Do you ever find yourself thinking and reviewing the events that happened in the past? Things that happened just recently or sometimes even in the distant past? I used to spend way too much time thinking what happened, what could have been or even what will happen. This state of mind is not constant so to speak, but it stays in the subconscious. We all do it. We are constantly either thinking about something that didn’t turn out the way we expected it to or did turn out the way we wanted it… or how things are going to be in immediate or distant future. As a result we are constantly living a reactionary life.
This concept has been on my mind for a few days now because two years ago around the same time, I lost two relatives. Two uncles who were brothers, passed away within one month. That was the first time in my life I had experienced death from so close. I attended both funerals and was depressed for months after that! What I could not come to terms with was the time I could have spent with them and didn’t because of everything that was going on in my life. I have avoided things that I felt I could live without. And meeting uncles was something I definitely could live without. I loved both of these men dearly but we had strong differences of opinions. So having to go to meet them and spend an hour or two seemed like too much trouble at the time! But with their sudden passing, I was left with a hole in my heart. A huge resentment. I was haunted for weeks and months because of all things that now remain unsaid. The missed opportunities.
I believe we are all missing opportunities to some extent on a daily basis. We need to stop constant judging, speculating, criticizing, worrying about the future and getting angry about the past or even the people around us, and start living in the moment. We need to stop living a reactionary life, the life that is a result of something else and start living just in what is now. I came to this realization when after those two tragedies back to back I was killing myself with the guilt I felt, a friend presented me with the book called Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.
I have started reading this book again because our minds play tricks on us and needs re-direction from time to time.
The book’s title says it all and some excerpts go like this
–“To be identified with your mind is to be trapped in time: the compulsion to live almost exclusively through memory and anticipation. This creates an endless preoccupation with past and future and an unwillingness to honor and acknowledge the present moment and allow it to be.”
and
–“Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it. Make it your friend and ally, not your enemy. This will miraculously transform your whole life.”
So this change in our thinking should not have to wait for a tragedy to happen. We need to do whatever it is we need to do to start living in the now moment, believe in our abilities and go after our dreams without worrying too much about the outcomes. This is the only way to ultimate happiness. Be aware that what has happened will not change and what has to come, we do not know, there is only NOW, this very moment. Live it, enjoy it and make the most of it.
What’s your view on life at this very moment?
RennyBA
This was a very touching post and a great reminder. In our busy life we often tends to rush ahead in stead of staying in the past – to wish for all the things we don’t have, instead of being happy for what we’ve got. I’m thinking of the song: ‘… if one could save time in a bottle..’ but we can’t! So when life is passing by, we often forget that the journey is the life in itself.
Btw: I’m here to thank you for Faming me! I’ve returned your favor of course and also listed you on my BtF post.