One of my clients has everything—the best education money can buy, a fabulously successful career, wealth, loving family, good health, home in an upscale community and memberships in prestigious clubs. He has, by all standards, success in every aspect of his life…except one:
He can’t feel any joy in his life.
No matter how hard he tries, he can’t feel a sense of satisfaction or joy from any accomplishment. In fact, he can’t remember the last time he was really happy. So what’s wrong with this picture? How can someone who has everything not be happy with his life? You’re probably thinking, if he doesn’t want his life he can have mine!
The real issue here is that he’s stuck thinking about the regrets of his past and living in fear of his future. He’s not truly living in the present.
Are you stuck in the past, worried about your future, or are you living in the Present?
In Dr. Robert Anthony’s book, The Secret of Deliberate Creation, he describes each present moment as your Point of Power. He says, “We’ve been taught that the past, present and future moments are separate from each other, but in truth, they all take place in the present. No matter what happens in life, it’s always now, then now, then now – always in the present moment. Nothing exists outside of the NOW. Nothing ever happened in the past. – It happened in the present. Nothing will ever happen in the future – It will happen in the present. When you think of the past, it’s stored in your mind as a former now. When the future comes – it comes now. And when you think about the future, when do you do it? – You do it now! The past and the future have no realities of their own. They are simply realities “borrowed” from the present.”
All unhappiness and our inability to experience joy are caused by denial of the present.
We think problems are caused by the circumstances and situations in life. However, the real problem is an attachment to the past and future and not living in the present moment. Ultimately then, there is only one problem in life – not living in the present.
You can’t be unhappy and fully present at the same time. It’s impossible to have a problem when your attention is in the present. When you live in the present, a situation is either dealt with or accepted now. A problem means you’re mentally dwelling on a situation or a feeling without having an intention of taking action to change it now.
Our Point of Power can only exist in the present moment. We create from this Point of Power in the present whether our desire appears instantly or later as a future event. We don’t create in the past or in the future. We create in the present using the power of FOCUS. Ask yourself these questions:
- Am I accomplishing what I want in this moment or am I focusing on something that doesn’t allow me to have what I want?
- Am I dwelling on a past that I can’t possibly change or am I focusing on a present that’s within my power to direct?
You control your thoughts. You control your feelings. You choose what you think, how you feel, what you say and what you ultimately choose to do with each moment of your time.
Everything you create takes place in the present moment. Your thoughts, words and feelings lead to your actions and responses and this is how you create your reality in each present moment.
There is no unhappiness in the present. Our lack of joy comes from dwelling on the past or worrying about a future we can’t control. If you really understand this truth, if you really embrace what you have control over and let go of what you do not control, you’ll have at your disposal an inexhaustible supply of happiness and usable time at your command.
Try this Time Management Strategy and take these steps this week:
- As we enter the Easter Season and this Season of Spring, take some time to focus on your own renewal.
- Choose a new way of thinking and notice what happens when you truly live in the present.
- Notice the pure joy in each moment as you live it.
- Use your Point of Power to create NOW what you want in each Present moment and for your future.
Blessings!
Kathryn
