Past, Present or Future: Where Should
I Focus my Attention?
Past
Should you really focus on the past? Hasn’t the thought
always been to look forward and not at all the negativity behind you? The past
is where pain, grudges and anger dwell. However, the past also holds successes
and failures, both of which constitute as learning lessons for the present.
If you were just handed a project at work, and are not sure
how to tackle it, look at the past. Reflect on times when you succeeded or
failed on projects, and figure out why. Play off your strengths and avoid
barriers that you might have encountered in the past to help you in the now. The
goal here is to use the past as a tool for helping you be more productive and
successful in the present and future.
In your personal life, if you are dating, look at past
partners and some of the red flags that may have caused a relationship to go
sour. While selecting partners in the present, be sure to avoid those red flags
to help make the new relationship more beneficial.
Future
Focusing on the future is a good thing. When you have a
vision, you have a strong outlook on life for both the future and the present. A
vision will motivate you and your family or business forward. I agree, you
should plan for the fact that you might be here tomorrow, next month, next
year, and hopefully decades to come.
But, thinking too much about the future can also lead to
burnout. When you focus too much in the future, you forget to celebrate your achievements
today. You might begin to notice that you are skipping out on opportunities
with friends and family in the present. Life is a lot of work, but it is also a
lot of enjoyment.
By living primarily in
the future, you will find that you are always working and not living. Be
sure to watch your children grow, feel your partner’s touch and enjoy the warm
heat on your skin. Although you should
plan for tomorrow, you can’t forget that you are here today. What you do in the
present impacts the years ahead. Yesterday, you planned for today, so enjoy it.
Present
Focusing on the here and now comes from your ability to
balance work and life and also to stop and center to give your attention to the
moment. Whether you are on a date with your partner, watching a movie with your
child, or at the office working, make sure that you are actually there- at that
moment.
The more focus you give to your tasks at hand the quicker
they will be done or the more you will enjoy them. If you are working on a
project at work, work on it. Don’t work on social media or check emails. Rather,
give your attention to the project at hand so that you complete it right the
first time, and so that you complete it more quickly than if you were
distracted 20 times over.
If you are with your partner at dinner, be with your partner
at dinner. This is not the time to create a list of “to-do’s” for the week,
argue about what they did wrong, or check your phone over and over again. It
doesn’t matter if you have nothing to talk about, sit in silence before you
give your attention to something else making your partner take second place.
Rule of Thumb
Continuously observe what is going on in the now (present)
to see if you can find an opportunity to grow (future). Once you have
highlighted the opportunity for growth look at previous successes and failures
(past) to help you begin to move forward.
This way of thinking helps you to be mindful of the present
and what possibilities and opportunities surround you each minute of the day,
but also keeps you learning from the past while simultaneously moving forward.
Today, enjoy your past, present and future.
http://www.mindfulrehab.com
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