The path to Tranquility (summer)
77. Living well in the present for the future
The concept of "living in the present" is often discussed in our lives, but in
reality, we cannot live solely in the present. This is because, if there is
only this moment, just as a single picture cannot make an animation, we cannot
truly live. Our lives require the past and the future, and the future must be
born from the present. Therefore, the true meaning of "living in the present"
is to make full use of the present moment to prepare for the future, which we
can understand as "living well in the present".
Here is a phenomenon that expresses how to live well in the present: when we feel sad, we just need to sit quietly, observe our emotions at this moment, and think about its ins and outs, which can effectively alleviate sadness. There is a phenomenon here that can express how to live well in the present: when we feel sad, we just need to sit quietly, observe our emotions at this moment, and think about its ins and outs, which can effectively alleviate sadness. This phenomenon also reflects the true meaning of living well in the present: improve concentration, often focus on observing the reality related to oneself, and control one's instincts, emotions, and even the whole life.
Living well in the present is very beneficial to the growth of consciousness, because consciousness is the perception of the present and the prediction of the future. We can only exist here and now, that is, in this space and time. The past has passed and cannot be obsessed with. The future has not yet come and cannot be forced. So the important thing is to do the present things well. This attitude towards life can focus our consciousness on things that are beneficial to our life, thereby gaining growth.
All the meanings of life are related to the future, so people always live for the future. Everything we do now is to lay the foundation for the future. Doing the present things well is to build the future based on the past. This is living well in the present. Realizing this, we will make the right choices and prepare for future actions. For example, do not set overly specific long-term goals, nor set too ambitious short-term goals, but focus on each step that can land accurately. Focusing on things that are about to appear is also the best way to enjoy the present.
Living well in the present means that we always maintain a clear connection with the future in the present, allowing life to move towards the future stably and correctly. Concentration on the present is just indulging in the past, because the present that is seen has become the past. This is like walking. If we always remember the experience of falling before, it will reduce our attention to the road ahead and make it easier to fall. These consciousnesses help us get rid of distractions or procrastination habits.
Precisely because all actions must be carried out for the future, we must focus on the future. However, focusing on the future does not mean ignoring the past. When we encounter difficulties and need to stop and re-plan for the future, reviewing and reflecting on the past will play a positive role, not only will it not interfere with the focus on the future, but it will also provide experience and lessons to help us make better decisions.
It is worth emphasizing that focusing on the future does not mean having great expectations for the future, because expectations will make us overly focus on our subjective assumptions and ignore the changes in reality, which has the same effect as indulging in the past. In addition, various rituals or meditations can help us relax and calm our emotions, and can be used as ways to relieve stress, but we need to pay attention to the problem of forming dependence. No matter what things are, once a dependent mentality is formed, it will interfere with our focus on the future.
Therefore, to live well in the present, we need to give up unrealistic dreams, because it will cause us to fall into a dreamy situation, where everything is pieced together with fragments of past memories, but makes us regard it as a possible future. For example, having eternal life is an unrealistic dream, because life is a process and there must be an end. This dream is composed of ancient myths, and we can replace it with the ideal of having a healthy and long life and maintain the goal of prolonging life. We need to realize that although dreams can provide some motivation for life, they can be completely replaced by ideals, allowing us to have a reasonable and constructive blueprint for the future.
We also need to live out the meaning of life, strive to achieve the goals of life, and let life continue better, which is truly living well in the present. Therefore, we need to seize the opportunities of the present, strive to survive and establish connections. In other words, if we are born as women, we should live out the value of women, and if we are born as men, we should live out the value of men. We need to understand and appreciate the differences between each other in needs, give each other what we need, establish a deep connection relationship, and let life have stronger offspring. Just like a flower with pistils and stamens together, they bloom freely and brilliantly, and bear abundant fruits.
In this way, we not only live a valuable life, but also feel deep joy in the present and gain greater vitality. These feelings and vitality give us more confidence in the future, always live for the future, and do not linger on the past. When we appreciate everything in the present with consciousness and devote ourselves to the life of the present, we can truly feel the beauty of life. This is the reason why we live better now than in the past, and it is also our expectation for the future. Living well in the present for the future is to live consciously, which can make us live out our true self.
76. Creativity comes from the power of heart-to-heart connection
