People who seek the safe way of urban routines spend far too much of their lives looking over their shoulders, worrying about what they’ve done, what is already past. When they’re not looking back, he continued, they’re worrying about what awaits them tonight, tomorrow or next week.
Too bad. These people hardly have time for the present.
When you are in good condition, you are in the here and now. You are aware of the present. Your thoughts and attention are neither in the past nor in the future.
If you think about it, present time is all there really is. The past and the future exist only in our minds. Present time is reality.
You can test it for yourself. Close your eyes and relax. Notice your thoughts. Are they in the past, present or future? Look at an object for 30 seconds. Try to do nothing but look at the object. Can you keep your attention in the present for the entire 30 seconds? Do thoughts of the past or future slip in?
Test yourself. Close your eyes and relax. Notice your thoughts. Are they in the past, present or future? Look at an object for 30 seconds. Try to do nothing but look at the object. Can you manage to keep your attention focused in the present for the entire 30 seconds? Do thoughts of the past or future slip in?
Here are a few benefit of keeping Your Attention in the Present
Your powers of perception are greatly increased as you see things exactly as they are.
You don’t beat yourself up for your past decisions or potential weaknesses in the future.
You look at others as they actually are. This is much more accurate than how they were or how you hope they will be.
Mental baggage from the past has less of an effect on you.
You can control the present much more effectively than the past or the future.
Your job performance is far superior as you are sharp, in tune and focused.
You see more, experience more and enjoy more when you are in present time.
You make better decisions because you view life as it actually is right now.
You are more relaxed. Bad news does not bother you as much because it does not remind you of past bad news.
You have fewer accidents and injuries. Your mind does not wander. Your reactions are faster.
Finally, here are two Ways to Live More in the Present
Increase your ability to focus your attention: Every time you find yourself thinking about the past, look at an object. Move your attention in the present. When speaking to people, really look at them. Focus on what they are saying.
Reduce the power of your past: The biggest problem to staying in present time is your past. You can’t stop thinking about certain incidents. Bad experiences do not go away. Some of these past experiences are easy to remember. However, the really bad memories are often submerged and hard to remember.