Where are you living: past, present, or future?
If you are living in the past, you are holding onto choices or experiences that have passed. You are allowing yourself to be controlled by situations that may not have been healthy, that caused you sorrow, or that constantly remind you of something, good or bad. Holding onto something that once was great, but is now miserable, is still living in the past. You can only squeeze so much juice out of an lemon. It’s not always unhealthy to live in the past, but you do have to recognize that life goes on. You cannot change the past, so you must work toward resolving the issues that hold you back. What’s done is done. Forgiveness is not always easy or necessary, but it can lift negativity by association. Find your place in the world, and continue your existence. Time will march on, and you have no control over it.
Living in the present is taking life day by day. You are aware that your past has shaped you, taught you lessons, and got you to the point at which you are currently. Celebrate victories and ride the wave through the good and the bad. Your past has prepared you for the journey and all the things that life can throw at you. Extremes exist, so try to always have a safeguard to be able to keep your life flowing, even when terrible things happen. **Terrible things will happen. Always embrace opportunities, and lean in when it feels right. Don’t forget to assess risk, and keep in mind that sometimes, things may lead to unhealthy circumstances. When living in the present, you have most of the control over which decisions are made. You get to call the shots, and ultimately, you hold most of the responsibility for choices that you make. Be reasonable.
Future living can be tricky. Always focusing on what is to come, or how you want things to eventually look can make you lose sight of what you currently have. You may also miss out on present opportunities to build memories, be part of extraordinary experiences, or just simply miss out. Many times the future outlook can seem to discount how you’re currently living your life. You may have a wonderful life, but constantly obsessing about bigger and better things can make you lose focus. I often think about this when I hear parents say to their children, “when did you grow up?” While you may be focusing on your future, you forget to pay attention to your present, or you simply don’t have time.
So, make time. The balance of past, present, and future keeps us on the right trajectory to a satisfying life. You don’t want to ever look back on your life and think, “I missed out.” You want to be able to remember amazing moments, cry over experiences that brought you joy, and love your life. If you feel caught up and out of balance, maybe it’s time to re-evaluate things. Take into consideration how you actually feel about your life. You may realize that you need to make some changes, and that’s okay. Understand that life comes with obligations and responsibilities that are outside of your control, however, be mindful of the things you can control. Take a moment to make a detailed list of your life. Assess everything you know about your life, past, present, and future, and see if you need to make changes. Sometimes just writing things down can create a whole new perspective. It’s never too late to put yourself back on track.
Thanks girl.