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Is future thinking making you anxious

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Exit Future Tense: walk Out of Your Woes

We all reside in a universal timeline, which is a potpourri of the past, the present and the future. How we lead our lives depends a lot on our approach towards these different time zones. ‘The distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion’, as Albert Einstein rightly says. In fact, what we require is a balanced approach towards the universal timeline.

The problem occurs when the balance is overturned. Then, my friends, we forget to be in the present; we waste it by either repenting about the past or worrying about the future. This state is a very confused one, which takes away all the joys of life. I will quote French writer Marcel Pagnol for your clear understanding:

‘The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was, the present worse than it is, and the future less resolved than it will be.’

 Past and Future

The Past: a Reference Book

Every single organism in this universe has a past. Yes, you also have one, which is not of any significance until and unless you master the art of utilizing your past to act in your present and go ahead in life. Use your past as a reference book rather than as a paralyzing potion, and you will definitely see a large difference in your life.

 

Present Tense: time for Action

The present is the main thing we have but most of the times it recedes to the background. Out come the devils from the past or the future to imprison the soul and impede present action. That is what exactly happens to most of us.

I remember an incident from my own childhood when I did not answer a question put by the class teacher just for the fear of getting beaten up if I went wrong. What was the result? I was simply left to look at the chocolate awarded to another classmate who answered it correctly, the same answer that I did not give in spite of knowing. This might appear to be a very small incident, but looking from the larger perspective, do we ever count how many times we falter to act in the present simply fearing some dire future consequences, which might not happen at all?

 Girl Laughing

The Future: a Big Block?

Before discussing on the future, let me ask you something? How many times have these questions irritated you?

What if- I am unsuccessful?

What if- I run out of money?

What if- I don’t get a promotion?

What if- there is a recession?

What if- the word ends?

There are many more to add to this list of unending questions, by products of our obsession with future uncertainties. Instead of asking these questions, can we find the answers to the following?

What should I do now to become successful?

What action should I take now so that I do not run out of money?

What is it I can do now to get a promotion? What are the alternatives in case I do not get one?

What steps should I take now to tide over a recession?

What can I do now to make the most out of my life?

I hope by this time you have fairly understood what I mean to say. Look into the ‘now’ and you will find most of your solutions lying here. I can never stop the world from ending, but I can definitely make the most of my life, before the Judgment Day. Sounds better, Right?

Dear friends, do not think that I am telling you to ignore the future. What I am trying to convey is that you should understand that the future is not a real entity that we can mould now. It is a perception that becomes one of the biggest blocks if we are continuously anxious about it? Has anyone ever changed the future by worrying about it? No, indeed is the answer.

Girl Laughing and Writing

I again quote Jim Rohn here, ‘Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present.’

Let us take the case of someone who has started a new business venture. At first there would be considerable installation cost clubbed with lesser number of customers, low revenue and diminishing reserves, I admit that fear for future uncertainties does prevail a lot. But if you allow this fear to continue, it will eat away a chunk of your thought and prevent you from taking wise decisions in the present. A little bit of fear is good, it helps you to plan correctly, but overdose of fear is detrimental to your present and even to the future which you so often keep worrying about.

 

The Cure for Futuristic Obsession

‘Again, you can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life’.—Steve Jobs.

Trust me, friends, live in the now, make the most of it, and it will mitigate your future woes. Apply the Law of Karma to the present, and the future will take care of itself. Believe in God, and believe that he has something good in store for you if you work hard to make your present fruitful. In short, go for the 3 C’s,

CHOOSE to trust the Almighty

CONSIDER that He cares for you

COMMIT to seek and believe in Him

Gather knowledge from the past, plan for the future and work on those plans in the present. To balance the universal timeline, concentrate more on the present because the moment your approach tilts more towards the future, woes set in. Replace the ‘what ifs’ with matters like ‘what should I do now’, ‘what action should I take now, and ‘what steps should I take now’ and life indeed will be more beautiful!  And if, future woes are still hindering present action, consider these lines belonging to a song from the movie Shrek:

You’ll never know if you don’t go
You’ll never shine if you don’t glow
’!

 

 

 

 

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