“Let each of us examine his thoughts; he will find them wholly concerned with the past or the future. We almost never think of the present, and if we do think of it, it is only to see what light it throws on our plans for the future. The present is never our end. The past and the present are our means, the future alone our end. Thus we never actually live, but hope to live, and since we are always planning how to be happy, it is inevitable that we should never be so.”
When was the last time you sat in a room by yourself completely undistracted?
How long did it last?
How did you feel?
We live in a world that requires us to be wired in at all times. It can be hard to get away from all of the technology and constant interaction that our culture has to offer. I know I find myself looking forward to simpler moments. I have found running to be a respite from the world as of late. I would have never imagined that something I have hated for the majority of my life would bring me a sense of clarity and relief. However, even while I run, I am connected to something. Whether it be music ranging from The Doobie Brothers to Ludovico Einaudi or podcasts about the daily NBA storylines, it is hard to unplug completely. I believe making this a priority is vital to having a healthy perspective of ourselves.
So when was the last time your thoughts were all that held your attention? Did it last 10 seconds? 30? A few minutes?
It amazes me how quickly we are willing to pull away from our thoughts. Focusing on one thought or letting the mind wander where it wants is a healthy exercise. I think that this is a piece of what living in the present can look like on a personal level. So much of life is spent planning for what is ahead or reckoning with our past. We wish that we performed better and make plans for the unknown.
I am not saying that preparing for the future and learning from the past do not add some sort of value to our lives. I may not even go as far as Pascal does in his writings. However, I do believe that we have lost sight of how to adequately experience the present and subconsciously we know that this is an issue. We document everything in hopes to live in that moment rather than doing so. We end up seeing those moments pass and fade, thus missing the opportunities that lay at our feet with each passing second.
The silence that we may experience when escaping the clutches of our technology ridden lives is uncomfortable. Though breaking through that discomfort and the pain that may lie underneath is necessary when searching for peace in terms of acceptance of ourselves and our circumstances. This is a type of wanted personal reckoning that we desire, whether we are aware of it or not.
So how do we come to enjoy the present? How do we become content with circumstances? How do we continue to grow?
I see this process beginning with gratitude and continuing with practicing silence or at the very least a reprieve from technology. As we become thankful for who we are, in addition to what we are becoming, the work that we see in our own lives becomes more evident daily. Celebrating the small, incremental changes that come to fruition. Most change occurs slowly, but that does not take away its value.
The past is unchangeable and the future is unattainable without the present moment. There is no way to change the past, but we can change the way that it impacts our lives. Besides, the present is the only way to the future that we wish to see. The present facilitates change. It sparks action. So practice focusing on the moment. Recharge. Regroup. Allow the moment to take you where it may.