You Are Never There, Only Here – Part 1
There is so much talk about the power of being present. We are constantly told to keep our attention on now, and not let it wander into the future or latch on to the past.
But are there times to look into the future or remember the past? Is it always best to focus on the powerful now?
We are writing a three-part series on different ways to look at it. This first one will focus on looking at the past.
Have you ever wished you were someplace else? Have you ever prayed that you would do anything, give anything if you could just get through a difficult stretch? Can you remember when you prayed that some peace was just around the corner?
Beth and I lived that way for many years as I struggled with depression while at the same time we were experiencing difficulties with our company. There were many days where life was nearly intolerable. We hated where and who we were. It was pretty bad.
During those times, we yearned to be transported to another place and time. A time when we finally figured out how to get out of the current mess. We didn’t have a clear idea of where or when that might be, but it sure as heck wasn’t where we were.
These days, Beth and I find ourselves thinking about where we are now and how beautiful our life is. We realize we are now exactly where we wished we would one day be when our world was dark.
When we realize how happy we are today, it reminds us of the importance of thinking back to where we once were and taking credit for it. Each of us contributes to our experiences – whether they are good or bad.
It is especially important to give yourself credit for the positive changes you’ve created in your life
While we try to spend much of our time in the present, we intentionally take time to think about how far we’ve come. It’s fun and helpful to periodically look back on where we were a month ago, a year ago, or even five years ago to see how our life has changed.
When we do, we can see how the shift in our thinking is the number one reason for the positive change in our lives. We can also see why it is so essential for us to help others begin to make a positive shift in their lives.
Next week we’ll write about how looking towards the future helped us move beyond those dark days in our past. Stay tuned.
Enjoyed reading it, very interesting and so very true for a lot of us!l love Antie Madeline
Thank you. We love the feedback.
Cool madeline. Good to hear your voice. P and B. I remember the days and months. Good post. I’m trying to use it now !! D
So true. And while “the present” may be the only thing you can do anything about, it doesn’t always seem like “a present!” Yearning for the past doesn’t seem to have much merit, but it can be good to appreciate the blessings of the past, and be grateful for the “season” you had them, while being realistic about the thorns that were there and not wishing you were back there. I’ve done a lot of that recently.
Sorry I missed the discussion last night – I was distracted with (and feeling exhausted by) some current challenges/opportunities!
I think wishing you were someplace else definitely has a place in a limited way not only as an “escape” but a break from a situation that seems impossible, if you can use it as a means for hope, and work towards that dream – it’s never the eutopia you thought. Viktor Frankl in Man’s Search for Meaning credited his surviving the concentration camps with his thinking of the lectures he would give on what he was learning in the situation.
An old friend once told me when I was changing jobs and looking forward to a better situation than I’d been in (and did get to a much better situation – I was only part of the equation) that “you take yourself with you.” Part of getting to where you would like to be often needing to change and realizing/learning how you need to do so. While we can’t control our situations entirely, we can impact them a lot by how we look at them and how we act based on that. It’s also a good idea for me now to look at where I tend to “end up” by doing things differently than I should since those bad habits are something I can change and they will impact any future situation and how I’ll be “received” in it! That doesn’t meant I shouldn’t move toward a dream for worrying about my shortcomings though, but to understand them and which ones I can change. Thanks!!!
Thanks, Dayna.
Great article! Yes! I have wished many times in the past that I wish I was someplace else. Doing a lot of inner work has helped me gain more awareness and the realization that the present is all we have. But, it still seems quite a challenge to be in the present as I see myself getting pulled in all directions.