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Writer's pictureMarleen Greenleaf

Are You Living In The Past Or Future And Missing Out On Today?

Have you heard of being “present?” Presence. Being “in the moment.”  These are popular buzzwords in the health and wellness space. Do you ever find yourself being preoccupied with the past, or worrying about the future? Do you feel like you miss out on the present moment by being distracted by these things?



What Is Being Present?

Being present means that we are aware of the here and now. One single moment. We are not distracted or focused on the past or future. We are not distracted our only focus is what is happening in this moment. Presence is the literal definition of being “in the moment.” 

Staying in the present takes practice. Being present in the moment you are living in right now can bring you back to the life that you are living right now. Stop missing out on the today by being focused on the past or the future.


Some Benefits Of Being Present

  • Having a richer life experience by turning off “autopilot.”

  • Less stress and anxiety

  • Improved focus and attention

  • Increased self-awareness


Busy-ness Disease

Are you always thinking and planning 5 steps ahead? This is a habit that many suffer from. You are missing the moment you are in because you are on autopilot and thinking ahead to what you have to do or want to do later.


Some people do this subconsciously as a way to avoid whatever they are facing or dealing with in real-time. The addiction of busy-ness is the same idea. Stuffing your feelings to the side with activity is a common theme in American society.


Stuck In The Past

Do you dwell on the past so much that you miss out on the now? Do you relish the good ole’ days more than the moments you are experiencing now? This is the opposite of being frantically future-focused. Instead, you are stuck on the past.


Even this is a dangerous way to live. Whether it’s ruminating on bad memories or reliving old ones. And this is not a knock-on reminiscing. Don’t be so focused on the past that you miss out on today. Dwelling on old memories and moments can keep you locked into old ways of thinking, worrying about things that you can’t change, and cause you to miss out on the now.


Why You Should Live In The Present Moment - Stop Missing Out On Today

Living with your mind in the future or the past all the time takes you out of life in the present moment. You can miss out on exciting and important things that make up your daily life in the here and now. You can miss out on opportunities to connect with others or have experiences that will pass you by if you are not paying attention. Life is precious but part of that preciousness is only in the “here and now.”


Another problem with living in a non-present kind of way is that it can become an avoidant behavior. Face your life. Good, bad, or medium it is your life and you are going through whatever you are going through right now. If you want to make a change in your life it’s up to you.


Add in some basic practices of mindfulness and focus to allow yourself to truly experience the moments you are living in. Start living life in a way that allows you to experience each moment in a mindful and connected way. The best way to avoid missing out on today is to allow yourself to truly experience each moment in your life.

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