Back to the Present

“The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness.” Abraham Maslow

I’m back! It’s been a while since I’ve taken the time to sit down and write. Life gets busy, what can I say? Recently, my husband and I moved to Charlotte for his job. We love it here, we really do! He is happy with his new job and I’m beyond thrilled that this move is proving to be the right choice for us. With all of the changes that have been taking place though, it’s been hard not to look forward to “what’s next”. I still haven’t found a job here in our new city and it’s been difficult not to wish away this time. I guarantee the minute I start working I’ll be thinking, “Why didn’t I take more advantage of all the time I had at home?!” It’s been nice. I’ve had time to keep our house clean, try out different Pinterest crafts and recipes, play with our adorable 6 month old and ever-growing Golden Retriever puppy, read, explore a new city… so why am I in such a rush to move on? Why is it so difficult to live in the here and now? I’ve been learning a lot about patience and trusting God during the last couple of months, but I’ve still a long way to go.

Do you believe that living in the moment contributes to our overall sense of wellness? To answer that, we have to determine what the negatives are to either living in the past or desiring to move forward into the future. Take a minute to think of any past mistakes or failures. What is your stomach doing as you think of these things? Mine is knotting up! My mind is trying to force itself to think of something else, but it can’t. It can’t stop thinking of the things I’m trying to forget. All this can do is hold me back. It will prevent me from trying again, or from forgiving myself or accepting forgiveness. Consistently thinking on the past, whether positive or negative, will only serve to prevent you from reaching the capacity of fullness your here-and-now has in store.  How about dwelling on the future? Where will you be in five years? What will your income be? How many kids will you have? Will you be married? Will you be living in the same city? Who will your friends be? What will you be doing with your life? The questions are endless! My mind is racing just thinking about these questions. The more time I spend thinking about what hasn’t even happened, the less time I have to think on what I can be doing in the present tense. We cannot change the past and we cannot foresee the future. All we can do is take what we have learned from the past, use it to make the most of the present, in order to do our part in creating the best future we possibly can for ourselves and our families.

So how do we do this? I recently read a book in a Bible study group called “Loving God with All Your Mind” by Elizabeth George. (Probably one of the most practical books I’ve read in a while!). In it, she talks about thinking on what is true. The past is truth, but it is the past. It has already happened and we can’t change it. And, the way we interpret it may not be true (for instance, how we view someone’s opinion of us, our reputation, our worth, etc). The future sure isn’t truth at this point, because it hasn’t happened yet! We need to focus on what is true. I know not everyone has the same views or beliefs, but I believe there are a few common truths we need to hold on to. 1.) God loves us despite the opinions of those around us. 2.) God created us with a purpose, and He desires to fulfil that purpose in us. 3.) God knows our future and is with us each step of the way. 4.) God is faithful to forgive our past and use us in spite of our failures and mistakes. And lastly, 5.) Every day is a gift from God that we need to be thankful for and enjoy!

We are only given one life. Don’t rush through it or waste it dwelling upon what’s already happened. Savor each moment, the way I do with each bite of my favorite dessert, my mom’s Texas Sheet Cake (yum!). Learning this, I’m sure of it, will help promote a more positive life experience and much more enjoyable interactions with all! J