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Know what is in front of your face, and what is hidden from you will be disclosed to you.
Gospel of Thomas (Patterson & Meyer translation)
Many people live in the future. Why? Most people have a future that doesn’t mirror their present state so they’d rather live in the future. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing because the Law of Attraction says, “…that which you give your attention to will manifest in your life.”
Another form of this law is: you get what you want and you get what you don’t want.
Yet another form of this law is: your outer world is a direct reflection of your inner world.
Indeed, visualizing how you would like your future to be is perfectly natural. It is OK to daydream…it is cool, right?
However, staying in the future means your present might just be passing you by. Opportunities come by on a daily basis and you are unable to seize them because your head is elsewhere.
Then there is the thing about living in the past. We tend to beat ourselves up over mistakes we’ve made. We repeat those stories over and over and over in our heads.
I think someone said that there’s no future in that.
So how can you live in the now?
Here are 8 tips to help you live in the now and live a happy life without stress.
Tip 1: Write things down.
I learned a saying many years ago which goes like this:
“You cannot stop the birds from flying around your head. You can however, stop them from making a nest in it. It is YOUR head!”
Your goal is not to stop thinking all the time. That is impossible. You are always broadcasting your thoughts whether you are aware of that or not. You can, however, control your thoughts.
Go write down things that pop into your mind. This could be exams that are coming up or that visit to grandpa in a few weeks. Then cross off the ones that you are happy about. The first kiss with your lover can be a great memory that you might want to remind yourself of sometimes.
The negative stuff you are left with can simply be disposed of in a symbolic way. Tear up that piece of paper and throw it in the trash.
If you find you cannot sleep because you are thinking too much, write those thoughts down.
Writing things down is a way of letting go.
Tip 2: Welcome and embrace your thoughts.
When those thoughts and memories pop into your head, don’t repress or suppress them.
Welcome them, embrace them and then say goodbye to them. This is an approach from The Sedona Method which takes much practice, as with most things in this area.
Tip 3: Do something silly.
Because you want to control your thoughts, you might wish to make a pact with yourself to do something stupid/unusual/different each time your head wanders off. This can be something as simple as doing 3 push-ups.
Or doing something new that takes you out of your comfort zone if you feel you need a change.
Extra tip: Rather than punish yourself, be reasonable and forgive yourself (if you have to) when those thoughts pop up again, rather than getting upset.
Super extra tip: If you are practicing the Silva Method, use the Three-Fingers Technique when you need to control your thoughts and emotions.
Tip 4: Do some form of exercise.
Doing some form of regular exercise can get you in great shape and stops your mind from wandering off, if you want to maintain concentration and focus. It also gets those happy hormones buzzing.
Tip 5: Change your daily routine.
Some of us like to plan our days so that we don’t get hit with any surprises. However, there’s nothing wrong with adding some variety or making impulsive decisions.
For example, donate a dollar to the collector in front of your grocery store. Smile randomly when you see a new store opening up or a beautiful tree. They are resources you can use for a very long time. You can visit the store to buy new things, and the tree will always be there for your viewing pleasure – and oxygen.
Tip 6: Treat today as a gift.
I just love the movie Kung Fu Panda (2008). Don’t you?
There is a scene in it where Master Oogway reminds Po that
“Today is a gift, that is why it is called the present.”
Master Oogway, Kung Fu Panda (2008)
The most important thing is to do whatever you need to do to create harmony, balance and order in your life NOW. Really enjoy what you’re doing. Writing or watching television; find the good things in your current activity. Even being present when you are washing the dishes. Especially if you do them by hand.
Tip 7: So you don’t like the present? Change it.
You can’t change the past but you can change the future. If you’re not happy with something in your life currently then change it. Want to be a architect? Go study architecture. Feeling lonely? Make a social network profile relevant to your needs and meet new people. The only thing that is important is that you are happy about the present.
Tip 8: Take a tip from Mother Nature
Putting aside theological arguments as to where Jesus said these words or not:
Consider the lilies, how they grow: they toil not, neither do they spin; yet I say unto you, Even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Matthew 6: 28, Revised Standard Version
Read the full passage from verses 25 to 34 to get the full impact.
A horse will eat grass yet when it meets a foxglove – a plant poisonous to horses – it carefully eats around the foxglove.
Maggots will eat through dead flesh. When they come up against living flesh – they stop feeding.
This has nothing to do with prior experience. It is something that is built in.
Animals live for the moment. We are the only creatures who have the power to choose.
Practice living in the now and know that by accessing the power of now, you can enjoy living an abundant life.
Tip 9: Do forgive yourself for past mistakes
Be OK with it. You are NOT stupid. Ignorant, perhaps, because we don’t know everything.
I am always reminded of the words of the Oracle to Neo in the movie The Matrix.
You cannot see beyond the choices that you do not understand.
The Oracle to Neo, The Matrix
I reckon there’s a nugget of truth in there somewhere. What do you think?
Sources:
The Gospel of Thomas Collection: Translation and Resources. Located at The Gnostic Society Library (online), http://gnosis.org/naghamm/gosthom.html [Accessed October 5, 2022]
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