We often strive for some future reality, a life we are happier and more satisfied. A better and more fulfilled version of ourselves. But each moment becomes the next, it is always now.
Humans tend to think that the future holds the key to happiness. If only I did, was, had THIS, then I would be happy and satisfied with life. We hope our future selves will be better and more accomplished than we are right now.
But striving for this future is what can bring about the sense of dissatisfaction in the first place. Striving for what we don’t have makes us aware of what we’re missing, instead of what we already have, now.
This “future” is, in a way, a myth. It will never be possible to be in the future. We will always and forever be in the moment, now. There is no other moment than the one we are now experiencing.
Everything is always as it is in each moment. Each thought, feeling, sensation, already is what it is is. It is too late for it to be something else, because it is what it is.
That is, until the next moment, when it will be something other than what it is now. But when that moment arrives, it will not be the future, it will still be the now, the present.
Being present in each moment can free you of the future, which will never arise. The future is just the next now. There is no other reality other than the one that is already occurring.
That is not to say that we shouldn’t dream and hope for our future selves. Merely that our future selves will also be in their moment, so it helps to be aware of ours now. Otherwise, we will not learn to enjoy what we already have, and will always be looking ahead.
Allowing yourself to be present, in the moment, aware of what your life is becomes a skill. A skill and way of being that you can bring forward with you to each new moment.
If you found this helpful or interesting, I would love to hear your thoughts! The more we learn how this practice helps each of us, the more we can collectively improve. Please feel free to leave questions or comments below.
Continue reading about the nature of now with: The Ever-Changing Nature of Now
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