my task or project,
rather than the process.
I could speed-clean my home
when company was coming,
or whip up a quiche in no time,
but as I’ve gotten older
I have found
that it doesn’t really work anymore.
Maybe it never did.
I first noticed it with gardening,
thinking I’d plant a 12 pack of seedlings,
cover them,
water them,
and be done with it for the day.
Gardening
actually requires me to slow down
and realize that there is more to the process
than bim, bam, thank you ma’am.
The soil needs to be worked and weeded,
the more carefully the better.
It also helps to take the time
to mix a little fish emulsion in with the water.
This process led to an epiphany,
found in the Parable of Mushin
in ‘Everyday Zen’
by Charlotte Yoko Beck,
and saw it repeated here today
in a post by John.
I’ve come to realize
that the Journey
(which is today the present moment)
is where the jewels are to be found,
not in the goal or destination.
In my eagerness to get where I think I want to go,
I squander the learning and the kernels of wisdom
to be earned along the way.
So I have made a practice of giving my attention
to the day-to-day,
to the work,
to whatever is before me in the moment,
which satisfies me more
than reaching for the carrot at the end of the stick. ♥
Sparrow- I think you wrote this just for me, I needed to hear this – thank you.
“In my eagerness to get where I think I want to go,I squander the learning and the kernels of wisdom to be earned along the way…”
Just saying it like it has been for me,
dear Cathie.
I’m happy that it spoke to you.
I want us all to grow straight and tall. ♥
Feeling the warm soapy water, a bit soothing on my crooked fingers, then washing the dishes.
Ah,
dear Joseph . . .
I know the feeling well.
Washing dishes
makes me warm
when the house is cold. 🙂
I went looking for a famous Mark Twain quote on this: “I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.”
I learned that he didn’t actually say it. Many versions of it discussed here https://quoteinvestigator.com/2013/10/04/never-happened/.
My mom called it “borrowing trouble” when I’d worry about something that hadn’t happened yet, might happen, and also might NOT happen. I may have thoughts about some of those unknowns. I label them in the category of “I’ll deal with this when we get there” and mostly succeed in setting them down and not wasting my mental energy fretting. We feel all the same physical responses to a memory or an imagined future that we would when it actually happens, and that isn’t something I want to do to myself.
Michele mentioned retirement. I do think about that (more on a long weekend, as a good taste of retirement life). I’ve planned for the future by setting up recurring retirement investments from my paycheck. I do think Current Me can help Future Me with this kind of looking ahead and setting things in motion. But I don’t check the account balance every day–that would be focusing too much on the future.
It’s like most of what we worry about
never comes to be,
dear Barb. ♥
“borrowing trouble” . . . . about as true a statement as ever made. Thank you and your mother, Barb.
All areas in my life would benefit. For most of my life I have spent far too much time future tripping. I see now it really was a waste of time as most of the stuff I future tripped about never came to pass. Live & learn.
I am happier & more content, satisfied when I stay in the here & now. After all the present moment is all we truly have.
P.S. Thank you to All who prayed for my safe travels yesterday. I made it home safe.
Appreciate your prayers. 🙏🏻♥️
🕊️♥️
I am happy to hear you made it home safely,
dear PKR,
especially with all of the weather going on.
I don’t think I future-tripped too much when I was younger . . .
I was just trying to make it through the day.
I’m afraid,
as I”ve gotten older
I have to stop myself from worrying about the future . . .
like will there be enough money?
Things like that.
I am going to try and follow your example
and stay in the here and now. ♥
All areas of my life, really. The future hasn’t happened. I can’t predict it, nobody can. Broadcasting myself into an imaginary future is just me trying to grasp at certainty, when I could be spending my time in the present, with all of its elements and colors.
” . . . . with all of its elements and colors.” The present certainly is a sight to behold. Thank you Drea.
I know I wrote an answer but I apparently forgot to post it! I will just say that when I am in the future or the past, I go there alone but the strength I need is always in the present. God/grace is ISNESS.
”God/grace is ISNESS.”
So true,
dear Carol Ann . . .
thank you for the reminder. ♥
My heart is purer and I do a better job with trusting my root people.
All areas benefit when I don’t future-trip. Learning to be grateful and content in this present moment has helped me get off of that downward spiral of “what if.”
Very well said, Sunnypatti. I was going to say the same but you beat me to it. As far as what ifs are concerned, I’ve heard a saying all too familiar over the cookie on how it’s not the way it crumbles.
I long for the reunion of my family. But it seems to be too far away as it may take up to 20 plus years. Short duration brings hope, long duration brings giving up… Well, I would better just appreciate this present moment, when I am able to contact my family from a distance via strong internet connection. May everyone have a wonderful day filled with peace and love. 🌹
My Ngoc, it’s one of the few benefits of technology. It wasn’t too long ago when we had to put in quarters to talk long distance with restricted time, write letters, and wait for them to arrive.
Two of my other readings touch on this concept:
The “Daily Stoic” reminds us to get our affairs in order so that we can live life like it is our last day.
And Living Life Fully for today suggests to us to focus on the journey not necessarily the destination.
https://www.livinglifefully.com/meditations3/med3dec2.htm
Thanks John for this.
I loved the meditation,
dear John,
and the quote from Ursula LeGuin.
It carries the same message
as ‘The Parable of Mushin’
in Charlotte Yoko Beck’s book,
‘Everyday Zen’.
I also like what Willa Cather had to say . . .
‘The end is nothing; the road is all.’ ♥
John, I was blessed when I learned that life is process not product. The moment is fleeting but its what we are given. I have learned that if I am in the past or the future, I go there alone. The strength I need is always in the present. I think it was Meister Eckhart who said “God is Isness.”
Thanks for the link, John 🙂
This is a great question as I tend to focus on retiring a lot, lol. I will say, this site has taught me the value of Presence and I do find myself catching myself when I am past/future tripping and tell myself to focus on the present.
When my mind begins to wander, bring it back to the breath. Always the breath.
The fact that my form is closer to the end of the time line than the beginning. I daily remind myself, no future tripping. Peace, Love and Presence.
Me too,
dear Joseph . . . ♥